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| Maneki Neko, the
lucky God born in Japan |
The beckoning cat which sits in front
of the store with a cute pose and inviting people beckoning was born
in the town of Edo in the end of Edo era. (1603〜1867)
It is one of the good-luck articles peculiar to Japan equally to
Darhma and Fukusuke.
Manekineko(Beckoning cat) has survived 5 eras since Edo,Meiji,Taisho,Show
all through to Heisei and is still giving fortune to the people even
now.
It has been told about Maneki Neko that the cat raising right hand
is inviting money and the cat raising left hand is inviting customers,
but has been reflected by the time changing, it is used beckoning
luck to benefit on (love),(long life) and (great hit on treasure lottery)
etc
Especially into Heisei today, unprecedented pet boom made popularity
of a cat lover and several kinds of beckoning cats are produced. The
artists on the theme of a beckoning cat have also been increasing
in number. Therefore the Maneki Neko is said one of the strongest
lucky God in Japan which is not over proud.
Not only in Japan but also, we can see the Manekineko in South East
Asian countries and in the other part of the world lately.
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| About Maneki Neko
Museum |
It is the greatest beckoning cat
museum in Japan which exhibits several thousands private collection
by a couple Mr.Kanji Bando and Mrs.Chihiro Arakawa who act as the
sponsor of a Japan Beckoning cat club. Former Japan Beckoning cat
club and Beckoning Museum were at Tsumagoi mura Azuma gun,Gunma ken.(2000
〜2004)
Owing to the strong desire by the husband and wife who want more
people to know the charm of Manekineko,,they decided to move the museum
in March 2005 to Seto,Aichi ken where the government and People have
been promoting "Coming fortune, beckoning cat festival"
since 1996.
A pottery maker, Chugai Toen Co.,Ltd who is also the member of an
executive committee of the "Coming fortune,Beckoning cat festival
in Seto"offered the building of a museum and striving for the
basic planning and management.
The building of the museum rebuilds extensively what was used as
a ware house of the company. The impressive appearance which imaged
the European style building construction of Taisho Era attracts attention
as a new landmark of the Seto center city area. Also it gives you
pleasure to enjoy the modified cats designed on the wall tiles or
the ornaments crafted by local artist Mr.Yasumaro Ozawa.
Collections of the Manekineko is exhibiting to attract visitors telling
Japanese culture from the several categories.
1) History, 2) Related to Temple and shrine 3) Local toys
4) Main production district 5) Rarity 6)Miscellaneous |
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| The town
of Seto is the Native land for Maneki Neko |
Seto city with a Manekineko museum
is also the town of pottery and a production district of a Manekineko
with the history since Meiji era,so Seto is a hometown of Manekineko.
Once, Seto was one of the major production district for porcelain
novelties such as precisely dolls and birds and many other ornaments
for overseas export. It is said that Seto is the starting point of
novelties, and Manekineko is one of them.
For the past about 100 years since the second half of 30th Meiji(1897),Manekineko
has been produced in accordance with the demand of a time from "Furuseto
type" to fancy beckoning cat.
The beckoning cat of the form where the apron was attached slender
body which is called an "Furuseto type" is the origin of
the Fushimi doll in Kyoto.
The most popular Manekineko in the market at present is "Tokoname
type" holding gold coin with 2 perfectly proportioned Figure.
This present model was completed in the second half of Showa 20th
and Tokoname city neighbor to Seto city is the major production district
now.
The Manekineko Museum exhibiting the private large collection of
more than 1000 items are counted from local toys, curio things to
sundry goods is one of the largest exclusive Museum in Japan and the
museum shop and gallery are also annexed. |
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