招き猫（まねきねこ）は、前足で人を招く猫の形の置物。

猫は農作物や蚕を食べるネズミを駆除するため、古くは養蚕の縁起物でもあったが、養蚕が衰退してからは商売繁盛の縁起物とされている。

概要

招き猫の色は従来白または黒が主流だったが、近年は風水ブームの影響もあり各種の色が見られる。それぞれの色に意味付けを行い、得られる御利益も異なるとすることも多い。白、または白地に三毛猫の斑が入るものは汎用の「開運招福」。黒猫は夜目が利くことを買われたのか「厄除安全」。檀王法林寺（京都市左京区）の主夜神尊のお使いでもある。金色は「金運満足」。赤は「健康長寿」。疱瘡神が嫌う色だとされていたことから。ピンクは「恋愛成就」。黄色は「金運繁栄」。風水では黄色は金運を呼ぶ色であり、また五行説では黄色は土を表し、土は金を生むことから。

福の字が逆さまに書かれていることがあるが、これは倒福を参照。

現在、招き猫の日本一の生産地は愛知県常滑市である。他の名産地としては同県瀬戸市があり、ともに主として陶器製である。ほかに群馬県の高崎市近郊などで、特産の達磨と同様な製法で生産されている。さらに近年はプラスチック製品なども登場し、今でも毎年数多くの招き猫が流通している。ソーラーパネルからの電力で実際に招く動作を繰り返す玩具なども製品化されている。

日本国外の招き猫

中国でも街角にて、手を振る機能を備えた、金色の招き猫を見ることがある。多くは左手に“千両小判”を持っている。台湾では1990年代の日本文化ブーム以来、日本と同じ型の招き猫を店先やレジスターの後ろなどに置いている店が多い。

The *maneki-neko* (beckoning cat) is a cat-shaped figurine depicted with a raised front paw beckoning people. Because cats exterminate mice that eat crops and silkworms, they were historically considered lucky charms for sericulture; however, as the sericulture industry declined, they came to be regarded as talismans for business prosperity. Overview Traditionally, *maneki-neko* were predominantly white or black, but in recent years, a wide variety of colors have appeared, partly due to the influence of the feng shui boom. Meanings are often assigned to each color, with each said to bring different blessings. White cats, or calico patterns on a white background, are general-purpose charms for "good luck and welcoming fortune." Perhaps prized for their keen night vision, black cats represent "warding off evil and ensuring safety." They are also considered messengers of Shuyashinson at Danno Horin-ji Temple (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto). Gold signifies "financial abundance." Red represents "good health and longevity." This stems from the belief that red was a color disliked by the deity of smallpox. Pink represents "success in love." Yellow signifies "wealth and prosperity." In feng shui, yellow is believed to attract financial luck; furthermore, in the Five Elements theory, yellow represents Earth, and Earth generates Metal (wealth). Sometimes the character for "fortune" (福) is written upside down; for details, see *dào fú*. Today, Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture is Japan's largest producer of *maneki-neko*. Another famous production center is Seto City in the same prefecture, with both regions primarily producing ceramic figurines. They are also produced in areas such as the outskirts of Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture, using the same manufacturing methods as the local specialty, Daruma dolls. Furthermore, plastic versions have emerged in recent years, and large numbers of *maneki-neko* continue to be distributed every year. Novelties powered by solar panels that continuously repeat a beckoning motion have also been commercialized. *Maneki-neko* Outside Japan In China as well, golden beckoning cats with waving paws can often be seen on street corners. Most of them hold a "thousand-ryo" oval gold coin (*koban*) in their left paw. In Taiwan, ever since the Japanese pop-culture boom of the 1990s, many shops have displayed Japanese-style *maneki-neko* at storefronts or behind cash registers.