lucky cat

 Many Westerners refer to the maneki neko as a “lucky cat,” and though the real translation is “beckoning cat,” the familiar symbol is largely regarded as a talisman of good fortune, especially in financial endeavors. The origins of maneko neko figurines date back to the Edo period (1603-1868), and though people debate whether the talismans originated in Edo (now Tokyo) or in Kyoto, they started appearing in popular culture during the 19th century and are now ubiquitous in Japan. (They’re also popular in China, which makes many people associate them with Chinese good-fortune symbols, but the maneki neko actually originated in Japan.) Maneki neko