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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Fate / Luck / Serendipity
- Published: 02/22/2025
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This Christmas morning had a restless, bristling energy and an early heat that seemed to emanate from the ground, not from the huge orb of the sun above. As was their tradition, each member of the Walsh family anticipated getting a new and exciting gift from the others. The children jumped out of bed earlier than usual and gathered expectantly around the freshly cut Christmas tree, wearing their pyjamas or T-shirts. Their parents, Mitch and Julie, sorted the Christmas presents into piles, one for each child. They had five children of differing ages, two boys and three girls: Fletcher and Gough were the two boys, and Isabella, Olivia, and Sophie were the three girls. Their personalities were so different from one another that sometimes Mitch wondered whether all of them were his biological children.
On this particular day, they started to unwrap the presents one by one. Everyone received a box containing a different colored Lucky Cat ornament, which was meant to be a “bearer of good fortune”. The box also contained a booklet with information about the cats.
If you’ve ever dined at a Japanese restaurant, shopped at an Asian supermarket, or wandered around the streets of any Chinatown near your home, you’ve probably noticed a cat figurine perched in a window or by the cash register. It is modelled after the calico Japanese bobtail cat and the Lucky Cat sits as a sentinel with an upright paw or two, beckoning customers and inviting good fortune into the establishment.
This adorable ancient Japanese symbol of luck migrated from east to west. In its home country of Japan, the Lucky Cat is called maneki-neko, which means “beckoning hand”. This can be confusing to the average Westerner, as the figurine appears to be waving. In Japan, holding the palm out with fingers folding up and down is a beckoning gesture, not a waving gesture.
This contented cat is a shopkeeper’s best friend, inviting customers inside with its alluring charms. There are a diverse array of colors, materials, and accessories which contribute to the many Lucky Cats of the world, but no matter which cat it is, the Lucky Cat is a welcome talisman.
“Mom, where do the Lucky Cats originate from?” asked Fletcher.
“The true origins of the Lucky Cat remain a mystery, Fletcher. Still, most will agree they first appeared during the Edo period in Japan, which lasted from the seventeenth century to the mid-nineteenth century. A few legends weave a tale of the cat’s birth, and three seem to stand the test of time.
The first legend is that in the seventeenth century, an old, dilapidated temple was located west of Tokyo. A poor priest there had a cat named Tama, and he did his best to share his meager food with the cat. One day, no food was left, and the priest, on the verge of starvation, berated the cat for taking the little food he had left while never contributing to the temple in any way. The cat walked outside as it began to rain. A wealthy samurai came riding by. He took shelter under a tree next to the temple and noticed Tama, who appeared to be beckoning him to come inside. His curiosity aroused; he followed Tama into the temple. Moments later, lightning struck the very tree he had been standing under. The samurai was so grateful to the cat for saving his life that he donated his riches to the temple, and when he passed away, a statue of the “lucky cat” that saved the samurai’s life was made to celebrate his lifelong generosity.
Another story comes from an eighteenth-century geisha house. A popular courtesan named Usugumo had a pet cat that she loved dearly. One night, Usugumo was dressing, and the cat began to tug on her kimono with urgency. The madam of the brothel saw this exchange and became convinced that the cat was possessed by an evil spirit. In haste, she chopped its head off with a sword! The head of the cat flew off and landed on a snake, which had poised to strike the geisha. The geisha was sad about the loss of her brave, beloved pet. A guest carved a cat statue out of wood to make her feel better, which she perched outside as an invitation to the customers and as a reminder of the luck her favourite cat had brought her.
The last legend tells of a monk who lived in a shabby hut with his trusty cat. One day, a group of samurai warriors walked by the monk’s meagre home, and spotted his cat, who appeared to be waving. Intrigued, they decided to come inside for a quick rest before their long journey home. As the monk served them tea, he preached to the samurai. His words moved them to want to adopt the ways of the monk. One samurai exclaimed, “I am not just a samurai, but a king, King li Naotaka, and due to your cat’s clever invitation inside, we were able to hear your holy words. It must be Buddha’s will!” He and his compatriots immediately began drafting plans to turn the monk’s modest home into a grand temple. The temple was named “the cat temple” or Gotokuji,” his mother explained,
“But what materials are they usually made from?” asked Gough with a curious tone in his voice.
