Noren -猫- Japanese curtain

On this noren, the white cat embodies a spirit of “pure good fortune.” Its quiet glow gently purifies the space and brings an auspicious aura to all who gather there.

In Japanese culture the white cat has long been regarded as a lucky emblem that unites purity and prosperity. Since ancient times, the color white has been believed to banish impurity and renew one’s fortunes, so a white cat came to be cherished as a talisman for warding off misfortune and ensuring good health. Among maneki-neko figurines, the white variety is the classic bearer of luck and success.

Shintō folklore strengthens this image: just as the white fox serves the deity Inari, white-furred cats are also considered sacred messengers, appearing as protective motifs at shrines. Seafarers valued them too; in the age of sailing ships, their easily visible coats were thought to avert storms, inspiring the saying, “A white cat on board keeps tempests away.”

In literature and art, the white coat reflects light with delicate nuance, lending the cat an air of transience and mystery. Ukiyo-e master Utagawa Kuniyoshi drew whimsical, anthropomorphic white cats, while Taishō-era artist Takehisa Yumeji featured them in poetic illustrations—each work enhancing the feline’s dreamlike narrative power.