Cats Win and Japan Is No Longer Going to the Dogs
Felines now rule Tokyo’s halls of political power and royal prestige.
So many maneki-neko.
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Japanese cats have captivated global business for decades. Hello Kitty! has generated more than $80 billion for Sanrio Co. Ltd. in the last half century. Meanwhile, the maneki-neko — beckoning cats — that emerged in 17th-century temples in the islands entice customers with their waving paws into Chinese restaurants everywhere.