“Maneki materials for these felines were traditionally carved from wood, handmade with porcelain, or even created out of durable cast iron. Today’s cats are usually made of ceramic materials. The most intricate figurines are made from jade or, in special cases, gold,” she replied. Their eyes widened in wonder at the thought of shiny gold cats.
“These look as if they are made of ceramic materials,” he observed.
“What about the different colours of the cats?” asked Isabella, since they each had cats of different colours.
This time, her mother went on to explain each of the different colours they came in.
“The happy cat can come in many different colours, each inviting its special blessings into the home or business it guards:
Dad has the Black and Orange cat which beckons good luck;
I have the White cat which summons purity and happiness;
Fletcher has the Black cat which prompts good health and banishes evil spirits;
Gough has the Gold cat which inspires wealth and prosperity;
Isabella has the Green cat although either Green or Blue cats can bring academic success;
Olivia has the Red cat which wards off illness; and
Sophie has the Pink cat which invites love and romance. You will see how effective these Lucky Cats can be.” They all looked a little sceptical as they stared at their ornaments, lying lazily in their hands. The cats seemed immobile and unable to bring these wishes true.
“Some of the paws are standing up and the other paws are lowered down. Why do they make the paw positions like that?” asked Olivia.
“Regarding the paw positions, the next time you see a friendly Lucky Cat in a restaurant window, pay close attention: Which paw is it? A left paw up is meant to attract customers to businesses like geisha tea houses and even bars, and a right paw in the air is meant to beckon luck and wealth to any establishment. Traditionally, most of the cats were modelled with just the left paw in the air, but after the worldwide economic downturn in 2008, figurines with both paws up became popular – people wanted all the luck and protection they could get!” she explained to Olivia in detail. Olivia’s eyes widened.
“Then why are some paws higher than others?” asked Sophie, adding “Aren’t the cat’s legs the same length?” This seemed a logical conclusion to her as a child, for a cat to walk on four even lengths of legs. She giggled as she thought of a cat trying to walk on legs of four different legs, bouncing around and falling over.
“A few factors contribute to the height of the cat’s paws. Some say the higher the paw, the greater the luck. Another belief is that the height of the paw corresponds to the direction good fortune will come from. If a cat has both hands up, you’ll often see that one paw is higher than the other, so as not to be mistaken for a surrendering gesture.” Sophie nodded after that explanation as she could understand not wanting to be seen as surrendering in a war or any other situation.
Suddenly, the children noticed that the Lucky Cats had accessories or adornments on them. Some of the cats had multiple accessories.
“What do these accessories mean then?” asked Fletcher as a follow-up to his previous question.
“Well, Lucky Cats have ancient accessories such as a bib, bell, collar, coin, etc. What does a Lucky Cat’s adornments tell us? In Japanese culture, objects tell stories and hold meaning. Lucky Cat’s charms are not just decorative – each ornament plays its role in inviting wealth, banishing evil, or bringing good fortune.
For example, Gough’s cat has a coin and a collar. Regarding the coin, often these charming kitties will be seen holding the valuable koban coin from Japan’s Edo period. The coin was worth one ryou, a great sum, and it is said that when a Lucky Cat possesses a koban, it is worth ten million ryou. A Lucky Cat clutching a coin invites wealth and material abundance.
Olivia’s cat has a bib. Bibs were worn by cats in prosperous homes during Japan’s Edo period, but a Lucky Cat’s bib may have a more complex origin. Statues of the Buddhist deity Jizo Bosatsu are often found guarding Japanese holy sites like shrines and graveyards. When a child would recover from an illness, tradition dictated that the parents visit a Jizo statue and place a bib around its neck to show gratitude for the child’s recovery. A Lucky Cat with a bib is also considered a way to ward off poor health.
