While Japanese coin box toys feature sweet cats who kindly take your change for safekeeping, real cats like this prefer to do other things with your money!
Japanese Itazura Banks are cute little money box toys that look like cardboard boxes, each with an adorable animal like a cat hiding inside. Once a coin is placed on the side of the box, a paw reaches out to grab the money and slides it inside for safekeeping.
▼ This short clip shows just how adorable these little money boxes can be.
The coin boxes are so popular in Japan that the manufacturers have even released Hello Kitty and Godzilla versions. Inspired by the clever products, one cat owner in Japan decided to create the ultimate Itazura Bank – with a real, live cat. What could be cuter than a real kitten’s fluffy paw popping out to take a coin from its owner? That was the thought behind the creation of the homemade cardboard box toy, but in reality, things turned out to be a whole lot funnier than expected, as the cat does anything but take the coin from the owner. From grabbing at his hands to swiping the money away, there’ll be no savings in the house with a money box like this!
https://twitter.com/hiraemi_715/status/763571720259198977Since the cat’s owner, Twitter user @hiraemi_715, posted the funny video online, it’s received more than 40,000 likes and retweets. And if you’re worried about how the cat actually got into the box, this footage, taken from a different angle, shows the cat isn’t confined but is able to go in and out freely without assistance.
https://twitter.com/hiraemi_715/status/763681224137125889So how does the real-life version of the Itazura Bank work? First, you put the coin by the side of the box…
▼ And then the cat will reach out, claws extended, to scratch your hand!
▼ On other occasions, it will miss the coin entirely…
▼ Or simply swipe it far away! What a marvellous invention!
The funny video has been making Japanese Twitter users laugh out loud, with comments like:
“It’s more like a bloody piggy bank!”
“That looks like a painful way to try to save!”
“I can’t stop laughing at the huge difference between this and the cute toy box!”
“At least he retracted his claws for a handshake halfway through.”
“The ending was hilarious! How typical for a cat to swipe the money away.”
With a cat as funny as this, we’re sure its human won’t be able to resist continuing with the challenge to eventually get a coin in there one day. It might take forever to save anything, but the laughs generated in the process will be priceless!
Source: Hamusoku
Top Image: Twitter/@hiraemi_715
Screenshots: Twitter/@hiraemi_715




Pikachu money box is the cutest way to save money this year
Is this cute coin bank the ultimate expression of Hello Kitty’s true reason for existing?
Hatch dinosaurs by saving your money in new line of Japanese toy coin banks
Cute cat bank collects coins, makes fiscal responsibility adorable 【Videos】
New “All Night Cat Watch” toy series created in Japan to keep late sleepers company
Crazy-cheap Tokyo lunch: All-you-can-eat curry rice for 220 yen (US$1.40)!
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Unusual curved escalators are the crowning jewel of this shopping mall in Osaka
Poop is in full bloom at the Unko Museums for cherry blossom season
566 million yen in gold bars donated to Japanese city’s water bureau
Which Japanese convenience store sells the best pizzas?【Taste test】
New zombie ship sets sail in Japan, includes Shinkansen tickets and all-you-can-eat sushi
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]
Japan has trams that say “sorry” while they ride around town…but why?
Sakura Totoro is here to get spring started early with adorable pouches and plushies
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Cute cat finds way to make humans bow down and worship him at Japanese shrine
Japanese vending machines now dispense cute cup clinging cats!
Cute cat stays cool in Japanese heat by snuggling up inside Dyson fan
Japanese cat sleeps so hard it flattens its head, scores a cuteness critical hit
Japanese Twitter falls in love with trash cat who jumps out of trash can【Video】
Cute cat shows us how to bow in apology, Japanese style【Video】