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by Yuka Morii
Clay sculpture
Loyal calico of Omatsu whose enduring devotion gave rise to the beckoning-cat shrines of Tokushima.
An Edo-period legend tells of Omatsu, a woman who died while remaining true to justice. After her death, the spirit of her beloved cat took revenge on those responsible for her fate. True to its name, Mike was a calico cat. Today, Omatsu Daigongen Shrine in Tokushima is home to numerous statues of calico maneki-neko (beckoning cats), honoring this enduring legend.
An Edo-period legend tells of Omatsu, a woman who died while remaining true to justice. After her death, the spirit of her beloved cat took revenge on those responsible for her fate. True to its name, Mike was a calico cat. Today, Omatsu Daigongen Shrine in Tokushima is home to numerous statues of calico maneki-neko (beckoning cats), honoring this enduring legend.