Maneki Neko, the calico Japanese bobtail with a raised paw, believed to bring good luck to business, is probably the most popular good luck charm in Japan and its image is well known throughout the world.

At the Imado shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo, the Maneki Neko are represented in pairs, as they are considered to also bring good luck in love and marriage. The shrine is dedicated to the couple of Shinto gods Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto, so it is also known as a shrine from matchmaking.

Imado Shrine, Asakusa, Tokyo

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Rikugi-en, one of the most beautiful gardens in Tokyo