Sometimes I get really one-tracked minded when it comes to Rilakkuma, and I forget San-X has a boatload of other characters they promote.
Recently, my sister and I discovered this character while cruising the San-X Net Shop blog:
Kinda looks like a Diglett, right?
This character is Tonkatsu (とんかつ) – the fried pork cutlet. His character description states that he’s that last leftover piece of tonkatsu; he’s 1% meat, 99% fat – and is always left behind because of his fat content.
Apparently, his pink nose is the 1% meat – the rest is breaded fat and grease!
In September 2012, this guy was introduced as part of a whole series of amorphous characters called Sumikko Gurashi (すみっこぐらし), which (very) roughly translates to “beings living in corners” (like of a house). I suppose I can imagine leftover crumbs of tonkatsu making their way into corners of a room.
In Sumikko Gurashi, Tonkatsu is joined by:
- Shirokuma (しろくま): a runaway polar bear who doesn’t like the cold
- Penguin? (“ぺんぎん？): an insecure green penguin (but maybe a kappa who lost its bowl?) questioning his identity
- Neko (ねこ): a shy cat who likes to scratch
- Tapioca (たぴおか): pearls of leftover boba
- Zassou (ざっそう): an ambitious weed who dreams of being a bouquet
- Hokori (ほこり): a happy corner-inhabiting dust particle
- Furoshiki (ふろしき): Shirokuma’s luggage cloth
- Nisetsumuri (にせつむり): a slug who pretends to be a snail by wearing a shell
The whole Sumikko Gurashi team!
Top row: Shirokuma, Penguin?, Tonkatsu, Neko, Tapioca, and Zassou
Bottom row: Hokori, Furoshiki, & Nisetsumuri
What a team! I wonder how they came to be friends…
RilakkumaLifestyle 
They are all so cute, but Tonkatsu IS the CUTEST! I think in time I’ll cave and buy a plush…or at least the smaller plush keychain of him. ;0)
I agree! He has such a cute backstory hahaha. San-X really knows how to make me wanna buy their products…
I caved and bought the little plush Tonkatsu, and I adore him so much, I HAD to get the larger plush. I can’t wait for him to arrive.
They are all adorable! I love these new characters! It´s so hard for me to resist some San-X stuff! That´s why I bought a Sumikko Gurashi mug! Really happy! Lol.
Jealous! I just got a little Tonkatsu cell phone screen cleaner charm for my sister :D
That’s cute! I also prefer Tonkatsu, but they’re all cute! I don’t think I will resist on buying some more stuff! :P
Hehehe I really prefer Tonkatsu too! (It’s also one of my favorite foods haha)
真可爱so cute!!!!!!!!!
I agree! This is such a great series, and I’m glad it’s successful! :3
I recently bought a Neko pen,a Sumikko Gurashi notebook a Neko plush toy.
Last two months ago,I bought a Shirokuma plush toy.
Wow, sounds like you’ve got a great Sumikko Gurashi collection so far! I have a Tonkatsu plush and a Nisetsumuri plush :D