Maneki Neko "Lucky Cats"

[jread]

I don't know when or how it happened, but I have become a collector of Maneki Neko figurines and am wanting to learn more about them. I was wondering if anyone could give me more information on the legend behind them, etc.

I first became interested in Maneki Neko at a local sushi restaurant I go to frequently. They have a few of the Asahi "Super Lucky Cats" in the restaurant and I just fell in love with these things. Now, if I'm in an Asian store of any kind and they have these cats, I have to have one. My girlfriend has even ordered the Asahi one for me :)

http://www.asahibeer.co.uk/new/asahi_lucky_cat/images/lucky_cat.jpg

[Fantt]

As usual, Wikipedia Knows All (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneki_Neko).

I love those guys too... do you have a link for the Asahi one? Mmmmmm... Asahi.... *drool* :lol:

[rakuten]

Yeah, Wikipedia is great!

Have a look at this really interesting page dedicated to deities, buddhism and everything related:
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/maneki-neko.shtml

You'll find some more information not covered by Wikipedia. Follow the links at the bottom of the page and you'll become a maneki expert for sure!

The articles about the Tanuki are also worth a glimpse:
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/tanuki.shtml
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/tanuki-jt.shtml
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/tanuki-story2.shtml

Of course Wikipedia too knows the Tanuki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki

And don't blame me when you find yourself spending your whole income on tanuki, kitsune, 7 lucky gods and shishi figurines :lol:

[Apollo]

I also love maneki cats....I have one, which is a souvenir. One can put batteries in it and then it moves its arm *beckoning good fortune to come to me*.....:D

[samuraitora]

Here is an interesting link for you...

http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/~mono93/cat/english/index_e.html

[jread]

Many thanks to all of you for the help!

[kala83]

I got addicted to these just recently after my last trip to Epcot they had little sleeping luck cats I got a a yellow, black and pink one...I originally just wanted the pink one for good luck in romance since I just had to deal with a bad break up..lol but I soon wanted more..and now I want to get a green one to have luck in my academics. lol I don't know if its a good or bad thing that the little Japanese shop in Epcot has its own # you can reach them at and order stuff from their store...that might mean trouble for me.

[Pepe]

LOL. I do't know what is worse - that I know what you're on about, or that I am a little upset at myself for not having bought some Japanese 'lucky charms' whilst in Narita-shi.

[kala83]

LOL. I do't know what is worse - that I know what you're on about, or that I am a little upset at myself for not having bought some Japanese 'lucky charms' whilst in Narita-shi.
These little cats are really addictive for me personally lol I find it hard to believe that I do believe in them as luck charms as much as I do too cuz I usually am not like that at all, but honestly when I picked up the cats from Epcot I started to feel a whole lot better about things in my life in general and I really believed that the cats would give me good luck in the areas that I had gotten them for. lol that sound cheesy I know but sometimes its good to have little things like that, that can encourage you in things.

[nice gaijin]

you might like this http://www.kokoniji.com/conso-le/contents/sakka.html

[kala83]

you might like this http://www.kokoniji.com/conso-le/contents/sakka.html
:-) aww kawaii desu Neko! very cool site
Arigato for sharing!

[joaniedark]

Ah, I used to collect those too! My dad would buy a lot of them for me when I was little. ^^

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

MANEKINEKO Museum
There is MANEKINEKO Museum in 865-1, Kanayamaji, Okayama-shi, Okayama.
http://www.manekineko-m.jp/top.html
MAP
http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?f=q&hl=ja&geocode=&q=%E5%B2%A1%E5%B1%B1%E7%9C%8C%E5%B2%A1%E5%B1%B1%E5 %B8%82%E9%87%91%E5%B1%B1%E5%AF%BA865-1&ie=UTF8&ll=34.74022,133.944948&spn=0.0076,0.017402&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=0

Another MANEKINEKO Museum
There is MANEKINEKO Museum in Hiroshima Onomichi-shi east 19-36, Tsuchido-cho.
http://www.ononavi.jp/fan/wandering/report.html?vol=2002&id=4
A sightseeing video of Onomichi
http://www.ononavi.jp/fan/video/index.html
Onomichi to look at in ANIME
http://freemv.b-ch.com/prom/ocn/kamichu_01_1m.asx

MANEKINEKO of kitty
A price is 8,000,000 yen
http://www.sanrio.co.jp/event/hellokittyselection/main.html
http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/26693/1h/common.ameba.jp/profile/user_image/9e/poohpooh518/1188977039773.jpg