Hello – Kon nichi wa – こんにちは。it’s me, Merlin turning Japanese for a day to celebrate Nyan, Nyan, Nyan or Japanese Cat Day. “Nyan” is the Japanese equivalent of the “meow” sound and “ni” is the Japanese word for number two. February 22 (written 22/2) is pronounced “ni ni ni”, which apparently sounds close to “nyan nyan nyan”. Sounds good to me.

Japan has one of the highest number of cats per capita in the world. They are famous for the maneki-neko (beckoning cat) a talisman believed to bring good luck. We have several at our house and maybe that’s why I’m still alive.

My mom, Layla was playing with me, you might say, pulling my leg. Aren’t human idioms silly? I feel pretty lucky all things considered.

I found this old pic of Odin channeling his inner maneko-neko in a Japanese maple tree taunting the birds with his nyan, nyan, nyan.

I don’t know if today is an official bank holiday but a Japanese bank did this funny video with cats recently which requires no translation. Enjoy. Isn’t it great to know cats are the messengers of smiles wherever you live?

Love and domo arigato,

Merlin-san

See you next week for the next Mondays With Merlin.