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。

A maneki-neko (beckoning cat) is a cat figurine depicted beckoning with its paw. Because cats eradicated the mice that fed on crops and silkworms, they were historically regarded as lucky charms for sericulture; after the silk-farming industry declined, however, they came to be seen as talismans for business prosperity. Overview While maneki-neko were traditionally predominantly white or black, a wide variety of colors can be seen in recent years, partly due to the influence of the feng shui boom. Each color is often assigned a specific meaning, said to bring a different type of blessing. White cats, or calico patterns on a white base, are all-purpose charms for "good luck and fortune." Black cats symbolize "warding off evil and ensuring safety," likely owing to their reputation for excellent night vision. They are also considered the messengers of the deity Shuyashinson at Dannohorin-ji Temple (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto). Gold signifies "financial success and prosperity." Red represents "good health and longevity." This is because red was believed to be a color hated by the smallpox god. Pink represents "success in love." Yellow stands for "wealth and prosperity." This stems from the feng shui belief that yellow attracts money, as well as the Five Elements theory, in which yellow represents earth, and earth generates metal (gold). The character for fortune (福) is sometimes written upside down; for this, see "dao fu." Today, the top producer of maneki-neko in Japan is the city of Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture. Another famous production area is the neighboring city of Seto, with both regions primarily crafting ceramic figurines. In addition, they are produced around Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture using techniques similar to those used for the region's famous Daruma dolls. In recent years, plastic versions have also appeared, and vast numbers of maneki-neko continue to be distributed every year. Toys powered by solar panels that continuously repeat the beckoning motion have also been brought to market. Maneki-neko Outside Japan In China, too, golden beckoning cats equipped with a waving paw can often be seen on street corners. Most of them hold a "senryo koban" (a thousand-ryo gold coin) in their left paw. In Taiwan, ever since the boom in Japanese culture during the 1990s, many stores have placed Japanese-style maneki-neko at their storefronts or behind cash registers.