Description
– This was launched on Kickstarter on 19 Mar 2019. Within 30 days, 457 backers had contributed HKD $216,214, or a whooping SGD $37,512 to bring this project to life!
– Available options
1. Red Regular, Non-Gilded, limited edition of 2500, numbered Gold seal
2. Blue Regular, Non-Gilded, limited edition of 2500, numbered Silver seal
3. Black Foil Edition, Red back, Gold Gilded, limited edition of 388, no seal, numbered and signed by designer
4. Red back, Red Gilded Edges Edition, limited edition of 300
5. Blue back, Gold Gilded Edges Edition, limited edition of 300
6. Blue back, Blue Gilded Edges Edition, limited edition of 300
– Check out the YouTube review by VJose32
From the Kickstarter page:
“Hi, my name is Edisun Sun. I am a person who is constantly inspired by traditional elements, especially those of the Japanese tradition. No matter if it’s the beautiful vistas, the food or just the Japanese culture in general, I have always been fascinated by the way how fully it has been preserved in the tradition.
There are many symbols that one could mention when talking about Japanese culture. Cherry blossoms, kimonos, tea ceremony, they all have a very deep meaning behind them. However, the one that must be the luckiest and happiest must be the Maneki Neko (the Japanese Lucky Cat).
Maneki Neko is a traditional cat-shaped decoration, which has been highly esteemed especially in the Edo period more than 400 years ago. This is my first deck of cards and therefore I chose this lucky charm as the theme in the hope of portraying our never-ending pursuit of happiness.
Bicycle Maneki Neko has two versions, Blue and Red. The overall style is subtle and beautiful but also manages to show the cat’s cute and mischievous nature.
Blue version
The specific shade of deep blue is supposed to represent the sea, as we know it from the traditional Ukiyo-e style paintings. The front is adorned with three chubby white cats sitting behind a folding fan with the signature gold koban, a “ten million gold coin” decorating it.
The moment you look at the box, you can feel the cordial and welcoming nature of the Maneki Neko, who can become your very personal lucky charm. When you turn the box around, you’ll be greeted by a multitude of lucky cats waving at you. They are drawn in three styles – black, white and mixed. Each of them is a charm of something else and represents a different kind of good wish.
All the small details are symbols that I specifically chose for their implications:
– The whole box is covered in subtle symbols of wind, which appear very elegant and retro.
– You can find a cat holding a Koinobori (a carp-shaped windsock), and also a picture of Mount Fuji, the symbol of health and longevity.
– There is another koban golden coin on top of the box, so opening it feels like opening a treasure chest full of lucky cats.
– The traditional Japanese tomoe sign is added to the sides, and it represents the power of the Heavens and the Earth.
Red Edition
The red and blue versions are designed to be quite similar, with differences in small details.
– The red color is also derived from the Ukiyo-e style and appears bright and vivid.
– The design looks as if it’s spreading around from one central point, adding a sense of dynamics to the illustration.
– Instead of Mount Fuji, the red version has a torii gate, symbolizing the channel for gods through which they can pass on blessings to the people.
Each of the version is sealed with a sticker, which is also decorated with a lucky cat. The blue version uses a silver sticker, while the red a gold one. The overall style is consistent with the Ukiyo-e style and appears light and easy on the eye.
Printed by The United States Playing Card Company.
Bicycle Brand
Numbered seal 0001 of 2500
Limited edition
No reprint
56 cards 100% Original design.
Gilded Edition limited 300 decks ONLY.
The back of the cards is similar to the back of the box. The four corners are decorated with bamboo leaves, representing good fortune. The whole middle section is filled with lucky cats with golden bells hanging on their necks. If you look really closely, you’ll see that in fact, the cats are not all identical, but they all have a slightly different gesture. So what’s the mystery behind it?
Well, if the cat is waving at you with its left paw, it means blessing. If it is the right paw, it means money. And when it is both hands? Well, this cat wishes all the fortune to you, be it material or not.
The colors of the cat are left black and white, in order to allow you to enjoy the pop of red and blue in the respective versions. This unique design is refreshing and sure to bring you a wonderful player experience.
Joker card consists of a big Maneki Neko accompanied by six tiny ones for even more luck. They are surrounded by a multitude of symbols, just like the Daruma doll, bamboo, Japanese carp and many more. The card is alive with elegant festive colors.
The Ace of Spades is dominated by one Maneki Neko in the center with a character “福” on her belly, meaning good fortune. The cat seems to be standing in front of the Tokyo tower and is accompanied by auspicious clouds, pine trees, Daruma doll, and more koinobori banners. The atmosphere of this card is very exotic. The two versions are similar but vary in small details.
Face Cards: The 12 court cards are designed in cartoon style and are fresh and fun to look at. The “genders” of the cards are easily distinguishable through their kimonos.
The cartoon style combined with the traditional kimonos creates the perfect combination of the Eastern and the Western cultures. The unique design of these cards is the reason why they are not only great to use but also worth the collector’s attention. Once again, the two versions are similar, besides some small details that we leave for you to discover.
Number Cards: A pattern of cherry blossoms has been added to unify the Japanese style of this deck. The falling flowers evoke a romantic feeling. The color of the frame is consistent with the particular version.
Ad Cards: One style consists of an outline of a Maneki Neko on a colored background with rays beaming out of the center. The cat is accompanied by Sakura. The other version presents a honeycomb-like structure. Each hexagon holds either a Maneki Neko image, a golden koban or a golden bell. Both versions are made in red, as well as blue style.
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