Tokonyan is officially named 'Tokonyan,' a portmanteau of Tokoname and 'nyan,' the Japanese onomatopoeia for a cat's meow.
The giant sculpture is accompanied by several smaller cat figures installed throughout the nearby alleyways.
Tokoname produces the highest volume of maneki-neko figurines in Japan.
The sculpture is mounted on a wall originally built to support the cliffside terrain of the pottery district.
The specific design of the cat features the 'right paw raised' pose, which in Japanese tradition is believed to invite prosperity and money.
Tokonyan is a giant, 3.8-meter-high and 6.3-meter-wide sculpture of a maneki-neko, or beckoning cat, perched atop a concrete retaining wall in Tokoname, Aichi. It serves as a symbolic guardian of Tokoname, a city historically renowned as one of Japan's six ancient pottery kilns. The sculpture was installed in 2007 to promote the local ceramic industry and represents the city's identity as a hub for maneki-neko production. It is situated along the Pottery Footpath, a walking route that winds through the historic district featuring old chimneys and kilns. The area immediately surrounding the sculpture is characterized by steep, narrow alleys lined with traditional brick and clay architecture. It remains a landmark of the Tokoname Pottery Trail.
From the street level directly below the sculpture, looking up to capture the cat against the sky and the surrounding old brick walls.
Combine this visit with a walk along the full 'Tokoname Pottery Footpath' to see historic kilns and brick chimneys.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the streets surrounding the sculpture are sloped and paved with irregular stones.
Visit the local workshops nearby to participate in a ceramic painting or pottery-making session.
Do not attempt to climb or touch the sculpture, as it is positioned on a high, fragile wall surface.
