National Cat Day: Maneki Neko
- April Dykes
- 2月22日
- 読了時間: 3分
National Cat Day: Maneki Neko
What’s two in Japanese? Ni. What sound do cats make in Japanese? Nyah. When February 22nd is said in Japanese ni ni ni (2-2-2), its sound is reminiscent of the sound cats make, nyah nyah nyah. This is why February 22nd was chosen as Cat Day here in Japan by the Executive Cat Day Committee in 1987. While it appears that the Executive Cat Day Committee no longer exists, it was made up of cat lovers who voted for February 22nd to be chosen as they loved the play on words. Since 1987, cat lovers around Japan have celebrated Cat Day in various ways, ranging from cat-themed food at restaurants to local events.
While cats were not native to Japan, they have become deeply ingrained in the culture. According to NIPPONIA, “It is said that the domestic cat first came to Japan in 538 (or 552) A.D. It is generally thought that cats were introduced simultaneously with Buddhism to protect sacred texts from the damage mice can cause. Genetic research indicates that the domestic cat probably came to Japan from India, via China. The first definite Japanese record of a domestic cat is found in a diary kept by Emperor Uda (867-931). Its color was black, and from the diary, it is clear that it was brought from China in 884” (NIPPONIA). Since their introduction to Japan, they have also been included in folklore.
Commonly in Japanese folklore are tales of youkai cats, the bakeneko, and maneki neko. Bakeneko means monster cat, which is how they are depicted in ancient artwork: terrifying. J-life describes a bakeneko as “an enigmatic character in Japanese folklore and not confined to one specific description. Generally, they are evil cats with magical powers such as shape-shifting, speaking ability, and necromancy (reanimating and communicating with the dead)”. Maneki Neko is another type of youkai, although it is considered to be good.
Maneki Neko is the antithesis of the bakeneko; it is a symbol of good luck and fortune. Maneki neko translates as a beckoning cat. The legend involves a samurai, a monk, an old temple (Gotokuji Temple), and a cat. A samurai was hunting when a violent storm came. He had been sitting under a tree when he noticed the monk’s cat. It appeared to be beckoning him, so he moved from under the tree and went to the cat. As soon as he moved away from the tree towards the cat, the tree was struck by lightning. The samurai believed that the cat had saved his life, and to repay that gratitude, he bought the old temple and restored it. After the cat passed away, he built a cat statue. That statue is in the famous pose of the maneki neko. Now, maneki neko are commonly used throughout Japan as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, as well as cute statues and figurines.
While Cat Day isn’t a national holiday, many Japanese people love cats. Cats are the most popular pets in Japan, and businesses even have cat mascots and managers.
You can celebrate Cat Day by
enjoying cat-themed food at cafes, stores and restaurants
finding a pop-up shop that sells special cat-themed goods
sharing a photo of your cat on social media
spoiling your cat (if you have one)
visiting a cat cafe
donating to local animal shelters
traveling to Tashirojima, also known as Cat Island
watching “The Cat Returns” or any other cat-themed movie
There is also an exhibition being held in Asakusa that ends February 24th. Cat creators will sell handmade goods at this exhibition and display their photography. There are lots of pottery, displays, stickers, etc. If you’re interested in learning more about this event, check out https://tokyocheapo.com/events/cat-holiday-exhibition-winter/ or the official event website at https://tgs.jp.net/event/neko-break/
Please keep in mind that the official website is only available in Japanese.
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