Even though I got my flu shot in December, I ended up getting sick one after another this year—Flu A → Flu B → and then a stomach flu. Because of that, I spent far too many days in bed as we entered the New Year.

How did you spend your year-end and New Year holidays?

This year is the Year of the Horse in the Japanese zodiac.

Recently, a trend has been popular in Japan: using AI to generate images of your beloved cat wearing a horse costume. I decided to give it a try with my own cat! Since I was already having fun, I also created a few versions inspired by Coming-of-Age Day, dressing my cat in kimono and hakama as well.

My cat is surprisingly calm—even when “wearing” a costume.
Because of that, I’ve lost some of the fun of shopping for cute cat outfits… and at the same time, my cat has had fewer chances to enjoy Churu, their favorite treat, as a reward ?

Why Isn’t There a Cat in the Japanese Zodiac?

Have you ever wondered:
“Why isn’t there a cat in the Japanese zodiac (the Twelve Zodiac signs)?”

I found an interesting YouTube video, so today I’d like to introduce it and take a deeper look into the zodiac story.

To be honest, the true reason cats are not included is not completely clear.
However, there are two well-known theories.

Two Theories: Why Cats Aren’t Included

1) The “Cat Lost to the Tiger” Theory

The Twelve Zodiac signs were originally introduced from China. In China, tigers have existed since ancient times, while cats were considered a relatively newer animal in historical context.

Because of that, the zodiac is said to have chosen the tiger instead of the cat.

Interestingly, in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, where cats are believed to have been known earlier than tigers, it is said that the zodiac includes a “Year of the Cat” instead of the rabbit.

2) The “Cat Was Tricked by the Rat” Theory

Long ago, there is a story that the gods held a race and declared:
“The animals will be chosen for the zodiac in the order they arrive on New Year’s Day.”

However, the cat was tricked by the rat, who told the cat the wrong date. The cat arrived late and missed the chance to be included in the zodiac.

It is also said that the rat rode on the ox’s head and jumped off right before the finish line—so the rat arrived first, even ahead of the ox.
What a clever little trickster!

Since then, cats have supposedly been angry and started chasing rats.

Another version of the story says the gods scolded the cat, telling it:
“Go wash your face and try again.”
And that is why cats still wash their faces so carefully even today.

From now on, every time I see a cat rubbing its face, I might feel a little sorry for them…

Do Zodiac Animals Differ by Country?

Whether these stories are true or not, one thing is certain:
the zodiac is not unique to Japan—it is used widely across Asia and beyond.

And depending on the country, the animals associated with the Twelve Zodiac signs can be slightly different.

I used to believe that the zodiac animals were only shared among China, Japan, and Korea, so I was genuinely surprised to learn about these subtle differences.

For example:
• Tiger vs. Leopard
• Pig vs. Boar
• Ox vs. Water Buffalo

It’s fascinating how small changes reflect regional culture and history.

Names of the Twelve Zodiac Animals Around the World (by Country)

What Is the Personality of Someone Born in the Year of the Horse?

In Japan, where fortune-telling and personality analysis are widely enjoyed, zodiac-based personality traits are also well known.

People born in the Year of the Horse include those born in:
1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, and 2014.

Horse-year individuals are often described as:
• Bright and sociable
• Strong in action and decision-making
• Energetic and naturally popular
• Curious and quick-thinking

On the other hand, they may also be described as:
• A bit impatient
• Sometimes quick to jump to conclusions
• Independent and reliable, but occasionally so focused that they lose sight of what’s around them

Do you have anyone around you who makes you think, “Yes, that sounds exactly like them!”?

And as for me…

Personally, I am not the type of Horse-year person who charges forward full speed.

Instead, I’ve finally started working on a very quiet and slow project—unraveling one of the obi I had been saving for a long time, and carefully removing tiny thread scraps one by one with tweezers… a truly calm and steady process（笑）

Once again, I wish you a wonderful year ahead, and thank you as always for your continued support.

References

https://youtube.com/shorts/Wt2b2DDiiec?si=c2abmCJU-gA-7RC4
https://www.sanryokai.com/old/topics/12shi.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac
https://murano-hiromi.net/blog/sitixyuusuimei/3047/#:~:text
https://morevietnamese.com/vietnamese-zodiac-animals/
https://hataraku-mama.info/zodiac-vietnam/
https://www.sanryokai.com/old/topics/12shi.pdf

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