Maneki Neko To Do List

1.  Get up.  Wash face with right paw.

2.  Watch humans get excited over waving of right paw.  Watch humans examine checking account to see if the balance has gone up.

3.  Eat breakfast.  Empty bowl with left paw.



4.  Watch humans get excited over waving of left paw.  Watch humans start business hours early.

5.  Nap in front of business.  Take credit for all sales.



6.  Get up and stretch.  Watch humans take it as a sign,

7.  Eat lunch.  Watch humans blame lack of sales on lack of maneki neko activity.

8.  Take walk.  Bring good fortune to sailors.  Check out calico neko down the street.

9. Return to shop.  Wash face with right paw. Watch humans check bank balance.

10.  Pretend to nap.  Watch human sigh and close shop.



11.  Follow human home.  Raise right paw when human's back is turned.

12.  Eat dinner.  Raise left paw when human's back is turned.

13.  Make tomorrow's To Do list.

14.  Nap.



Maneki nekos with an agenda can be found here.

Yet Another Maneki Neko Tail

I've told several of the maneki neko origin stories on this blog, telling how the lucky good fortune cat rose to prominence, and why it is believed that the maneki neko brings fortune or business.  Here is a simple tale.

Many have noted similarities between the Maneki Neko's gesture and that of a cat washing its face.



There is a Japanese belief that a cat washing its face signifies that a visitor will soon arrive.

And this belief could easily be related to an even older Chinese proverb which states that, if a cat washes its face, it will rain.



And what easier way to get a visitor inside than a sudden downpour? 



Thus a cat washing its face, or a figure of a cat washing its face, would bring customers into a shop.



So buy one.  Buy several.  It just might work.

Another Maneki Neko Tale

There are many legends surrounding maneki nekos, the beckoning cats.  It is said that a maneki neko with his right paw raised brings fortune and one with the left paw raised brings business.  Or perhaps they just bring luck, as in this tale.








Long ago, in 18th century Japan, in a house of ill repute in Yohsiwara, there lived a lady of the night  known as Usugumo.



Yoshiwara was the red-light district of Edo, which is now Tokyo. 





Usugumo was very popular and charming, and she loved cats.  There were always plenty of cats wandering the premises, which is perhaps why it was called a cat house. 




One cat was her favorite, and it never left her side, much like Dr. Claw and MAD Cat.



One night,  as Usugumo prepared to meet her guests, the cat began to tug at her kimomo.  Usugumo tried to shoo the cat away but the cat insisted, and kept tugging.  In fact, the cat was tugging so hard that the silk of the kimono was shredding.  It was Usugumo's favorite kimono, and she was none too pleased with the cat's behavior.





It became clear that there was no way Usugumo could remove the cat without shredding her kimono, and finally she called out to the house madam for help.





The Madam rushed in and, believing the cat to be possessed by an evil spirit, grabbed the cat and hurled it across the room... along with a good size piece of the kimono.




The cat flew through the air and up to the ceiling... where it bit and killed a deadly snake poised above, ready to attack Usugumo.




At last Usugumo understood why the cat had been tugging at her.  The Madam, thankful for the cat's bravery, had a likeness carved from wood.  And this carving became known as Maneki Neko ~ the beckoning cat.



Maneki nekos to protect you... from deadly snakes and anything else that comes your way.