Photographer Shin Suzuki recently used a rare day-off to photograph the two Tokyo holy places that claim to be the origin of the 'maneki-neko' (aka 'lucky cat' or 'beckoning cat'). Representing Tokyo's west side is Gotokuji, a Buddhist temple, and representing the city's east side is Imado Jinja, a Shinto shrine.
Gotokuji Temple
"Let's start with Gotokuji Temple on the west side of the city. The maneki-neko here really look authentic. It all started when the family cat of Ii Naosuke (influential late-Edo period 'Daimyo') was interred at the temple grounds. However, it is also true that a shopping street near the temple has long been named 'Tama-nyan shotengai' ('Meowing Tama Shopping Street'). With it's 'Hall of Maneki-neko' and 'Maneki-neko Tower', not to mention the lovely facial expression of its representative maneki-neko itself, this place is great for cat-lovers. More precisely, this temple is a healing maneki-neko 'power spot'."
Imado Jinja
"Now let's move on to East Tokyo's representative, Imado Jinja Shrine. Because of the supposed power it holds as being the origin of the maneki-neko, the elderly really flock here on weekends (Even though it doesn't sell food, lot's of people come here to take a lunch break - you sure can tell that this is the 'old downtown' of Tokyo!). If you look closely at the maneki-neko of this shrine, you will notice that two cats are combined into a single figure. Moreover, the words 'en musubi' ('romantic fate' / 'marriage tie') are written on them. That's right, the maneki-neko of Imado Jinja is the charm of fateful encounters."
"Gotokuji is where you beckon 'virtue' and Imado Jinja is where you beckon 'fate' ('maneki' means 'to beckon'). Because these prefixes have been cut from the name 'maneki neko' at both places, it's hard to know which is actually the birthplace of the maneki-neko. This being the case, cat-lovers from around the country will surely be beckoned by the maneki-neko that represents what they are 'beckoning' for."
Gotokuji Temple
Address: Tokyo-to, Setagaya-ku, Gotokuji 2-24-7
Phone: (81) 3-5478-8038 (Regional Promotion Division of the Kitazawa General Branch Office)
Imado Jinja Shrine
Address: Tokyo-to, Taito-ku, Imado 1-5-22
Phone: (81) 3-3872-2703
Open Year-round 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
