MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Statues of cats and Tanuki, raccoon dogs, are found in shops everywhere in Japan. These lucky statues of Maneki Neko and Tanuki are two of Japan's most popular good luck charms.
Maneki Neko is a small statue of a cat with its paw raised, which gestures in Japanese fashion, to invite customers to come into the shop and spend money. On the cat's front, written in kanji, are either "sho-un" or "en-gi-mono" which means "brings good luck."
The reason for using a cat is the Japanese see a cat belonging to a family or a household and therefore is the shop's mascot, where as a dog belongs to one person, its owner.
Another lucky animal is Tanuki, the statue of a raccoon dog. The Tanuki is common in Japan and the east coast of Asia and has a reputation for being cute and funny from Japanese fairy tales. These statues are sold in most tourist shops near famous temples and shrines.
In one popular fairy tale, a woodsman rescues a Tanuki from being beaten by three boys. To repay the woodsman, the Tanuki turns itself into a tea kettle so the woodsman can sell it. A local priest buys the kettle and puts water into it to make tea. When the priest puts the kettle on the fire, the kettle turns back into a Tanuki and runs out the door with its tail on fire.
This is how the Japanese view the Tanuki - a clever animal with magical powers which usually get it into trouble. This great affection for the animal is what helped create Ponpoko Tanuki.
Ponpoko Tanuki was created in Shigaraki City in Gifu Prefecture. Since the Tanuki has a big stomach, the name "Ponpoko" came from the sound made when people pounded their bellies. The Tanuki was given a ledger notebook for a shopkeeper's image and a jar of sake since he's fond of it.
The result is a jolly creature often seen outside of restaurants and bars, inviting people to come in to relax and have a cup of sake.
Many shops have these animals displayed in their windows or outside their doors. One to invite people in to relax and to have a good time, and the other to invite people in to spend money and to bring good luck to the shop. While it is unknown how much luck they bring, they do seem to bring a bit of joy and fun to those who have them.