Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Kokusai-dori


Kokusai-dori (International Street) is a very popular shopping street in Naha, Okinawa. It's probably the most popular destination in Okinawa and has lots of very interesting shops and restaurants. This particular store, pictured above, has a giant animated white cat attached to the side of the building. The cat's paw slowly moves up and down. It's symbol or good luck charm for successful business. A lot of stores sell much smaller versions of the cat. Also, depending on the color of the cat, it is a good luck charm for different things. This type of figure is called a Maneki Neko ("beckoning cat") and you can read more about them here on Wikipedia.

The sharp-eyed observer might also notice Ronald McDonald and Buzz Lightyear in this picture. They're both a little easier to spot if you click on the photo for a larger view.