Woodcuts and paintings of cats similar to the Japanese Bobtail suggest that the bobtail cat arrived in Japan around the 6th century. Although, some breed historians believe that the Japanese Bobtail arrived in the country around the 10th century, during the reign of Emperor Ichijo, who was the owner of five Japanese Bobtails.
At this time, Emperor Ichijo decreed that cats were forbidden to work. Unfortunately, Japan's silk industry began to suffer. Since there were no cats to hunt, mice began to destroy the silkworms and cocoons. Silk manufactures placed statues of cats around the cocoons to frighten the mice. When this failed, the Emperor ordered all cats out to hunt. The Japanese bobtail became a street cat and was known as the ‘Kazoku Neko’ or family cat. Today, many Japanese Bobtail cats still run free in the streets of Japan!
In Tokyo, there is a temple called the Goutokuji, which is dedicated to cats. It is believed that the temple is protected by Maneki-Neko, a folklore cat. The legend of Maneki-neko can be traced back to when the Goutokuji was a Buddhist monastery. The monastery was low on money and food but the monks at the temple always made sure their cat named Tama, a mi-ke or tri-colored Japanese Bobtail, always had food. One day Lord Naotaka Ii was passing by the monastery when he noticed Tama sitting at the front gate beckoning to him. Naotaka followed Tama into the temple just as a bolt of lightening struck the place where he had been standing. The cat saved the Lord’s life and in return the Lord rescued the monastery from poverty. The monastery was then renamed Goutokuji.
Maneki Neko, which means beckoning cat, is the incarnation of the Goddess of Mercy. The statue of Maneki Neko is depicted as a mi-ke Japanese Bobtail. The altar in the Goutokuji is surrounded by Maneki Neko statues. Many Japanese workplaces display the statute to welcome their customers and to bring success in their work. The statue can also be seen in Japanese homes to welcome good friends.