Description
Cats have been highly valued in commercial households, symbolized by the 'Maneki-neko' or 'beckoning cat', believed to attract people and bring prosperity to businesses. In the Edo period, especially in the silk-producing regions of Tohoku, cats were commonly kept to protect silkworms from mice. Historical records even show that while a horse was valued at one ryo (an old Japanese currency unit), a cat known for catching many mice could be traded for as much as five ryo, highlighting their esteemed role in that era.