There are also different meanings behind which paw it is holding up. However, it is so popular among Chinese that it is often mistaken as a Chinese tradition. The exact origin of this belief is still questionable, but one thing for sure is that the first record of this lucky cat appeared in the later part of the Edo period in Japan (1603 – 1868).
Because of this belief, it is usually placed at pachinko parlors, cashier counter of hotel receptions and restaurants. This lucky cat charm is believed to attract good luck and fortune to its owner by waving them in (beckoning) with its little paw. Maneki-Neko is the Japanese word for “beckoning cat,” which also explains its origin.
