This is actually the "good luck cat" and not to be confused with another cat creation out of Japan. This cat is actually found all over Asia, I'm not quite for certain if it originates in Japan. Japan as it appears to be is the only Asian country I've been to, and that numbers 8, where cats are reasonable well cared for. In Kyoto I saw big fluffy moggies with fake diamond collars sitting on house door steps as proof to this.