Walk into a Japanese restaurant or store and you’ll probably find a ceramic or plastic cat with one raised paw waving at you. Such cats are known as lucky cats and meant to bring good fortune to businesses (although you rarely see organized crime cartels relying on lucky charms to improve their profits).
Curiously, Japanese lucky cats come in different colors, depending on what type of luck you’re trying to attract:
- White: Happiness, purity
- Black: Safety, wards off evil spirits
- Red: Protection from illness
- Gold: Wealth and prosperity
- Pink: Love and romance
- Blue: Success in education
- Green: Family safety
So the next time you need a little luck in your life, consider getting a Japanese lucky cat. Or just get a real cat instead and see if it’s luckier than a plastic or ceramic one.
To learn more about the history of the Japanese lucky cat, click here.