As we segue into 2022, we will begin to see plenty of decorations and merchandise featuring tigers being put up and sold in Japan, as it is finally the Year of the Tiger! Though it is a fearsome predator in the wild, it is celebrated as one of the twelve animals in the zodiac. There is one other feline creature, however, that is related to the tiger that and yet still does not feature in the zodiac. Yet, it is so greatly beloved in Japan that it features in many folklores and superstitions, and is a popular choice for a household pet. This animal is the cat!

Domesticated cats were first brought to Japan via the silk road. Some sources claim that they arrived during the Nara period (710-794CE) or during the early Heian period that followed, but there is archaeological evidence to suggest that domestic cats have been kept on Iki island (in Nagasaki Prefecture) even before that, during the Yayoi period (300 BCE-300CE)!

Many know about Japanese dog breeds like the Akita dog and shiba inu, but did you know that there is a cat breed native to Japan known as the Japanese bobtail? These cats have a short and kinked tail (known as a ‘bobtail’) that come as a result of a gene mutation. Cats born with this gene have fewer tail vertebrae, or may experience the fusion of some of their tail vertebrae. This bobtail gene does not cause any disorders, and Japanese bobtails are genetically-diverse, and generally enjoy good health. Sometimes, cats in Japan with these features can also be referred to as waneko (和猫).

Back during the Heian period, cats were thought of as priceless, and traded between the upper class as though they were jewels. Only the emperor and nobility were able to acquire and keep them, and there are even records showing how some of these noblemen accorded special court ranks on their treasured cats! In the year 889, the young Emperor Uda wrote a diary entry describing a kitten he had just received as a gift. He wrote about the deep ink colour of its fur and made many observations of how it behaved, such as the way it curled in a circle when it laid down and how it hunts—he even went as far as to liken its cries to that of a black dragon! These writings reveal just how enamoured he was with his pet cat!

Like all living creatures, cats began propagating. By the 12th century, they had become common creatures that could be found throughout the country. Even today, cats are the most popular pets in Japan! As of October 2020, it is estimated that there are 9.64 million cats being kept as pets in Japan (compared to 8.49 million dogs), and there seems to be an upward trend of cat ownership too! There are even special social media applications in Japan that cater to cat lovers; owners can share pictures of their own cats, and browse and comment on other owners’ posts!

So beloved are cats as pets that there is no dearth of art works and poems featuring these furry companions. Famous woodblock artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi was particularly known for his love of cats and produced many artworks that depicted cats in various situations. He even has a series of prints in which cats form the names of fish in kana. He was also well known for his prints of anthropomorphised cats. In the early 1840s, artists were forbidden from depicting kabuki actors, courtesans, and geisha in their art. However, they found a way around this ban by depicting these celebrities in animal form; Utagawa chose to create many prints of these personalities as cats!

These beloved creatures are also thought of as bringers of good luck. Manekineko (招き猫), sometimes known as lucky cats in English, are figurines of a calico-patterned Japanese bobtail with their paws raised. They are thought to bring good luck and wealth to businesses. A manekineko with a raised right paw is meant to beckon more money, while a raised left paw beckons customers. Not much is known about the origin of these figurines, but what is known is that they began gaining popularity during the Edo Period! These figurines are popular even today, and can be seen displayed at many businesses. They also come in portable forms like stickers and keychains so people can choose to bring these lucky cats around. Traditional manekineko are calico-patterned, but they now come in a variety of colours like pink (to beckon romance) and black (to ward off bad luck and evil).

As much as they are revered as bringers of luck, they can also be seen as devious creatures. There are several folk tales and legends about supernatural cats. One such example is the bakeneko (化け猫), which is said to a monster cat that has lived long enough to gain supernatural powers. The nekomata (猫また) is similar, in that it is also a long-lived domestic cat that has attained supernatural powers, but is a two-tailed man-eating creature.

You may also be surprised to learn that cats have also inspired fashion trends! Cat-themed fashion items have become popular in Japan, especially with young women. From head to toe, people can choose from all manner of cat-themed clothes and accessories to express themselves with. Clothes may feature a simple illustration of a cat, or bear the striking tortoiseshell print that is often seen on waneko. However, there are some designers who take their cat-themed fashion to the next level, with hats with cat ears attached, and socks with a cat’s paw prints on the sole of the feet! In the world of makeup too—winged eyeliner, which is often called the Cat Eye, is a popular makeup style worldwide but in Japan, there are some who put on makeup that literally mimics a cat’s features, such as pink noses and whiskers!

From historical to modern times, in folktales and in magazines, cats are so widespread in Japanese culture that it is impossible to escape from the clutches of their claws! Next time you visit Japan, keep an eye for these loveable creatures with kinked tails, and the stories and merchandise that they have inspired!

© ようてい at the Japanese language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons


© photoAC


© Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons


© Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

© Web Japan


© Web Japan

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