Yellow Mori Lucky Cat

This yellow lucky cat, or maneki neko, has a cute figure with both hands raised. 

The yellow lucky cat is believed to bring about good relationships and fortune, inviting happiness and good connections in various aspects of life. Furthermore, it is also said to enhance your financial luck.

The pattern is painted using the mori-e technique, similar to slip trailing. A thick paint is squeezed out of an icchin, a dispenser with a fine tip, and the patterns are carefully painted onto the surface. Mori-e adds a decorative pattern and tactile texture to a smooth porcelain surface. 

A lucky cat with its right hand raised is said to "invite money," while a lucky cat with its left hand raised is said to "invite people." Thus, a lucky cat with both its right and left hands raised is said to bring money and customers.

In the old days, Japanese farmers living with cats were said to prosper without crop damage because cats would drive away rats that damaged their crops.

Today, the lucky cat is popular as a charm of good financial fortune.

Choho Kiln

Chosaku Nishi, the founder of Choho Kiln studied the method of Mori-e with his brother Taikichi back in the Taisho period. Up till that time, this method was used to decorate flat surfaces. The brothers developed the idea of applying this method to Kutani Ware figurines as Chosaku had studied the basics of form, design and color mixing as a teenager. As it turned out, the Mori-e technique suited Kutani Ware figurines very well, and henceforth Mori-e became the mainstream decorating technique for Kutani Ware figurines.

The second generation Choho learned various techniques from his predecessor, trained many apprentices, and solidified the foundation of Choho Kiln. Today, Choho is the third generation of the Choho family, and is committed to preserving the tradition of Mori-e while seeking out new possibilities for this traditional technique.

Kutani ware is a pottery produced in the Kaga region of Ishikawa Prefecture and it has a history of over 350 years. It is characterized by the heavy brilliance of the five colors of green, yellow, red, purple, and navy blue that are applied to the bold and daring lines. Its long history has evolved through the tireless efforts and enthusiasm of people who have sought innovation while maintaining tradition.

The beauty of the various styles and methods of painting is known as "Japan Kutani" and is highly regarded around the world.