Gough’s cat also has a collar. In seventeenth-century Japan, having a cat was considered a sign of wealth, as cats were very expensive. Affluent women would affectionately adorn their kitties with a collar dyed with hichirimen, a vibrant red flower. The red collar was attractive and made the cats easier to find in the green undergrowth. The red colour would show up between the green leaves.
Sophie’s cat has a bell and is holding a doll. The bells were used by prosperous owners to keep track of their cats. When a cat was out of sight, the owner could follow the faint sound of bells to retrieve his or her feline friend. Some cat owners still put bells on cats’ collars to chase the birds away or at least let the birds know that a cat is nearby so they can fly off safely.
Dad’s cat has the strong symbol of an agricultural mallet, which is similar to a hammer. Daikoku Mantra, the god of farmers, had a mallet that gold coins fell from when shaken. It is said that shaking Lucky Cat’s mallet turns it into a magical money mallet, bringing wealth and prosperity.
My white cat has a carp fish. These fish symbolize abundance, courage, and strength – for those are the qualities it takes for a carp to have the will and determination to spend its life swimming upstream.
Isabella’s cat has a marble. These clear orbs represent crystal balls and invite wisdom and deep thought.
Sophie’s cat also has a doll. The daruma doll is a Japanese wishing doll, which holds hope for good outcomes. Whether you wish to get a good grade on an exam or find a soulmate, the daruma will bring you auspicious luck. If a daruma has blank eyes, you should paint one eye whilst making a wish. When the wish comes true, paint the other eye in celebration of your good fortune!
My white cat is also holding fresh fruit and vegetables. A Lucky Cat holding a radish, or other bountiful fruit or vegetables is inviting a good harvest for the coming season on the farm.”
The children were enchanted with their ancient cats and their unusual accessories.
“There have been some famous felines,” Dad added thoughtfully, “since the Lucky Cat is a world-famous character, appearing in films and television shows, especially in video games originating in Japan.
In the video game Super Mario 3D World, a bronze jingling bell transforms Mario into a Lucky Cat Mario! This gives Mario the cat-like ability to scale walls, pounce on enemies, scratch anyone in his path, and speed into a sprint. When Lucky Cat Mario crouches in mid-air and lands on his seat, he transforms into Golden Statue Mario – a shiny yellow cat who collects lucky gold coins! Mario’s friends Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach, Rosalina, and Bowser can also become Lucky Cats with similar powers.
In the Pokémon games, the cream-coloured, tan-footed Meowth has an oval gold coin embedded in its forehead. Does this sound familiar to you? The character is based on a Lucky Cat and his traditional koban coin, which Mom explained earlier.
Some people attribute the fictional character Hello Kitty’s origins to the Lucky Cat. It is said that Hello Kitty may be a faulty translation of its Japanese name, maneki neko. However, this is not known for certain.”
The children had played these video games and had seen the symbolism of the Lucky Cats in action, so they admired them, and the stories being retold made sense to them in this context.
Twenty years later, the Walsh family met up again for another family Christmas. The traditions continued. They had grown into adults by that time and each one of them had kept their Lucky Cats. Mitch had received good luck and had won a large prize in the lottery at least twice. Julie was living a happy and fulfilling life. Fletcher had recovered from a bowl cancer scare and was in good health again. Gough had become a prosperous businessman and amassed wealth beyond his wildest dreams and expectations. Isabella had qualified with a Doctorate in Law from a local University and achieved local and international academic recognition and success. Olivia had recovered from a recent bad case of the flu and after her recovery, had been putting a bib on her newly born baby girl. Finally, Sophie had fallen in love and had been through a whirlwind romance with a handsome young man she had met on one of her holidays abroad. They were getting engaged to be married in the next year. Each adult child brought their Lucky Cats with them to the family Christmas celebration every year and placed them under the Christmas tree. The Lucky Cats had delivered on the ancient promises of the past and now they would be passed on to the next generation, who needed the luck too.
