Lucky Cats in Mitsukoshi, Japan, Epcot

[Jodi1980]

Has anyone ever purchased a lucky cat??

 

[nativetxn]

I haven't

 

[Sonya]

I have 2 small ones, a white and a black. My DSIL got a gold too.

 

[helenabear]

I just bought 6 for a friend of mine who's son collects them

 

[Kirby]

What are lucky cats and how much do they cost?

 

[pogo791]

Lucky cats are a traditional Japanese good-luck charm. They're called Maneki-neko. As far as I know, they became popular sometime during the Edo Period (that's from the seventeenth to the middle of the nineteenth century). Many shops in Japan have them in their window, with one paw raised as if to invite customers in. Since they are said to bring good fortune, quite a few Japanese have one in their home. (Besides, there are a lot of cat lovers out there!)

There are several legends explaining why the cat symbolizes luck. According to one, a monk's pet cat beckoned him away from a tree under which he was standing in a rain storm; soon after, lightning struck the tree. According to another, a woman's pet cat began tugging on her kimono. A man thought the cat was bewitched, and cut off its head. The head, in flying off, killed a snake which was about to bite the woman.

White cats represent purity, while black cats are considered lucky (quite the opposite in the US.) There are also some multi-colored cats available. The cats usually come with a red collar and bell. One paw is always raised, although on the US market the paw generally faces the cat, while those available in Japan have the paw facing the viewer.

And the price? They run anywhere from a couple of bucks for a key-chain version, to hundreds of dollars for the gold and silver version. You can pick them up in most import stores for, say five to ten dollars.

 

[depplyinluv]

I bought a really big black one , but my real cat recently broke it....i also have a small magnet white one in my locker!

 

[PandyPaws]

I have 3 little tiny white ones, a little bigger than a thimble

 

[coliebird]

I bought a red one in Mitsukoshi when I was there almost a month ago. I forget what the red signifies (prosperity maybe?). It is on the ledge by my front door. I forget how much I paid for it, only a few dollars though.

 

[MinnieYC]

I have a few little ones, plus a fabric wall hanging of one near my entrance.

 

[Melora]

I bought a gold one when I was there in Feb and then this time I bought a white one. Both were the medium size ones. I think these were about $5.

I got my girls 2 each this time.. the tiny one. Each got one white and one got a purple for luck in art and the other got green for luck in academics. Each one of these was about $2-3.

 

[DocRafiki]

I bought a healthy cat (black) for my ex when I was treating his black cat w/a fatal illness. He bought me a happy cat (white) to ward off depression. We got them at Epcot. I tried to buy them for my staff last year, but the store was temporarily closed. I think they're neat.

 

[goofygirl]

No, but one is in my signature

 

[Jodi1980]

White: Good luck and happiness
Black: Protect from illness and evil spirits
Gold: Dreams come true and good luck in finance
Green: Strength in academics
Orange: Good luck in your trip
Yellow: Good fortune in finance
Purple: Strength in artistic sense
Pink: Romance and new friends
Silver: Patience
Red: Good fortune for business, good health for child

The cats are often placed at the entrance of the house

 

[adamak]

I got 2 small one, red & white. I had them facing the E River, to pull in water (aka wealth). Well, I'll do anything anything that may help me with my WDW travel budget.

 

[suzannews]

I bought the white one, it came with a red pillow to place it on and the instructions tell you where to place it, direction wise, in the room. I still have the box if came in, it says $8.00. I bought this one in the China shop though, same ones they sell in the Japan shop.

 

[Poohbear123]

My DH has one, but in his bedroom. Thanks for the info on it, now I will buy more when I am there in 25 days!