[Tenoli] Japan In NYC: Maneki Neko! まねき猫が大好きだ！

Kita-Kamakura, Japan 2009

I love Maneki Neko!
He's the "The Lucky Cat" or "The Money Cat" (what I most often hear him referred to as). I've been obsessed with this fat paw-waving kitty for as long as I can remember. Childhood trips into Chinatown (NY) gave my parents plenty of practice in tuning me out. "Look mami, it's the cat again!" Little did I know then, that most stores and restaurants place this "lucky money cat" in their front windows to bring their businesses good luck and fortune.

But it isn't just this cat that I became obsessed with, because later on in High School when I was exposed to the wonders of Trigun, I fell in love with kuro neko (black cat) who makes appearances sporadically throughout the show. After that, I became the proud owner of the plushie and bobble head (haha - loser!).

So what's the deal Asia? Why all the cats? And it isn't just cats, but human-kitty hybrids. Anyone ever watch/read Loveless? (Who'll fess up?) Even the robotic ears on the Personal Computer Andriods in Chobits resembled kitty ears. Wait aren't we forgetting the most important kitty of them all? - HELLO KITTY! These Asian kitties are all up in my personal life from "piggy" bank to planner.

"Where should I feed into my obsession Ms. Tenoli?"
Well check a few of these finds out!

Kitty ear headphones at GeekStuff4U.com!
GeekStuff4U is a great website to buy some of the latest and coolest Japanese gadgets. For all those fellow HK fans out there, they even have a special tab for your own shopping enjoyment!

(click on the image to check these out!)

What about getting your own kitty "piggy" bank?
This little koneko (kitten) paws your money into the box. You can buy this little fellow on J-list.
They even have a maneki neko "piggy" bank!

All this Asian kitty love is going to empty my pockets!
しょうがないね。It really can't be helped.

I mean look at these HK maneki neko version chopsticks I bought while in Japan - hopeless.