There are many stories behind the maneki neko, the famous beckoning cat, who brings business and fortune: the story of Tama who saves a temple, the story of how a maneki neko saved a lady of the evening, and the story of how a maneki neko saved a Samurai warrior are some that have appeared here.
The word Maneki means beckoning or inviting, and the word Neko means cat. This famous cat is called the Beckoning Cat and represents a Japanese cat with its paw raised. In Japan people so believe in this good-luck cat that many of them would not dream of having a business without one.
Other names for this lucky cat is the Welcoming Cat, the Lucky Cat, the Money Cat, the Fortune Cat and the Happy Cat. A maneki neko with his right paw raised is said to bring fortune; one with the left paw raised brings business.
Today's tale is about a maneki neko and a fishmonger. In 1816, in Japan, there lived a fishmonger. Each day he visited a money lender. He always brought some fish for the lender’s cat and soon he and the cat were the best of friends.
One day the fishmonger became sick, too sick to work. He worried about his livelihood but he was too weak to get out of bed. That night, when he finally fell asleep, even in his sleep he worried.
The next morning, when he woke up, there were two gold coins next to his bed. The following morning there were another two coins. And the following morning, another two.
The fishmonger gave thanks for this miracle, which gave him time to heal and which put food on his table.
When finally he was well again, he visited the money lender and, of course, brought some fish for the cat, as he had always done. But the cat was nowhere to be seen.
The fishmonger asked where the cat was. The money lender replied that he had caught the cat stealing gold coins from his purse, and had killed him.
The fishmonger was horrified, and told the money lender about the mysterious gold coins that had appeared by his bed each night. He finally understood that it was the cat who had tried to help a friend in need.
Now the money lender regretted killing his cat. He understood that it had only tried to help, and a tombstone was built for his lost friend. The stone told of an animal who did “virtuous and good acts."
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