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From Japanese shops to homes worldwide, the beckoning maneki-neko cat is believed to attract luck, wealth and prosperity. But what does its famous waving paw really mean?

In Japan, cats are everywhere. They peer out from book covers, greet customers from shopfronts, and nap lazily in cafés built entirely around their catty charm. Entire islands are known for their ...

Whenever Chouchou and Miko are placed next to each other for the perfect shot, things can quickly descend into chaos ...

Hi, it’s Akemi in Tokyo, Japan — the country with one of the world’s oldest populations. But humans aren’t the only species aging here, and that’s costing pet owners money. Before I explain... Welcome ...

AOSHIMA, JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 27: Cats look on as an island resident feeds a kitten on September 27, 2018 in Aoshima, Japan. Aoshima island has come to be known for… Getty Images ...

Cats are beloved in Japan, as they have been for thousands of years. From old mythological tales of feline yokai like the smart shape-shifting bakeneko to the Hello Kitties and lucky maneki-nekos of ...