Rilakkuma Enherb Collaboration!

It’s been getting mildly chilly here (not objectively cold – it’s just Florida), so I was thinking about drinking hot tea regularly again.

As if on cue, San-X recently announced a new collaboration they have with Enherb for the holiday season. Enherb is an herb company that uses time-tested recipes and techniques to craft their soothing teas, fragrances, and skincare products. Their philosophy is that using the finest herbs regularly and drinking high quality herbal teas are essential to one’s well-being.

For this Rilakkuma Enherb collaboration, they released a special holiday tea and tea products (even a diffuser!). Ah, San-X – always aiming straight for my heart.

Enherb - Lemon Ginger

Limited Edition Holiday Release – Lemon Ginger Tea

Enherb - 3 teas

Other Rilakkuma-themed teas: Chamomile & Spearmint, Ginger Herbal, and Lavender & Rose

Ebherb - tumblers

Enherb Rilakkuma tea tumblers!

From what I understand, they even gave out a special holiday-themed Enherb Rilakkuma folder for customers who bought a tea package. This whole set seems so relaxing – a perfect fit for Rilakkuma!

Happy Holiday Picnic Series Rilakkuma!

The Happy Holiday Picnic Series came out in February 2012. This plushie was released as part of the same series as my Hamburger Rilakkuma, and came in the same decorated package as the Honey Bee plushie!

Happy Holiday Picnic - full body shot

Off to a picnic!

Happy Holiday Picnic - hamburger basket

The detailing on this prop is incredible. The waffling on the basket creates a really genuine texture, and the burger inside is so complete and fully thought-out that you can basically see all the ingredients.

Happy Holiday Picnic Series - boot detail

He’s even got personalized boots!

Wow! I’m so impressed! Also, it’s good to see Rilakkuma finally get a pair of shoes hahaha.

Rilakkuma meets Pancake Days!

In honor of Honey Bee Rilakkuma from yesterday, here’s a great moment in Rilakkuma history: Rilakkuma meets Pancake Days! Every so often (i.e. all the time), Rilakkuma will have collaboration projects with other companies. For this collaboration, Rilakkuma teamed up with Pancake Days, a Japanese pancake chain that likes to put happy faces (like Rilakkuma’s) on fancy pancakes, in 2011.

Rilakkuma meets Pancake Days featured the Honey and Smile Series in their promotional campaign – they even had a special Rilakkuma-themed menu!

Rilakkuma meets Pancake Days - 5 tier stack

5 Tier Pancake Stack

Rilakkuma meets Pancake Days - chocolate and orange stack

Rilakkuma’s Chocolate & Orange Stack

Rilakkuma meets Pancake Days - strawberry stack

Korilakkuma’s Strawberry Stack

Rilakkuma meets Pancake Days - honey and sweet potato stack

Kiiroitori’s Honey & Sweet Potato Stack

Also, if you spent more than 1,000円 at the Rilakkuma Stores in Harajuku or Kichijoji, you would a receive a postcard that you could show at Pancake Days for a free take-home 7 cm Rilakkuma pancake. Looks delicious!

Honey and Smile Series Rilakkuma!

This Honey Bee Rilakkuma came out as part of the Honey and Smile Series (Rilakkuma Meets Honey) released in May 2011. True to his bear character, Rilakkuma puts globs of honey everywhere: on pancakes, on toast, on Swiss rolls, everything.

Honey bee + Happy Picnic Rilakkumas - package and gifts

Decorated package came with Hello Kitty marshmallows, little packets of furikake decorated with anime, and Rilakkuma stationary. Not pictured: strawberry Pocky that I ate before I snapped this shot.

Rilakkuma Meets Honey Series - full body shot

To bee, or not to bee.

Rilakkuma Meets Honey Series - hat detail

Bee(n) there, done that.

Rilakkuma Meets Honey Series - wing detail

Don’t worry, bee happy.

My sister will be giving this plushie to one of her best friends for Christmas. It was good having him in the house for a few months! I hope he is treated well after he moves on!

Both versions of the “Rilakkuma’s Creation of Adam” photo!

