A giant Japanese "Maneki-neko" appears on a bridge, scaring the little cat in front

▲The giant Maneki-neko and the little cat stare at each other.

Reported and photographed by Reporter You t
ru / Japan
 
Travelers visiting "Takarazuka City," just a 10-minute drive from Chubu Centrair International Airport in central Japan, will find it hard not to be impressed. Takarazuka is not only known as the home of famous Tokoname-yaki pottery, exuding an old-world and tranquil atmosphere, but also features a giant "Maneki-neko" (lucky cat) over a hundred times the size of a normal cat clinging to a city wall. Its incredibly cute appearance is truly memorable.


▲%The chubby cheeks appeared on the bridge, with two small cats standing on both sides of the road below, looking up at it.


Takarazuka City, known for its ceramic production, uses locally sourced red clay fired at a low temperature of 1120 degrees. The soft and graceful appearance of its pottery has earned it the status of a nationally designated traditional craft. There are multiple places in the city where visitors can try their hand at Tokoname-yaki experiences. Throughout Takarazuka, one can spot many cat-shaped pottery figurines. Walking along the streets, you’ll see cats appearing on both sides, each with different colors and poses, yet all lively and extremely adorable.

A must-see in Takarazuka is a "Maneki-neko" that is over a hundred times the size of a real cat — the highlight of the city’s cat pottery viewing. This giant Maneki-neko clings to the slope next to Kitayama Bridge, extending its left paw while gazing at a small cat pottery figurine in front, creating a clever scene as if it's about to pounce. Locals say the raised left paw of the Maneki-neko symbolizes attracting wealth and also carries the meaning of being the city's guardian. It is the area’s most iconic mascot, and this scene attracts many cat lovers to visit specifically.


▲%The plump cat on the bridge in the city center, viewed by passersby, is accompanied by several other vivid-looking ones, which are also important highlights.