Is there a secret, dark history lurking behind those friendly lucky cat statues that welcome you into your favorite Chinese take out place?
This week on Seemingly Unrelated we dive into the Maneki-neko, aka Beckoning Cat, aka Lucky Cat, which has become a symbol of pan-Asian businesses around the world. All in pursuit of answering the question: why is this guy so popular?
We'll explore the potential heroic legend of the Maneki-neko, it's brief stint as a symbol of the Yoshiwara pleasure district in Tokyo, a journey through an oft ignored mass migration of servants to the Americas, and a special visit from Hello Kitty who is apparently not actually a cat?!
Find out all the secrets, and maybe some get some good fortune with episode 11 of Seemingly Unrelated!
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Seemingly Unrelated is a podcast all about exploring how everyday things connect to major movements in history, politics and culture.
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