Tag Archives: 2012

福 (Good Fortune & Happiness) Rilakkuma Plushie! & A Rilakkuma Pineapple Suit!

Everyone needs a little good luck in their lives, so here’s 福 (Fú) Rilakkuma!

Fu Rilakkuma - full

You’ve got to ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?” Well, do ya, punk?

Fu Rilakkuma - fan detail

福 means good fortune and happiness!

Fu Rilakkuma - tag art

A pair of lucky bears on the tag!

This lucky bear was such a huge help during my finals week! I really needed all the good luck for my exams haha. I really love his pose and composition – so harmonious and balanced!

He was released as part of a whole line of auspicious plushies in the Fansclub 福 (fú) series in November 2012!

In my family’s tradition, we turn the 福 display upside-down throughout the year because the character for “upside-down”, “倒” (dao), is a homonym of the character for “to arrive”, “到” (dao) – so basically it means that “good fortune is arriving”!

Fu Rilakkuma - display

Fu Rilakkuma by the display in front of my parents’ house!

Can’t properly put this bear upside-down haha but he’s such a great and colorful addition to the collection!!

Huge thanks to reader Trinie for this super prosperous bear! He’s such a lovely addition, and I’m so overjoyed that he will be bringing our household good luck and prosperity for years to come!

In other news, Simon took up a different venture in Rilakkuma art, and constructed this Rilakkuma pineapple suit!

Pineapple Suit BD Bear - with Kuma-san

My sister and I’s first Rilakkumas!

As you may recall, this year marks my first Rilakkuma plushie’s 2nd birthday! To commemorate the bear nation’s 2nd year in existence, Simon decided to honor its oldest member with a pineapple costume haha.

Looks like a pretty regal pineapple – especially with the green leaves looking like a crown! As the oldest Rilakkuma plushie in the collection, this bear is kind of the de facto leader so the theme is rather fitting, I think!

Rilakkuma as Kiiroitori Store Exclusive Plushie!

Well since last time I made the big reveal about my first Kiiroitori, I thought it’d only be appropriate to follow up with Kiiroitori-related post! … sorta.

Meet Rilakkuma… wearing a Kiiroitori T-shirt!

Rilakkuma as Kiiroitori - full

Why are Rilakkuma Store products’ tags always on the right leg instead of the left?

Rilakkuma as Kiiroitori - balloon

A four leaf clover balloon! The symbol of the Rilakkuma store! Anyone know the origin of this? I’d like to know! (ETA: I think it’s from the San-X logo with the clover X, d’oh!)

Rilakkuma as Kiiroitori - back

He’s even got Kiiroitori’s tail!

We picked him up at the Tokyo Skytree Rilakkuma Store!

Released in August 2012, he’s part of a special Rilakkuma Store exclusive release featuring the Rilakkuma crew wearing T-shirts of each other!

In addition to Rilakkuma dressed as Kiiroitori, Korilakkuma and Kiiroitori are wearing Rilakkuma T-shirts… hmm, no Korilakkuma love? T^T

Teehee, they kinda remind me of the I Love Rilakkuma Series from 2011!

In other news, my dad picked up a few things from the Rilakkuma Store, too – notably this awesome Rilakkuma water bottle!

Water bottle - full

It’s Forest themed! Featuring Yukata Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma :)

Probably the coolest water bottle designs I’ve ever seen! The water tasted like regular bottled water though hahaha

Anyway, I’ve been thinking a lot about Rilakkuma licensing recently – you know, the products that aren’t made by San-X, but the companies have the official permission to use the design, like our beloved Fansclub UFO Catcher plushies?

Though this blog generally focuses on the products released directly by San-X, I thought I would make a post on licensing in the Rilakkuma in the near future. There are so just many licensed Rilakkuma products out there, it’s hard to keep track! Especially since the quality and style is so inconsistent outside of San-X, with the exception of the holo license stickers.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated as I try to research and gather my thoughts over the next few days haha

Tokyo Skytree Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori plushie!

Hello again! I’m back in Florida!

Wow, I haven’t updated since I arrived to the Philippines! I said things would slow down on this front after my fast-paced Rilakkuma adventures in Japan, but it turns out that applied to my blogging (and internet connection) too haha. But now that I’m back in the states, I have some time to burn while I wait for med school to start (August 5)!

First up is Tokyo Skytree Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori!

Tokyo Skytree Set - full

At 2080 ft., Tokyo Skytree is the tallest tower in the world! … which would make this Rilakkuma more than 1000 feet tall if scaled up to actual size!

Tokyo Skytree Set - Rilakkuma close-up

Fun fact: this is actually my first Kiiroitori hahaha

Tokyo Skytree Set - Korilakkuma

Love that they still included all the details: Rilakkuma has a functioning zipper, and Korilakkuma has her signature red button, even though it is barely visible!

This particular set, with the bears hanging on to the tower all King Kong-like, came out December 2012! A different set with the 3 with Rilakkuma holding dango came out at the Skytree Rilakkuma Store’s grand opening on May 22, 2012 – super cute, too!

Anyway, over the next few days, I’m gonna try to photograph and catalog all the different plushies I picked up while in Japan while I try to get caught up on all the Rilakkuma news I’ve missed – for example omg hahaha that the new Rilakkuma Wonderland mini plushies’ tails are all different colors?

Rilakkuma Wonderland - tails

Also, dango-drummer Rilakkuma’s nose looks full and normal here?

And aahhh the super cute Rilakkuma x Tower Records collab?? I love Ariel’s and Angel’s photos! So jealous!

