Last but not least from the big UFO catcher batch: Mikan Rilakkuma! He was released into the UFO catcher wild by Fansclub and San-X in December 2011.
Mikan (Citrus unshiu) are citrus fruits of Japanese origin, and are also known as satsuma mandarins or satsuma oranges. We actually have a tree full of these out in our yard – yum!
Hello Mikan Rilakkuma!
Cute citrus hat!
Lovely scarf with fuzzy citrus details on both ends!
Because of Chinese tradition and symbolism (and some clever wordplay), my family loves to display and serve oranges to ring in the new year since our word for “fortune/success” sounds similar to the word for “orange”.
This Rilakkuma will also help us welcome the lunar new year next month as well – how auspicious for this Rilakkuma to join the family at the start of 2013!
RilakkumaLifestyle 
Super cute, your collection is coming along nicely!
Thanks! Now I have to figure out a better way to store them – they’ve just been sitting on a little coffee table, but now that there are more, the table is running out of space hahaha
This plush is lovely. He looks so refreshing! Thank you for always sharing such beautiful and interesting cultural tidbits in so many of your posts. I love reading about them.
Aw thanks! I’m so glad the little cultural notes are appreciated!