Meme

This is a Japanese meme in which the kanji for "?(God)" on a sign with a Japanese translation of a simplified biblical passage often seen in rural Japan has been altered to "?," changing the object of worship from God to a cat.

It is not known exactly when this meme was created, but what is known for certain is that it is a meme that has been around for quite some time, and that the kanji for "?" on the sign has partially peeled off over time to look like this sign, which then spread and became a meme.

Actual signboard

The "?" resembles the katakana "?," and the "?" resembles the katakana "?." These two characters can be read as "??(cat)," and combined with Japan's unique value of incorporating various religions together, we Japanese wonder, "Is God also troubled by the relationship with the fickle cat?", "Could it be that the cat itself is a god?" This signboard is still popular among many people today.