Mysterious figurines seen at the Japanese entrances

by Hiroki D.

5.00(5) reviews
Last updated : May 06, 20231 min read

Animal figurines that you often see at the entrance when walking in the city

Have you ever wondered?

Japanese people can understand it, but foreigners seem to find it strange.

The most popular lucky charms are raccoon dogs and cats in Japan.
Foreigners often ask me, "Why are there racoon figurines?" and "I often see cat figurines for sale."
The raccoon dog is placed in the meaning of business prosperity because it literally means to surpass others.
In addition, the cat, which is often seen in ornaments, is called Manekineko (maneki-neko), and is named after the gesture of beckoning a person with a good cat's hand. The ancient thoughts and customs of Japan have been handed down to the present day and still remain.

 

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