A Grandmother And Her Cat

Everyone knows that Japanese people have a certain obsession with cats, just think about Hello Kitty! But why? What is it about cats that the Japanese love so much? Well, in Japan it is believed by many that cats are auspicious, that they are the bearers of good luck. It is especially true if a cat is washing his face with his paw, he his then believed by this gesture to be “inviting” good fortune. That’s why almost every Japanese person or business has a little statue somewhere of a cat washing himself.

A few years ago, Misao, a Japanese grandmother, found a beautiful, white odd-eyed cat in her shed and decided to keep it. Misao named her new friend Fukumaru (Fuku: god of Good Fortune & Maru: circle) in the hopes the cat would bring around good luck.

The grandmother, who is in her late 80ies, goes to the field every day to work in spite of her advanced years and hearing impairment. Fukumaru, who is also elderly and has hearing problems herself, is always by her friend’s side. Misao’s granddaughter Miyoko Ihara who is a photographer, decided to document the beautiful relationship between her grandmother and her cat. You can find more pictures of the touching friendship on her website.