“In the future, for our family and businesses seeking customers, prosperity, and good fortune, the Lucky Cat is the cutest addition to a shop window. This welcoming feline summons bounty and beauty in the traditions of ancient Japan. Let Lucky Cat be your most loyal and patient pet and bring you good fortune each day!” said Mom in closing. The adult children looked at each other and then down at their truly Lucky Cats and smiled knowingly.
THE END
On this particular day, they started to unwrap the presents one by one. Everyone received a box containing a different colored Lucky Cat ornament, which was meant to be a “bearer of good fortune”. The box also contained a booklet with information about the cats.
If you’ve ever dined at a Japanese restaurant, shopped at an Asian supermarket, or wandered around the streets of any Chinatown near your home, you’ve probably noticed a cat figurine perched in a window or by the cash register. It is modelled after the calico Japanese bobtail cat and the Lucky Cat sits as a sentinel with an upright paw or two, beckoning customers and inviting good fortune into the establishment.
This adorable ancient Japanese symbol of luck migrated from east to west. In its home country of Japan, the Lucky Cat is called maneki-neko, which means “beckoning hand”. This can be confusing to the average Westerner, as the figurine appears to be waving. In Japan, holding the palm out with fingers folding up and down is a beckoning gesture, not a waving gesture.
This contented cat is a shopkeeper’s best friend, inviting customers inside with its alluring charms. There are a diverse array of colors, materials, and accessories which contribute to the many Lucky Cats of the world, but no matter which cat it is, the Lucky Cat is a welcome talisman.
“Mom, where do the Lucky Cats originate from?” asked Fletcher.
“The true origins of the Lucky Cat remain a mystery, Fletcher. Still, most will agree they first appeared during the Edo period in Japan, which lasted from the seventeenth century to the mid-nineteenth century. A few legends weave a tale of the cat’s birth, and three seem to stand the test of time.
The first legend is that in the seventeenth century, an old, dilapidated temple was located west of Tokyo. A poor priest there had a cat named Tama, and he did his best to share his meager food with the cat. One day, no food was left, and the priest, on the verge of starvation, berated the cat for taking the little food he had left while never contributing to the temple in any way. The cat walked outside as it began to rain. A wealthy samurai came riding by. He took shelter under a tree next to the temple and noticed Tama, who appeared to be beckoning him to come inside. His curiosity aroused; he followed Tama into the temple. Moments later, lightning struck the very tree he had been standing under. The samurai was so grateful to the cat for saving his life that he donated his riches to the temple, and when he passed away, a statue of the “lucky cat” that saved the samurai’s life was made to celebrate his lifelong generosity.
Another story comes from an eighteenth-century geisha house. A popular courtesan named Usugumo had a pet cat that she loved dearly. One night, Usugumo was dressing, and the cat began to tug on her kimono with urgency. The madam of the brothel saw this exchange and became convinced that the cat was possessed by an evil spirit. In haste, she chopped its head off with a sword! The head of the cat flew off and landed on a snake, which had poised to strike the geisha. The geisha was sad about the loss of her brave, beloved pet. A guest carved a cat statue out of wood to make her feel better, which she perched outside as an invitation to the customers and as a reminder of the luck her favourite cat had brought her.
The last legend tells of a monk who lived in a shabby hut with his trusty cat. One day, a group of samurai warriors walked by the monk’s meagre home, and spotted his cat, who appeared to be waving. Intrigued, they decided to come inside for a quick rest before their long journey home. As the monk served them tea, he preached to the samurai. His words moved them to want to adopt the ways of the monk. One samurai exclaimed, “I am not just a samurai, but a king, King li Naotaka, and due to your cat’s clever invitation inside, we were able to hear your holy words. It must be Buddha’s will!” He and his compatriots immediately began drafting plans to turn the monk’s modest home into a grand temple. The temple was named “the cat temple” or Gotokuji,” his mother explained,
“But what materials are they usually made from?” asked Gough with a curious tone in his voice.
