I visited Gotokuji Temple, a famous temple, also known as a lucky cat temple that is the family temple of the Ii clan, who served as senior vassals of the Tokugawa clan of the Edo Shogunate. Long ago, when the Ii clan’s lord was passing in front of this temple, which was on the Ii clan’s territory, a cat beloved by the temple’s head priest beckoned him in, and thanks to this cat the lord was able to avoid being struck by lightning, and so the cat has been treasured as a beckoning cat that brings good fortune, along with the Kannon Bodhisattva.

Incidentally, Hikonyan, the mascot of Hikone Castle, the Ii clan’s castle, and the original mascot character, was designed based on Gotokuji Temple’s beckoning cat.