10/22/2005

Robo-cat beckons visitors to manekineko museum
OKAYAMA —The Manekineko Museum of Art that collects and displays beckoning cat dolls from across Japan has now set up a “robo-cat” that beckons….The 75-centimeter-tall robot, which weighs about 30 kilograms, is equipped with a sensor and beckons with the left arm when people or cars pass before it…more…

Everywhere you go here, you’ll see the classic example of Japanese kitsch, the Maneki-Neko (招き猫) figurine beckoning with its paw good luck, money, and customers. It’s tacky to tears and great fun.
I have a tiny manekineko perched on top of my computer’s flatscreen as I type this now.
For more about the good-luck beckoning cat, refer to Manekineko in the Wikipedia.