Neko

From WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia.

Neko (猫, ねこ) is the Japanese word for a domestic cat. In furry, it is often used to refer to nekomimi (猫耳), otherwise known as catgirls, found commonly in anime and manga either as a form of cosplay or actual body parts, as well as in a few video games.

[edit] Nekomata and bakeneko

In Japanese mythology and folklore, Bakeneko (化け猫) are cats with supernatural abilities akin to those of the fox or raccoon dog. A cat may become a bakeneko in a number of ways: it may reach a certain age, be kept for a certain number of years, grow to a certain size, or be allowed to keep a long tail. In the last case, the tail forks in two and the bakeneko is then called a Nekomata (猫又). Nekomata are popularly found in anime as well.

[edit] Popular culture

Japanese popular culture contains a large number of two-tailed cat characters based on the Nekomata. Some of these include:

• Kirara, the pet of Sango in InuYasha.
• In the manga Shaman King, Hao Asakura's spirit ally from 1,000 years ago is a Nekomata named Matamune.
• A character named Yugito in Naruto contains a Two-Tailed Demon Cat.
• In the manga/anime series Hyper Police the character Natsuki Sasahara is half human and possibly half Nekomata, or possibly a mix of Nekomata with a third 'god' race which may account for her having some additional powers.
• In the anime Inukami!, the character Tomekichi is a benevolent Nekomata who honors an obligation to a deceased priest who once took care of him.
• In the video game Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army, the Skill Nekomata is an agile, human-like cat sporting a long tail.
• In the video game Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne Beast Nekomata appear as recruitable allies in Ginza and Ikebukuro.
• In the video game Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, Nekomata is one of the main Protagonist's summonable Personas.
• The Pokémon Espeon is a purple Nekomata which uses psychic attacks.
• The character Yurine in the animation Karas appears as both a human and a white cat with a forked-tail.
• In the series Claymore manga, Luciela, the abyssal one of the South, has an awakened form resembling a two-tailed cat demon.
• In the video game Battlefield 2142, the PAC (Pan Asian Coalition) has a futuristic hover tank named the Type 32 Nekomata.
• On Ninja Sentai Kakuranger there is a Yokai called Bakeneko.
• In the video games Disgaea: Hour of Darkness & Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories, the player has the ability to create a Nekomata from the Dark Assembly.
• In the video game Persona 3, a Persona named Nekomata is obtainable. It takes the form of a humanlike cat.
• In the Anime Vampire Princess Miyu in the episode Your House she confronted Nan-ki a Nekomata Shinma.
• In the video games Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner & Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2 you can encounter a Nekomata in battle whom falls under the Beast race.
• In the video games Persona, Persona 2: Innocent sin, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment & Persona 3: Fes a nekomata is summonable Persona.
• In Studio Ghibli's film Pom Poko that focused about how the Tanuki's way of life was in danger, would they adapt or be killed off? During a scene which the elder was explaining transformation, he pointed out on a large tapestry about other Yokai whom had that ability other then them selfs, which included kitsunes and "Some cats" to refer to either bakenekos and or Nekomatas.