“Maneki materials for these felines were traditionally carved from wood, handmade with porcelain, or even created out of durable cast iron. Today’s cats are usually made of ceramic materials. The most intricate figurines are made from jade or, in special cases, gold,” she replied. Their eyes widened in wonder at the thought of shiny gold cats.
“These look as if they are made of ceramic materials,” he observed.
“What about the different colours of the cats?” asked Isabella, since they each had cats of different colours.
This time, her mother went on to explain each of the different colours they came in.
“The happy cat can come in many different colours, each inviting its special blessings into the home or business it guards:
Dad has the Black and Orange cat which beckons good luck;
I have the White cat which summons purity and happiness;
Fletcher has the Black cat which prompts good health and banishes evil spirits;
Gough has the Gold cat which inspires wealth and prosperity;
Isabella has the Green cat although either Green or Blue cats can bring academic success;
Olivia has the Red cat which wards off illness; and
Sophie has the Pink cat which invites love and romance. You will see how effective these Lucky Cats can be.” They all looked a little sceptical as they stared at their ornaments, lying lazily in their hands. The cats seemed immobile and unable to bring these wishes true.
“Some of the paws are standing up and the other paws are lowered down. Why do they make the paw positions like that?” asked Olivia.
“Regarding the paw positions, the next time you see a friendly Lucky Cat in a restaurant window, pay close attention: Which paw is it? A left paw up is meant to attract customers to businesses like geisha tea houses and even bars, and a right paw in the air is meant to beckon luck and wealth to any establishment. Traditionally, most of the cats were modelled with just the left paw in the air, but after the worldwide economic downturn in 2008, figurines with both paws up became popular – people wanted all the luck and protection they could get!” she explained to Olivia in detail. Olivia’s eyes widened.
“Then why are some paws higher than others?” asked Sophie, adding “Aren’t the cat’s legs the same length?” This seemed a logical conclusion to her as a child, for a cat to walk on four even lengths of legs. She giggled as she thought of a cat trying to walk on legs of four different legs, bouncing around and falling over.
“A few factors contribute to the height of the cat’s paws. Some say the higher the paw, the greater the luck. Another belief is that the height of the paw corresponds to the direction good fortune will come from. If a cat has both hands up, you’ll often see that one paw is higher than the other, so as not to be mistaken for a surrendering gesture.” Sophie nodded after that explanation as she could understand not wanting to be seen as surrendering in a war or any other situation.
Suddenly, the children noticed that the Lucky Cats had accessories or adornments on them. Some of the cats had multiple accessories.
“What do these accessories mean then?” asked Fletcher as a follow-up to his previous question.
“Well, Lucky Cats have ancient accessories such as a bib, bell, collar, coin, etc. What does a Lucky Cat’s adornments tell us? In Japanese culture, objects tell stories and hold meaning. Lucky Cat’s charms are not just decorative – each ornament plays its role in inviting wealth, banishing evil, or bringing good fortune.
For example, Gough’s cat has a coin and a collar. Regarding the coin, often these charming kitties will be seen holding the valuable koban coin from Japan’s Edo period. The coin was worth one ryou, a great sum, and it is said that when a Lucky Cat possesses a koban, it is worth ten million ryou. A Lucky Cat clutching a coin invites wealth and material abundance.
Olivia’s cat has a bib. Bibs were worn by cats in prosperous homes during Japan’s Edo period, but a Lucky Cat’s bib may have a more complex origin. Statues of the Buddhist deity Jizo Bosatsu are often found guarding Japanese holy sites like shrines and graveyards. When a child would recover from an illness, tradition dictated that the parents visit a Jizo statue and place a bib around its neck to show gratitude for the child’s recovery. A Lucky Cat with a bib is also considered a way to ward off poor health.
Gough’s cat also has a collar. In seventeenth-century Japan, having a cat was considered a sign of wealth, as cats were very expensive. Affluent women would affectionately adorn their kitties with a collar dyed with hichirimen, a vibrant red flower. The red collar was attractive and made the cats easier to find in the green undergrowth. The red colour would show up between the green leaves.
