Cats on Tuesday - My New Welcoming Cats Collection

While my stay in Japan, I bought few welcoming cats(Maneki-Neko) in addition to my collection :)

This small "round" kitty is designed so that its weight causes it to return to an upright position if it is knocked over. This is one of a Japanese traditional doll called "Okiagari-koboshi", which is considered a good-luck charm and a symbol of perseverance and resilience.


I purchased this blue porcelain kitty from "Mie" the Poster Kitty, when I was visiting to the one of lovely shrine in Tokyo. It's quite small one, about 3" tall, but I love this color and I think this kitty is quite pretty :)


I found these couple kitties at an online store.
I actually found the bowing style cat which just look like these couple, and I always wanted to add the traditional style to my collection.

Sure... Amanda is my Oscar winning "welcoming cat" :)
No kitties could beat Amanda...

purr me?

Have a happy Tuesday, my friends!!

Hoshi

CATS ON TUESDAY!

For more Cats on Tuesday, Please visit to Gattina.

Cats in Japan - A Poster Girl Kitty

I went to the lovely temple called Shibamata-Taishakuten in Tokyo yesterday.
Shibamata-Taishakuten was said to be founded by Nichiei Jonin, in 17 century Edo era.
Tale goes that Jonin decided to start living there as he found splendid water flowing out near the foot of a great pine tree. Ever since he brought about the temple, the water has been loved by local residents who bless their health.

As walking down the front approach to the temple, I met a lovely kitty sitting in front of the gift shop.
I said "hello" to the kitty and asked her if it's okay to pet her.
She didn't say anything, but I just assumed she woudln't mind...
A lady at the gift shop told me Mie just loves to sit there and enjoy people watch everyday...
She is sure the poster girl of this gift store! She was very calm and gentle :)

"Mie" the Poster Kitty

Mie's gift shop was selling so many different kinds of welcoming cats!!! (if you never heard about welcoming cats, click HERE for more details!)
I bought a new welcoming cat from Mie... I have actually added few more welcoming cats to my collection, so I will introduce my new welcoming cats some another time :)

Welcoming cats party!!

the front approach - can you find"Mie"?

front of the temple - what a lovely day!!!

Then, we had a little tea break at the Japanese garden.
It was a very quiet, peaceful and warm day :)

Have a lovely weekend!!

Hoshi

Cats in Japan - Cat Cafe

A Cat Cafe is a theme cafe, where you can actually play with kitties, over drinking tasty coffee or even have real meals.
I guess this sort of cafes are quite popular in Tokyo area, because many apartments are not allowed to have pets, and also simply, cats can provide you relaxing companionship for those have very busy stressful days and lonely urban life.

I've been always curious about cat cafes, and I went to the one called "Neko no Te"(Kitty's Paw in Japanese) today, finally!!


As soon as I walked into the cafe, a pretty kitty in pink dress welcomed me :)

"Hello, kitties!!!"

A cover fee was about $12 for 90min, a coffee and small snacks were included for this fee.
I thought 90min would be plenty time for me to play and watch kitties, but it went very quick!!!!!

Amanda like classic tabby kitty- Very playful and energetic!

This kitty was my most favorite one, she was very gentle, and I especially liked her beautiful black nose, and how she curled up her tail around her paws :)

A munchkin kitty - Wow, short legs!!

I really enjoyed this cafe....
Not just only being able to play with furry kitties, but also the fact that this cafe(or most of cat cafes) also seek to raise awareness of cat welfare issues, such like, they organize cat adoptions periodically for unwanted, abandoned and stray cats.

Hoshi

Cats in Japan - Japanese Aflac Cat

Ever since I came to Japan, I just keep seeing this cute welcoming kitty commercial from Aflac.
A super cute white kitty and a duck dance together to a delightful little ditty in this Japanese Aflac commercial :)

Aflac kitty

Yeah, you still get to see a little eccentric duck running around and screaming "AAAFLAC" in the U.S., but something more cute and adorable thing would happen in this commercial :)

Trust me!
Just spare your 30 second to watch this video now!



A kitty screamed "MEOW-FLAC!!!!" in sort of Japanese at the end.
That's my favorite part!!!!
Isn't it cute, or what?!?!

....forgetting someone furry cute...??

Hey, Panda! No sitting on the printer!

Hoshi

Cats in Japan - Kitties in the Park

I went to the museum at Ueno Park the other day.

