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【No. 0520】Maneki Neko

May 21, 2016 12:11
Yesterday, I wrote about beckoning gestures.

Today, I will talk about "maneki neko," which is posing with the beckoning gesture.

Maneki neko is a traditional Japanese kind of figure in the shape of a cat, and is a lucky charm (which is called "engimono" in Japan) for business success.

It is said that maneki with the right forepaw raised brings economic fortune, and that with the left forepaw raised attracts customers.

By the way, the former is a male cat, and the latter is a female cat.

Recently, you can file maneki neko with the both forepaws, but many of us don't like it very much because the gesture implies a surrender.

There are several theories about where the maneki neko came from, and I think that it began when we likened a grooming of a cat to a beckoning gesture.
招き猫

昨日は、手招きのジェスチャーについて書きました。

今日は、手招きのジェスチャーをしている招き猫について書きます。

招き猫は、日本の伝統的な猫の置物であり、商売繁盛の縁起物です。

右前足を挙げている猫は金運を招き、左前足を挙げている猫は客を招くとされています。

ちなみに、前者は雄猫、後者は雌猫だそうです。

最近では両手を挙げた招き猫もありますが、両手の挙げるのは「お手上げ」を意味することから嫌う人も多いです。

招き猫の由来の説はさまざまありますが、私は猫の毛繕いの動作を手招きのジェスチャーに見立てたことが始まりたと思います。

Corrections (3)

No. 1 thethinker83
  • Yesterday, I wrote about beckoning gestures.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Today, I will talk about "maneki neko," which is posing with the beckoning gesture.
  • Today, I will talk about "maneki neko," which is posing poses with the beckoning gesture.
  • Maneki neko is a traditional Japanese kind of figure in the shape of a cat, and is a lucky charm (which is called "engimono" in Japan) for business success.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • It is said that maneki with the right forepaw raised brings economic fortune, and that with the left forepaw raised attracts customers.
  • It is said that maneki neko with the right forepaw raised brings economic fortune, and that with the left forepaw raised attracts customers.
  • By the way, the former is a male cat, and the latter is a female cat.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Recently, you can file maneki neko with the both forepaws, but many of us don't like it very much because the gesture implies a surrender.
  • Recently, you can file there have also been maneki neko with the both forepaws raised, but many of us don't like it very much because the gesture implies a surrender.
  • There are several theories about where the maneki neko came from, and I think that it began when we likened a grooming of a cat to a beckoning gesture.
  • There are several theories about where the maneki neko came from, and I think that it began when we likened a the grooming of a cat to a beckoning gesture.
Toru
Thank you very much for correcting my post! :)
No. 2 Timmy

Speaking of Maneki Neko, there is a short story with the same name written by American science fiction author Bruce Sterling in 1998.

Toru
I didn't know the story, thank you for letting me know it! :D
Timmy
It's nothing^_^
No. 3 Yukinekorin

Hi Kanotownさん~

There's a Japanese Karaoke by the name of Maneki Neko! It is currently quite popular in Singapore. I heard that it is popular in Japan too. Have you heard of it? ^^

Toru
Hi, Yukinekorin-san :)
Yes, the karaoke "Maneki Neko" is very popular also in Japan!
There are many "Maneki Neko" in many towns and cities in Japan, haha.
Yukinekorin
Haha and it is quite updated with songs! The bad thing is that they end 5 minutes earlier than the actual time that you are supposed to end the karaoke :(

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