It’s no secret that Japan is flush with cute characters. If you’ve spent any time in the country, you know that nearly every business comes…

Characters with a hidden side or a secret have always been a staple of fiction and art but in the last half-century or so, the…

Every year, Sanrio announces its most popular characters based on the results of entries submitted by fans online through its website, by postcard, and through…

Koupen-chan Japan has an undeniable penchant for cute characters. This means that even after creating internationally beloved icons such as Hello Kitty and Pikachu, they…

(Updated on 3/7/19 for Spring version) If he wasn’t sweet enough already, San-X’s ever-popular character, the perennially relaxed and laid-back bear Rilakkuma, is going to…

A new Rilakkuma store is opening up in Oita, so they’ve teamed up with Japanese burger chain Freshness Burger to commemorate the occasion, by bringing…

Known for his relaxed and lazy personality, it’s no surprise Rilakkuma is considered one of the most relatable characters in existence. And now, he and…

You might not have the slightest clue what Domo-kun is supposed to be, but chances are, you’ve seen him somewhere. The brown, furry, apparently oviparous…

“Okiagari Koboshi” is a traditional craft from Aizu, Fukushima. It’s a toy that, when you try to tip it over, it stands back up again….

The photo is a from a commercial that has been much talked about in Japanese social media. In the commercial, the character (made of rice)…

Many of us know that Japanese people love making their lunches cute, and make famous characters (the so-called “kyaraben”). Here are some that we’ve found…