Why are cats popular in Japan?

Why are cats popular in Japan? In Japanese folklore, cats have protective powers and symbolize good luck and fortune. No example of this is more clear than the story of the maneki-neko. As the story goes, centuries ago, a feudal lord was standing under a tree when he noticed a cat waving at him with his paw.

In Japanese folklore, cats have protective powers and symbolize good luck and fortune. No example of this is more clear than the story of the maneki-neko. As the story goes, centuries ago, a feudal lord was standing under a tree when he noticed a cat waving at him with his paw.