These musically inclined Rilakkumas dovetail quite nicely with the new Akiko Yano Rilakkuma collaboration song, リラックマのわたし (“The Rilakkuma that is me”)! The CD will be available at Tower Records on August 7!

PS a big OOOH to the close-ups of the Rilakkuma Wonderland float playset!

Rilakkuma leftovers!

Here are the miscellaneous Rilakkuma things from the big, recent influx that didn’t quite fit in with the other posts but deserve a mention:

Miscellaneous - all

A Rilakkuma cell phone holder, Korilakkuma mug and plushie (most of these are my sister’s).

The blue envelope on the left and the Kiiroitori folder on the right came together, and were a gift to my sister from her generous Japanese friend: they’re part of an ongoing campaign celebrating a whole decade of Rilakkuma!

Each blue envelope has a mini-folder featuring a different Rilakkuma series inside – my sister lucked out and got a great throwback to a series that debuted in August 2005 that was centered around Kiiroitori’s life and activities! Old school Rilakkuma! Looks like Kiiroitori got stuck cleaning up after Rilakkuma’s mess though…

But that’s not all!

Miscellaneous - Korilakkuma mug

A Korilakkuma mug for Simon! The little tail in the back is so cute, but I think it’s kinda funny that Korilakkuma products with this theme are always just labeled “Rilakkuma” haha

Miscellaneous - towels

Hand towels!
Top row: Face theme (April 2009)
Bottom row: “Rilakkuma, Rilakkuma” (August 2012), Aloha Rilakkuma (February 2013), Let’s Play With Bunnies (December 2012)

Whew! All kuma-ed out for the time being.

Let’s Play With Rabbits Series Rilakkuma Plushie!

Released in December 2012, from the Let’s Play With Rabbits Series, it’s Pink Bunny Rilakkuma! Also courtesy of my generous mom’s Asia trip haha

Let's Play With Rabbits Series - full body shot

Already prepared for Easter!

Let's Play With Rabbits Series - pocket and paw detail

His bunny suit has a cute little front pocket, and his paws and feet are padded with fabric with the same texture are Rilakkuma’s regular yellow paws, feet, and ears!

Let's Play With Rabbits Series - lining detail

His suit is lined with soft pink satin, and it’s completely removable! Plus, there are small fluffy fillings that make his ears look longer and more rabbit-like hahaha

When I wrote about this series last year, I didn’t expect to come to own it, but fate had another thing planned, I guess! Glad to have this Energizer bunny Rilakkuma in the ranks!

This series is really quite endearing to me because the campaign illustration features Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma putting bunny ears on everything: from strawberries to Korilakkuma’s own Rilakkuma plushie?? Hahahaha

Let's Play With Rabbits Series - promo image

Bunny strawberry?

 

Rilakkuma Wallets & Coin Purses!

More additions from the Narita Airport – my mom really went all out!

In addition to the bathtime Rilakkuma plushie, she also got these 3 great Rilakkuma wallets/coin purses!

Rilakkuma Wallets - Rabbits front

These two coin purses are from the Let’s Play with Rabbits Series released in December 2012, though Rilakkuma just looks like he usually does.

Rilakkuma Wallets - Rabbits zippers

They each have these awesome Rilakkuma zipper pulls!

Rilakkuma Wallets - Rabbits lining

And lovely Rilakkuma/Korilakkuma print lining! Again, Korilakkuma is decked out in her bunny suit, and Rilakkuma’s just au naturel.

Rilakkuma Wallets - Happy front

This wallet was also released in December 2012, but not as part of a major themed series.

Rilakkuma Wallets - Happy inside

It’s a tri-fold!

Rilakkuma Wallets - Happy mongram charm

Cute “R” monogram charm!

I think I would have more money to fill these wallets without my Rilakkuma addiction hahaha

Bathtime (with heart) Series Rilakkuma Plushie!

So in addition to being welcomed back home with family and a comfortable bed after a long trip to NYC, I was also welcomed back with new Rilakkuma plushies! My mom had a layover at the Narita International Airport, and there’s a souvenir store there that carries San-X products!

One of the plushies she brought back for me was Bathtime (with heart) Rilakkuma! Released in July 2012, this series also features some pretty great Caravan and Limited Edition designs (and then some)!

Bathtime Series - full body shot

Ready for a bubble bath!

Bathtime Series - shower cap detail

He’s got his own personalized shower cap!

Bathtime Series - front bubble detail

Hard to see, but the bubbles on his right leg are heart shaped!

Bathtime Series - back

Bubbles on the back! Looks like a little bunny tail hahaha

After such a busy week, he makes me want a relaxing bubble bath too now…

Spotted: Rilakkuma weather forecast?

Not exactly sure why this exists, but here’s a wacky weather report from last May featuring a Bonjour/Bon Voyage Rilakkuma dancing in the background:

 

From my minimal understanding of what on earth is going here, I think this is just a weather report show with people dancing around and bright colors; this one just happens to also have Rilakkuma?

Admittedly, this way more exciting than my local weather report.

Rilakkuma Lifestyle Tervis tumblers!

Knowing how much I love Rilakkuma, my parents got my sister and I these Rilakkuma Lifestyle themed tumblers from Tervis for Christmas!

Tervises are really durable tumblers that maintain temperature really well – and they don’t leave rings for a happy, coaster-free living. Also, they’re pretty much indestructible.

My mom used Tervis’ customize option where you can send them a picture, and they’ll stick it in a Tervis for a cute, personalized gift hahaha. And sadly, as much as I rave about Tervis in person and online, I’m not actually affiliated with them… but I wish.

I use my new Rilakkuma Lifestyle Tervis for hot tea almost every day now – though how fitting would it be if it were specifically Enherb Rilakkuma tea?