| Luck is loved by everyone, especially anyone who | | | | a cat washes its face there will come a customer. |
| runs a business. This is even more important to | | | | In addition to that, a cat washing its face looks |
| Japanese merchants because they are extremely | | | | like it is greeting someone. Therefore, the |
| superstitious. They often place behind or in front | | | | Japanese believe if they put a figurine of a cat |
| of their stores some kinds of lucky charm, in the | | | | with that "greeting" gesture in front of their |
| hope that their business will run smoothly. The | | | | stores, the customers will come in.However, this |
| most popular kind of lucky charm in Japanese | | | | is just aninterpretation. There are bundles of |
| stores is a figurine which has the shape of a cat | | | | folktales and explanations why Maneki Neko is |
| waving its paw. That's the "Maneki Neko".Maneki | | | | chosen as a lucky charm. However, the main |
| Neko is loved by everyone for its round face and | | | | characteristic of all the stories about Maneki |
| lovely big eyes. That may be the reason why it is | | | | Neko's origin is that the cat saved its owner from |
| chosen as a symbol of luck. It looks like a cat | | | | dangers or illness and poverty and the owner |
| waving his paw to greet the customers but | | | | became prosperous.Most people believe that it has |
| actually, that's the gesture of a cat washing its | | | | different meanings when Maneki Neko waves its |
| face. The cat often washes its face whenever it | | | | right paw or left paw. If it's waving with the right |
| feels the rain is coming. Moreover, because of its | | | | paw, that means there will be more luck and |
| sensitivity, the cat often feels restless when | | | | wealth to the merchant and if it's waving with the |
| there's someone coming near it. To release its | | | | left paw, more customers will come in. The higher |
| fear, the cat washes its face. From this gesture | | | | it waves the paw, the more customers, wealth |
| of the cat, the Japanese assume that every time | | | | and luck will come to the merchant. |