The world’s most famous cat would probably be Hello Kitty and we all know where the character came from: Japan. Japan totally loves cats that they even have lucky charms, deities, and even an island dedicated to cats. So why is this country so obsessed with cats?
During the early eras, high ranking people already have cats to accompany them around, even commoners treat cats well. Ever since, cats have been loved by the Japanese.
Tashirojima Island is called the Cat Island of Japan. There are over five hundred cats that inhabit the island which the residents feed and play with. They were initially bred to kill the pests in the island but they eventually grew in number resulting to the ratio of humans to cats to four is to one. There is also a cat shrine in the island where offerings are made to their cat god or Neko Kami-Sama.
The Japanese also treat their cats as lucky charms. A Maneki Neko is a small statue often found in front of shops who are wishing for prosperity and luck in their businesses. This is one souvenir you shouldn’t miss buying!
Cat cafes are also prominent in the metro. Visitors can play around with cats while enjoying their afternoon tea and snacks. Different breeds of cats may be found in a cat cafe and you are free to touch and play with them. There are also choices for cat food which you can feed to the cats. Cat lovers will truly enjoy these kinds of places.
A mobile game also became a hit because of our furry friends. Neko Atsume is an application wherein you can virtually pet the cats and collect different breeds. It became a hit not only in Japan but also worldwide!
Cats are very much loved in Japan so don’t hesitate to pet them when you see one straying around!
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