Noriko's World

Noriko was adopted by six geishas who lived in a geisha house that was famous for rescuing cats. The front of the house was decorated with two cat mons. In the hallway to greet visitors was a statue of the famous beckoning cat, Maneki Niko. Noriko made a red hat and a blue bib for the cat statue. She loved the story of Maneki Niko, that she had been told by her mother. According to the most popular version of the story, a wealthy lord, Lord Li, took shelter during a thunderstorm at Gotku-ji Temple in Western Tokyo. The priest at the temple was very poor and had a male companion cat. One day the cat squatted near the roadside when Lord Li and a dozen samurai appeared. The cat raised his paw to his ear as if beckoning. The Lord and samurai followed the cat to the temple, and the priest instructed them in Buddhist doctrine and gave them tea. The Lord continued to visit the priest and endowed the temple, which became part of his family’s property. At the temple near the cemetery of Lord Li’s family is the shrine of the Beckoning Cat. Maneki Niko became popular during the Edo Period. The famous “Beckoning Cat” of Japan is seen in shops, businesses, and homes. The color of the cat is symbolic: yellow represents good luck for money; gold - make a fortune; white - harmony; green - good health; black - good luck in business; and pink for good luck in love. It was the perfect house for Noriko, who loved all animals and especially cats. She called the geisha her six aunts. Noriko missed her parents terribly, but the six geisha were very kind to her. Two of Noriko father’s famous paintings hung in the geisha house. His fanciful woodblock print/painting of Mount Fuji hung in the entrance hall of the geisha house. Mount Fuji can be seen from Edo, and Noriko’s mother wrote this haiku: A watery mountain, Mount Fuji unveils itself, a moon hangs suspended. Paintings often decorated sliding partitions and folding screens, which were made of paper in a framework of wood and separated rooms in houses. Her father painted in a style called Ukiyo-e (“pictures of the floating world”). Ukiyo-e paintings are a distinctly Japanese form of art which originated in the mid-sixteen hundreds during the Edo Period and flourished for nearly 300 years. It is a category of painting that portrays the fleeting images of life, such as a flower, the moon, rain, the performing of music and dance, the drinking of tea, Kabuki Theater, geisha, samurai, as well as everyday activities, such as walking over a bridge. People collected prints of Kabuki actors in their famous roles, and landscapes were also popular. Ukiyo-e paintings took the form of paintings on screens, scrolls, and woodblock prints. This style of painting portrayed a picture of life during the Edo Period. The woodblock prints were mass-produced for inexpensive prices and available to the common people. By the 1760s. Full-color prints were developed by the use of overlapping woodblocks. The creation of a woodblock print needed an artist, block-cutter, printer, and publisher. There is one woodblock of each color, and the prints were colored by hand. They were a huge commercial success. They are famous for their fine lines, bold colors, and strong patterns. Noriko’s father also painted a beautiful woodblock portrait of a geisha, which hung in the main room of the house. Their home was filled with their laughter, which sounds like tinkling bells.