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Welcome Good Fortune with These Adorable Lucky 700 Yen Manekineko “Banknotes”
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- © PR Times, Inc.
- Tags:
- banknote / Bokoyai / Cat / japanese illustrator / Kawaii / Kitten / Maneki Neko / Ponkichi
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Whether you're celebrating the beginning of a new year and a new decade, and wish to participate in the tradition upheld in Japan (and many other parts of Asia) of welcoming good fortune with auspicious items, or whether you're simply on the market for a good luck charm (or even if you just love cute cats), then look no further than these adorable notes featuring manekineko cats!
In case you have yet to see one, either in fiction or in reality, manekineko 招き猫 are cat-shaped figurines believed to invite good fortune to homes and businesses. You'll often see them displayed at shop windows. They are so popular in Japan that there is even a temple dedicated to them.
Photo by © grape Japan
These alternative Japanese banknotes in the lucky amount of 700 JPY were designed in a collaboration with two Japanese illustrators. As he explains in the Tweet posted below, Bokoyai (@bokoyai) drew a mother cat and her kittens in the famous manekineko pose, and Ponkichi (@ponkichiM) drew the rest.
(...)For a "lucky seven" 700 yen (note), I did a cute illustration of a mother cat and her kittens on a decorative backdrop drawn by Ponkichi. Since it has both the Aka-Fuji (Red Mount Fuji)—said to have good luck properties such as bringing about thriving business, warding off disaster, breaking off bad relationships and realizing ones wishes—and Manekineko cats, you'll want to slip one into your wallet in lieu of a protective amulet.
If the names Ponkichi and Bokoyai sound familiar, that's because this isn't the first time the two illustrators have collaborated on alternative banknotes. It all started in 2019 when Japan's Finance Ministry announced new official designs for the 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000-yen bills. Ponkichi created an alternative mame shiba inu 500 yen banknote so adorable it got turned into official merchandise. Soon after, Bokoyai proposed a 200 yen banknote made by the fictional "Japan Cat Bank" featuring background art by Ponkichi.
And now, the two are back at it again with the second series from the "Japan Cat Bank," a lucky 700 yen banknote. And just like the 200 yen note, there's merchandise available too for you to take home!
Manekineko Banknote Goods
Memo notepad
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Pass case
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Keychain accessory
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Coin purse
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Flat pouch
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Smartphone case
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Round fastener wallet
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Other goods include a handkerchief and a towel.
The manekineko 700 JPY banknote lineup is currently available from Space Factory's online shop, and items are gradually becoming available on Amazon as well.