Rilakkuma Lifestyle - Creation censored

Rilakkuma’s Creation of Adam

I mentioned earlier that I wanted to see what Rilakkuma would look like in a masterpiece, so tonight’s Lifestyle photo features the first of Rilakkuma in a work of art – Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. I don’t know if I’ll make a habit of inserting Rilakkuma into famous artwork, but it is certainly fun and silly. “Uncensored” after the jump. Continue reading →

Rilakkuma Plushies Cleaning and Maintenance!

I recently got a message in my tumblr about cleaning Rilakkuma plushies, and that became the inspiration for my next photo!

Rilakkuma Lifestyle Tumblr - cleaning ask

See short answer here.

Rilakkuma Lifestyle Tumblr - Bath

Ready for a bath!

Anyway, I posted my response on tumblr, but this ask got me thinking about cleaning and maintenance of Rilakkuma plushies, so I thought I would pass on a few tips:

Continue reading →

Spotted: Rilakkuma in Edvard Munch’s The Scream!

Hoshifune over on tumblr found this Rilakkuma on the wall of a game center in Machida – it’s Rilakkuma in Edvard Munch’s famous painting, The Scream!

Edvard Munch was an expressionist artist who was famous for depicting (and evoking) strong emotions through his artwork. Learn more about Edvard Munch and his works over at Artsy’s Edvard Munch page!

Edvard Munch's The Scream Rilakkuma

Spotted by: hoshifune

Tried to Google and reverse image search to see if I could find the original, and didn’t have any luck, but found another cute variation on this Flickr. Anyway, what a coincidence – a few days ago, my sister and I were thinking that this kind of thing might be a good idea for the Rilakkuma Lifestyle tumblr: inserting Rilakkuma into famous works of art! We actually thought of The Scream as a great way to start, too. Maybe there will be some artful Rilakkuma photos to come?

10 Tips for Identifying Quality & Genuine Rilakkuma Plushies!

Disclaimer: these tips are specific to the smaller ~22 cm collectible plushies (like this, this, and this) sold in stores and events, not the UFO catchers, licensed goods, larger sizes, or extra-company collaborations (like Lawson plushies). These guidelines may be more applicable to recent releases and may not hold true for older ones. I am not affiliated with San-X; this list was compiled strictly from personal observation and experience.

Continue reading →

Rilakkuma Cheesecakes 2012!

San-X is bringing back the popular Rilakkuma-shaped cheesecakes from last year!

Rilakkuma cheesecakes 2012

Rilakkuma cheesecakes

Rilakkuma will be caramel crème brûlée flavored, and Korilakkuma will be blueberry mousse flavored! Looks yummy – apparently the cream cheese is from France haha. Too bad they don’t ship internationally! But maybe I would feel weird about eating Rilakkuma’s face?

Wishlist – 10th Anniversary Zodiac Series! (ACQUIRED!)

To celebrate Rilakkuma’s 10th anniversary next year, San-X will release the Zodiac Series in January 2013. Each of the plushies represents one of 12 astrological signs of the (Western tropical) Zodiac.

To be honest, I’m kind of lost on the official name: Horoscope? Astrology? Constellation? I’ve seen this series referred to as so many different things in so many different languages (Google translate just made me more confused). I guess the naming seems ambiguous to me because San-X also releases the annual Chinese Zodiac plushies, too.

10th Anniversary Zodiac Series - full

10th Anniversary Zodiac Series

I might want to order the Taurus, the Cancer, and the Scorpio in the future. However, I’m looking forward the entire release because they each have such great details – like the Gemini holding two Korilakkumas and Sagittarius’s quiver. Libra is even weighing dango against a star! That must be some pretty heavy dango. Also, there’s a nice (and appropriate) star motif, and each one has has their astrological sign embroidered in gold. I’d take them all if I could!

I wonder if it’s a coincidence that this series is being released during the Chinese year of the snake? In sidereal astrology, Ophiuchus/Serpentarius (the Serpent Bearer) is often considered the 13th symbol! And look: next year’s annual lunar new year’s release is a serpent-bearing Rilakkuma!

Year of the Snake Series 2013 - full

Year of the Snake Series 2013

ETA (1/28/13): Acquired!