On this episode of Japan Station, I examine the mysterious origins of the Japanese word for cat: neko. Trust me, there's a whole lot more to say about the topic than you might think!

👉Topics Discussed

• The etymology of neko/cat
• Various theories that try to explain the origins of the Japanese word for cat
• Whether the Japanese word for cat traces its origins back to Chine/Chinese
• When cats first arrived in Japan
• What the onomatopoeia for a cat meowing was in The Tale of Genji
• About the song Neko Funjatta and what it is called in other countries/languages
• And more

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👉Links, Videos, Etc.

Here's the video of Neko Funjatta by Ichigoclub15.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpqGiKJt3cQ

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