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Tokoname Maneki Neko (Lucky Cats)

Tokoname is a leading producer of maneki neko (lucky cat) ceramic figurines, which are symbols of good luck. Maneki neko are usually calico cats with white, black, and orange markings. They raise one front paw in the air and clutch a gold coin in the other. The raised paw mimics the Japanese gesture used to beckon someone: a raised hand with the palm facing down, and fingers moving up and down. Some maneki neko raise a left paw, which is said to beckon people, making them particularly popular with businesses eager to draw in customers. Other cats hold up a right paw to bring good fortune and wealth.

The origin of the maneki neko is unclear, but farmers and shopkeepers have traditionally valued cats because they catch rats and other pests. While the first lucky cat figurines are thought to have appeared in the mid-nineteenth century, Tokoname’s production began in the late 1930s. Traditional pottery industries were in decline then, so local artisans began making the figurines as a new line of business.

By 1950, the city was Japan’s main producer of lucky cats, its signature style of maneki neko having large eyes and ears on a plump body. The traditional calico cat remains the most popular, although today, maneki neko come in various colors and designs. They have even inspired some of Tokoname’s best-known tourist attractions, including the following.

Tokoname Maneki Neko-dori (Lucky Cat Street)

Tokoname Maneki Neko-dori is a street lined with 39 colorful, modern interpretations of maneki neko. Artists with connections to Tokoname made the cats, imbuing each one with the power to offer a specific blessing. These include a happy marriage, good health, and the successful completion of a task.

The street connects Tokoname Station with Tokonyan, Tokoname’s most famous lucky cat, and Tokoname Tojiki Kaikan (Ceramics Hall), which is the entry point for the Pottery Footpath.

Tokonyan, the Guardian Cat of Tokoname

Tokonyan is the giant maneki neko (lucky cat) figure that peeks over an embankment near a bridge halfway along Tokoname Maneki Neko-dori (Lucky Cat Street). Visitors traveling by train may spot this guardian of the city on arrival at the station.

The name “Tokonyan” is a combination of “Tokoname” and the meowing sound of a cat (nyan) in Japanese. Since its creation in 2008, Tokonyan has become a beloved symbol of the city and a popular subject for taking photographs.

Tokonyan stands 3.8 meters high and 6.3 meters wide, making it one of Japan’s largest maneki neko, although it has only a head and a raised left paw. It welcomes everyone while keeping watch over the city. A careful search along the wall near Tokonyan will reveal 11 small, realistic cat figurines that keep the huge maneki neko company.

常滑招財貓

常滑市是陶瓷招財貓的一大產地。招財貓通常是帶有白色、黑色和橙色斑紋的三花貓。招財貓的一隻前爪高高舉起，做出招手的姿勢；另一隻前爪緊握一枚金幣。據說招財貓舉起左前爪能招徠顧客，因此希望客人絡繹不絕的商家特別喜歡；若是舉右前爪，則會帶來好運與財富。

招財貓的起源目前不詳，但農民和店家歷來都很重視貓，因為牠們擅長捕老鼠與其他害蟲。最早的招財貓可能在19世紀中葉就已經出現，但直到1930年代晚期，常滑才開始生產招財貓商品。當時，傳統製陶產業日漸衰落，當地工匠便開闢了製作陶瓷招財貓的新業務。

到了1950年，常滑成為日本最大的招財貓生產地，常滑招財貓的標誌風格也因此確立：大眼睛、大耳朵、與身體一樣大的腦袋。儘管傳統三花的招財貓依然很受歡迎，但現在的招財貓無論在色彩還是設計上都更為豐富多元。招財貓甚至為常滑著名旅遊景點帶來了靈感，例如：

常滑招財貓大道

常滑招財貓大道匯集了39隻色彩斑斕、形態各異的現代招財貓。這些「御利益陶製招財貓」都是與常滑有因緣的藝術家的作品，每一隻都能帶來特別的祝福，比如婚姻美滿、無病無災或事業有成。

這條大道連結常滑車站、當地著名的招財貓「常滑喵」，以及「陶器之路」步行街入口處的常滑市陶磁器會館。

常滑守護使者——常滑喵

巨大招財貓「常滑喵」從常滑招財貓大道中段一座天橋附近的高墻上探出頭來，搭乘火車的旅客抵達常滑車站時，就會見到這位城市的守護神。

常滑喵（Tokonyan）由常滑中「常」的日語發音「Toko」，以及日語中形容喵喵聲的「Nyan」組合而成。自2007年起，常滑喵就深受常滑市民和遊客的喜愛，這裡已成為熱門拍照打卡地點，遊客都很喜歡站在旁邊的橋上與它合影。

這隻大招財貓高3.8公尺，寬6.3公尺，雖然只露出了頭與左前爪，但仍是日本最大的招財貓之一。它守護著常滑，歡迎各地旅客。沿著雕像附近的牆仔細觀察，會發現常滑喵的周圍還有11隻小巧逼真的貓咪塑像。

常滑招财猫

常滑是陶瓷招财猫的一大产地。招财猫通常是带有白色、黑色和橙色斑纹的三花猫。它的一只前爪高高举起作招手姿势，另一只前爪紧握着一枚金币。据说招财猫举起左爪能招徕顾客，因此特别受到渴望千客万来的商家喜爱；若是举着右爪则可以带来好运和财富。

招财猫的起源不详，但农民和店主历来都很重视能擅捕老鼠和其他害虫的猫。最早的招财猫可能在19世纪中叶就已出现，但直到20世纪30年代晚期，常滑才开始生产这类商品。当时，传统制陶业日渐衰落，当地工匠便开辟了制作陶瓷招财猫的新业务。

到了1950年，常滑已成为日本招财猫的主要产地，常滑招财猫的标志性风格也由此确立：大眼睛、大耳朵、跟身体一般大的脑袋。尽管传统三花猫的招财猫依然很受欢迎，但现在的招财猫无论色彩还是设计都更为丰富多样。招财猫甚至为常滑的著名旅游景点提供了灵感，以下就是其中几大实例。

常滑招财猫大道

常滑招财猫大道汇集了39只色彩斑斓、形态各异的现代招财猫。这些“御利益陶制招财猫”均为与常滑有渊源的陶艺家的作品，每一只都能带来特别的祝福，例如婚姻美满、无病无灾或事业有成。

这条街道连接着常滑站、当地著名的招财猫“常滑喵”，以及位于“陶器之路”步行街入口处的常滑市陶磁器会馆。

常滑守护使者——常滑喵

巨大的招财猫“常滑喵”从常滑招财猫大道中段一座天桥附近的高墙上探出头来，乘火车的旅行者在抵达常滑站时，就会看到这位城市守护神。

常滑喵(Tokonyan)取常滑中“常”的日语发音“Toko”，以及日语中形容喵喵猫叫声的“Nyan”组合而成。自2007年诞生起，常滑喵就深受常滑市民和游客的喜爱，这里已经成为热门拍照打卡点，旅行者很喜欢站在旁边的天桥上与它合影。

这只大猫高3.8米，宽6.3米，虽然它只露出了头和左前爪，但仍是日本最大的招财猫之一。它守护着常滑，欢迎八方来客。沿着雕像附近的墙壁仔细观察，会发现常滑喵周围还有11只小巧逼真的猫咪塑像。