Sophie’s cat has a bell and is holding a doll. The bells were used by prosperous owners to keep track of their cats. When a cat was out of sight, the owner could follow the faint sound of bells to retrieve his or her feline friend. Some cat owners still put bells on cats’ collars to chase the birds away or at least let the birds know that a cat is nearby so they can fly off safely.
Dad’s cat has the strong symbol of an agricultural mallet, which is similar to a hammer. Daikoku Mantra, the god of farmers, had a mallet that gold coins fell from when shaken. It is said that shaking Lucky Cat’s mallet turns it into a magical money mallet, bringing wealth and prosperity.
My white cat has a carp fish. These fish symbolize abundance, courage, and strength – for those are the qualities it takes for a carp to have the will and determination to spend its life swimming upstream.
Isabella’s cat has a marble. These clear orbs represent crystal balls and invite wisdom and deep thought.
Sophie’s cat also has a doll. The daruma doll is a Japanese wishing doll, which holds hope for good outcomes. Whether you wish to get a good grade on an exam or find a soulmate, the daruma will bring you auspicious luck. If a daruma has blank eyes, you should paint one eye whilst making a wish. When the wish comes true, paint the other eye in celebration of your good fortune!
My white cat is also holding fresh fruit and vegetables. A Lucky Cat holding a radish, or other bountiful fruit or vegetables is inviting a good harvest for the coming season on the farm.”
The children were enchanted with their ancient cats and their unusual accessories.
“There have been some famous felines,” Dad added thoughtfully, “since the Lucky Cat is a world-famous character, appearing in films and television shows, especially in video games originating in Japan.
In the video game Super Mario 3D World, a bronze jingling bell transforms Mario into a Lucky Cat Mario! This gives Mario the cat-like ability to scale walls, pounce on enemies, scratch anyone in his path, and speed into a sprint. When Lucky Cat Mario crouches in mid-air and lands on his seat, he transforms into Golden Statue Mario – a shiny yellow cat who collects lucky gold coins! Mario’s friends Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach, Rosalina, and Bowser can also become Lucky Cats with similar powers.
In the Pokémon games, the cream-coloured, tan-footed Meowth has an oval gold coin embedded in its forehead. Does this sound familiar to you? The character is based on a Lucky Cat and his traditional koban coin, which Mom explained earlier.
Some people attribute the fictional character Hello Kitty’s origins to the Lucky Cat. It is said that Hello Kitty may be a faulty translation of its Japanese name, maneki neko. However, this is not known for certain.”
The children had played these video games and had seen the symbolism of the Lucky Cats in action, so they admired them, and the stories being retold made sense to them in this context.
Twenty years later, the Walsh family met up again for another family Christmas. The traditions continued. They had grown into adults by that time and each one of them had kept their Lucky Cats. Mitch had received good luck and had won a large prize in the lottery at least twice. Julie was living a happy and fulfilling life. Fletcher had recovered from a bowl cancer scare and was in good health again. Gough had become a prosperous businessman and amassed wealth beyond his wildest dreams and expectations. Isabella had qualified with a Doctorate in Law from a local University and achieved local and international academic recognition and success. Olivia had recovered from a recent bad case of the flu and after her recovery, had been putting a bib on her newly born baby girl. Finally, Sophie had fallen in love and had been through a whirlwind romance with a handsome young man she had met on one of her holidays abroad. They were getting engaged to be married in the next year. Each adult child brought their Lucky Cats with them to the family Christmas celebration every year and placed them under the Christmas tree. The Lucky Cats had delivered on the ancient promises of the past and now they would be passed on to the next generation, who needed the luck too.
“In the future, for our family and businesses seeking customers, prosperity, and good fortune, the Lucky Cat is the cutest addition to a shop window. This welcoming feline summons bounty and beauty in the traditions of ancient Japan. Let Lucky Cat be your most loyal and patient pet and bring you good fortune each day!” said Mom in closing. The adult children looked at each other and then down at their truly Lucky Cats and smiled knowingly.
THE END
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