In Japan he is known as one of the seven deities of good fortune however there was a time when he was not counted as one of the seven deities as he was thought to be the same as the deity Fukurokuju (Shojo orangutan-like God was included).
日本では七福神として知られているが、福禄寿はこの寿老人と同一神と考えられていることから、七福神から（猩猩が入る）はずされたこともあった。