It was kind cold gloomy day, but Ueno Park is one of my favorite park since I was a little girl, as my parents used to take me there so many times...
Spring is the best season to visit to this park since the cherry blossoms would be blooming beautifully :)

I enjoyed my museum visit, but I was so excited to see many kitties at the park too!
I guess some might be stray kitties, but I also saw some kitties with collars...

This little kitty had a collar on with big big bell on it, and was sort of welcoming me(???) from the wall..
She(he?!) was just sitting up on the wall, just stayed there, and staring at me.

Why are you looking at me?!?!

Then... I met these two kitties at the little square in the park. I found the black kitty first and was trying to take a picture of her(him??). Then the big tabby showed up!
Those two kitties were so cute together :)
It even seemed like the big tabby was protecting a little black kitty from bad human...?!?!

Who are you? You don't smell like fish??

I'm a big honcho......

It was quite nice to meet kitties after days of no-kitty-life....
But... I just kept hoping that all of those kitties out the street would have nice toasty home to sleep and snuggle with lots of love at cold winter nights.....

Hoshi

Cats in Japan - Cinnamon the Cat

This is Cinnamon.
Cinnamon is my sister's kitty.
She was born in Chicago, and I believe that her mother's name was Cinderella.
My sister and Cinnamon spent few years in Chicago, and then they came back to Japan.
So I guess..... Cinnamon could speak English, Japanese, and Cats fluently... :)

meow?　me??

Cinnamon is very fluffy big lady, and is very much like "princess" kitty, just like any other kitties...
Bad news is.... somehow.... she doesn't really like me so much....
I've been trying very hard to be a friend with her for past decade, but I've only getting big "kitty punches" by return...

you may pet me......

I haven't visited to Cinnamon ye....
I need to visit her, say hello, and try to give her a big hug... if she would let me.... :)

Hoshi

Snow Monkeys

Hello my friends!!
I'm sorry that I was not able to post my blog for past couple days....

Guess where I was visiting to..... ?!?!?!?!?!?!



I went to see "Snow Monkeys" !!!!
Snow monkey is wild Japanese Macaques, and a terrestrial old world monkey species native to Japan.
They have become notable for their winter visits to the spa at Jigokudani Monkey Park.
HERE, is the official website of Snow Monkey Park.

Toasty.....

I was very amazed that those monkeys are so friendly and are not scared with human at all!
They would just walk around right in front of you, and even stared at your face.
Oh,, one of monkeys actually pulled my husband's sleeves to get an attention too!!
I almost wanted to hug them so bad!!
I thought monkeys are so funny to watch, and got very rich facial expressions...
We spent almost 4 hours at the park, taking pictures and just watching the "monkey drama".




Oh,,, sorry my furry friends to tell you this... but.....
"NO CATS" are allowed at the monkey park... :(
It' is for your safety,, my kitty friends.
Because those fluffy monkeys could get pretty aggressive if they want to!!

So... when you are coming back....???

Hoshi

Cats in Japan - Tama the Station Master

"Tama" is one of super idol kitty in Japan, and very popular.
Tama was selected as station master at Kishi Station in Japan in 2007.

Tama the Station Master

As station master, her primary duty is to greet passengers.
The position comes with a cool stationmaster's hat, instead of a salary the railway provides Tama with free cat food!!!
Wow, what a wonderful job!

You may find out more detail information from Wikipedia, please click, HERE.

I think I'm cuter..... though

Huh.....
I wonder I should start paying a salary to Amanda for her modeling job....

Hoshi

Hello From Japan

First things first , I would like to thank all of you for very kind comments on my previous post:)
I'm sorry that I was not able to reply back to each of comments, but I really enjoyed reading each comments, and I really appreciate warm thoughtful messages for me :)
Thank you!!

I made it very safely to Japan last night!!

Hooray!!

I'm still very very exhausted from my 12 hours flight, and suffering with my jet lag.. but it's nice to be back home :)

This post will be very quick and short, but I would like to introduce you our family's watch"cat", Gon, today :)

Welcome back home, Hoshi!!

Gon has been always sitting by the front door, gurding and welcoming back me and my family all the time.
And of course, welcoming our guests too. :)
He is definitely a very hard worker, 24/7.
I love his big smile too!!!

Amanda sounds missing us....... I miss her too :(
9 more days to go, Amanda!

Hoshi