Maneki Nekos for Japan - Part II

Last week I started Maneki Nekos for Japan as a fundraiser, and your response has been nothing short of awesome.  So far, together, we have raised $750 for various relief organizations.  I spent last week making a LOT of maneki neko earrings.

To back up a bit, the Maneki Neko, or Japanese Beckoning Cat, has long been a symbol of protection in Japan.  There are many stories of the maneki neko (some of which you can find right here in the blog), in which a cat saves a monastery, a lady of the evening, sailors, Santa's Elves, an emperor, and more. It is said that a neko with the right paw raised brings fortune; one with the left paw raised brings business; one with both paws raised brings both.

Watching the events unfold in Japan, I find myself wondering what we can do to help.  There are a number of organizations mounting aid missions, and I've added a few more this week: the Red Cross, Save the Children, The International Medical Corp., the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund, the Salvation Army, MercyCorps,  Peace Winds Japan, Doctors Without Borders, Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, and World Vets, to name some.

So I made some more maneki neko earrings.  LOTS more maneki neko earrings, which I will sell for $30 a set.  100% of the money you pay for the earrings goes to the charity of your choice, selected from the list above.  I only ask that you pay the shipping ($3.50 within the United States/contact me for shipping prices elsewhere).

Let's continue to pull together with some traditional Japanese protection to help protect Japan today.  Please tell your friends.  Share the link.

Tell me which ones you want, and I'll send you an invoice.  Once you pay, I will send you documentation that 100% of your purchase price went to the charity you chose.  If the ones you want have been sold, I'll try to make you a similar set.

Later this week, I'll be listing some bracelets and necklaces with maneki nekos, as well, so stay tuned.

Here's this week's parade of maneki nekos.

Left Paw Seashore Maneki Neko



Black Keep-Away-Evil Two Paw Roly Poly Neko



All-Knowing Yellow Left Paw Maneki Neko



Red, White and Black Two Paw Maneki Neko



Lefty Righty Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Neko (asymmetrical)



Lounging Pink Nekos



Yellow Dangling Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Smiling Two-Paw Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Nekos




Banish the Blues Dangling Two Paw Maneki Nekos



Dapper Tuxedo Dangling Nekos



Happy Guy Two Paw Red Crystal Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Nekos



Happy Coat Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Fortune Left Paw Maneki Nekos



Happy Guy White Crystal Keep-Away-Evil Two Paw Maneki Nekos



Red Flower Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Pewter Dangling Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Dainty Green Dangling Two Paw Maneki Nekos



Pretty in Pink Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Lucky Flower Topaz Two Paw Maneki Nekos



Dangling Right Paw Black Keep-Away Evil Maneki Nekos



Pretty in Red Lucky Flower Two Paw Maneki Nekos



Dangling Green Left Paw Maneki Nekos



Dangling Peruvian Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Happy Dangling Red Black Two Paw Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Nekos



Red Fortune Two paw Maneki Nekos



And as a happy bonus, here's an article about Japan's Cat Island.

Maneki Nekos to Watch Over Japan Part III

The continuing events in Japan remind us that help is still urgently needed, so here are my maneki neko earrings to benefit Japan.

The Maneki Neko, or Good Fortune Cat, is a traditional symbol in Japan.  It is said that a Maneki Neko with the right paw raised brings fortune, one with the left paw raised brings business, and one with both paws raised brings both.

The Maneki Neko has long been a symbol of protection in Japan, as well.  There are many stories of the maneki neko (some of which you can find right here in the blog), in which a cat saves a monastery, a lady of the evening, sailors, Santa's Elves, an emperor, and more.

Some back-story:  When the earthquake a tsunami hit two weeks ago, I began to ponder a way to help Japan, and created Maneki Nekos for Japan ~ good fortune kitty earrings whose proceeds would benefit various agencies aiding Japan.  The traditional Japanese Lucky Cats did their job.  So far, together, we raised $1030 for various relief organizations: Red Cross, Save the Children, The International Medical Corp., the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund, the Salvation Army, MercyCorps,  Peace Winds Japan, Doctors Without Borders, Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, and World Vets

There are many maneki neko earrings available here on the blog.  The entire $30 purchase price goes to your chosen charity.  I only ask for a $3.50 shipping/handling fee to cover the cost of shipping and the inevitable PayPal fees.  For those who do not wear earrings, I can make charms, zipper pulls, and cell phone charms, too.  There are also some bracelets and necklaces available on this blog.

If you see a pair of earrings you like, leave a comment here, or message me on FaceBook.  (Messages are not seen by the public without me approving them, so your contact info is secure.)  I will send you an invoice and ask you to choose your charity from the list above.  When you pay, I will ship your earrings, send the money to your chosen charity, and send you confirmation of the donation. 


The need in Japan in great, and I am very proud that so many of you have done so much to help.


Left Paw Seashell Maneki Neko



Black Keep-Away-Evil Two Paw Roly Poly Neko



All-Knowing Yellow Left Paw Maneki Neko



Lefty Righty Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Neko (asymmetrical)



Lounging Pink Nekos



Yellow Dangling Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Smiling Two-Paw Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Nekos




Banish the Blues Dangling Two Paw Maneki Nekos



Dapper Tuxedo Dangling Nekos




Happy Coat Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Happy Guy White Crystal Keep-Away-Evil Two Paw Maneki Nekos



Red Flower Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Dainty Green Dangling Two Paw Maneki Nekos



Pretty in Pink Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Lucky Flower Topaz Two Paw Maneki Nekos



Dangling Right Paw Black Keep-Away Evil Maneki Nekos





Dangling Green Left Paw Maneki Nekos



Dangling Peruvian Right Paw Maneki Nekos



Red Fortune Two Paw Maneki Nekos

And, last but not least, Lampwork Glass Left Paw Maneki Neko

A New Maneki Tale: The Old Woman of Imad

There are many stories behind the maneki neko, the famous beckoning cat, who brings business and fortune: the story of Tama who saves a temple, the story of how a maneki neko saved a lady of the evening, and the story of how a maneki neko saved a Samurai warrior are some that have appeared here.

The word Maneki means beckoning or inviting, and the word Neko means cat. This famous cat is called the Beckoning Cat and represents a Japanese cat with its paw raised. In Japan, most businesses have this good luck cat.

Other names for this lucky cat is the Welcoming Cat, the Lucky Cat, the Money Cat, the Fortune Cat and the Happy Cat. A maneki neko with his right paw raised is said to bring fortune; one with the left paw raised brings business.

MANEKI NEKO (literally "beckoning cat") is one of the most common lucky charms in Japan, believed attract business and promote prosperity. Found frequently in shop windows, the Maneki Neko sits with its paw raised and bent, beckoning customers to enter.  Today's story is from the 19th century, and tells the story of the Old Woman of Imado, which is now Eastern Tokyo.

Long ago, there was a poor old woman who lived in Imado).  She kept a pet cat (and he kept her) until she was so poor that she could no longer feed the cat or give it a warm place to sleep, and she had to abandon it.

A few nights later, the cat appeared to her in a dream.  He told her to make his image out of clay.  The old woman did as he instructed her.  To her delight, people were soon asking to buy the clay statue. The more she made, the more they bought, and her poverty was replaced with prosperity.

She and her cat lived out the rest of their days with a warm place to sleep and enough food to eat.

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