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.