The overall concept of this piece is derived from the movie poster of John Wayne in "The Cowboys." The Japanese word in neon is "cowboy," written with the Katakana alphabet (which is commonly used for "borrowed" words). It would be pronounced "Ka-U-Bo-I." Although there seems to be a significant juxtaposition between the Wild West and Japanese culture, you'll be surprised to know many western movies were inspired by the plots of Samurai films!
Also featured is the Japanese Bobtail: an actual, working Maneki-neko. This figurine is commonly found in Japanese culture and is believed to bring good luck to the owner.
