Tag Archives: rilakkuma store exclusive

Aloha Rilakkuma Plushie – Rilakkuma Store Exclusive! + Simon wins the Mira Plush Art Contest!

Super exciting news!! Check out our cute new Rilakkuma Store Exclusive Aloha Rilakkuma plushie!

Aloha Rilakkuma Store Exclusive - full

Aloha, Rilakkuma!

Aloha Rilakkuma Store Exclusive - shade detail

I’d like a pair of shades like that!

Aloha Rilakkuma Store Exclusive - back detail

And his name is embroidered on the back of his shirt!

Aloha Rilakkuma Store Exclusive - tag art

Relaxed Rilakkuma on the tag art!

Aloha Rilakkuma Store Exclusive - family

The newest member of the Aloha Rilakkuma family relaxing in the sun with his pals!

I love how our Aloha Rilakkuma family has been expanding recently! This sunshine-ready bear is the Rilakkuma Store exclusive plushie from the Aloha Rilakkuma series, released in April 2013!

He is particularly special to us because Simon won him in the Spring 2014 Mira Plush Art Contest!

Simon, our resident Rilakkuma portrait artist, submitted the following piece, featuring the Rilakkuma Marine Series:

Simon Ho - Rilakkuma Crossing The Ocean

Rilakkuma Crossing The Ocean
Digital Painting
Rilakkuma Crossing The Ocean is inspired by Washington Crossing the Delaware, an 1851 oil-on-canvas painting by the German-American artist Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, painted to commemorate General George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. While Marine Rilakkuma is likely too lazy to be a general in the military like Washington, Rilakkuma Crossing The Ocean represents thoughtful reflection and serenity as Rilakkuma and pals drift across the ocean in their newspaper boat on a lazy afternoon.

Thanks so much for sponsoring this contest and so generously supporting the Rilakkuma art community, Mira Plush! Make sure you check out Mira Plush’s online Rilakkuma store – I’ve purchased from them before, and they’re very fast and reliable! Mira Plush also has a great new WordPress blog full of fun photos, so be sure to support them there, too!

It’s really so fun to share Rilakkuma art with the community! CONGRATULATIONS, Simon!

Mira Plush Drawing Contest - BD bear

Hey, even Rilakkuma likes to draw, too!

For Simon’s next work, he’s considering doing an interpretation on the new Rilakkuma in Space Series to be released in July. We’re constantly thinking of new Rilakkuma scenes and inspiration for Simon to draw – ideas are welcome!

March Update!

Okay so major apologies for not posting much recently – my camera ran out of battery, and I realized that I left the charger at my parents’ house! Still have bears to share with you all, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, lots of news in the Rilakkuma world!! Notably, a new Rilakkuma Store in Kobe!

Kobe Rilakkuma Store Opening - ad

I love how even the Rilakkuma Store logo is also nautically themed with a blue scarf and red flag to match!

Kobe Rilakkuma Store Opening - Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma

They have Rilakkuma Store bags just like us!

Kobe Rilakkuma Store Opening - Stripes Stripes Everyday playset

A beautiful Stripes Stripes Everyday playset just for the opening!

As a port city, the Kobe Rilakkuma Store opening plushies have a super cute nautical theme – I love it! They remind me a lot of the Marine Series, another nautically themed release! The opening celebration will be happening on April 18!

Also Rilakkuma seller Mira Plush revealed a sneak peek of a Rilakkuma in Space Series!

Mira Plush - Space Rilakkuma

Wow, kumas in space!

What do you all this of this cosmic Rilakkuma? Definitely a huge departure from what we normally see, but I really love that Rilakkuma has a sense of adventure, and the side illustrations are really well done! I think it’s a super creative take on Rilakkumas in space, and I’m really looking forward to its official release! Looks like we won’t see these buddies until July this year though.

Elsewhere on Earth, Rilakkuma Factory is a really interesting series coming out April 4! Looks like a set of cute, yet professional Rilakkuma office supplies, with a little Rilakkuma plushie thrown in. Looks perfect for any office!

Rilakkuma Factory - cover

For the professional Rilakkuma fan!

I do wonder why they feature American currency though hahaha

I also love the new Sweet Happy Series that will also be released on April 4!

Sweet Happy Series - Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma

What a beautiful new floral pattern – so perfect for spring!

They look super fluffy like the My Only Series – it’s really so great to see that San-X is diversifying the textures of their Rilakkuma plushies! I do wonder if they’ll ever include Kiiroitori in these lines though, I think Kii gets left out sometimes – though I guess he’s getting a whole series to himself in April anyway, so not much to complain about hahaha

I hope everyone is enjoying spring!

New! Stripes Stripes Everyday Series!

Quick break to announce a great new series: Stripes Stripes Everyday (しましまエブリデイ) Series!

Stripes Stripes Everyday

“Stripes with your days”

Stripes Stripes Everyday - standard

Penguins for the standard release! (Except Kiiroitori?)

Stripes Stripes Everyday - hugging pillow

A polar bear hugging pillow!

Stripes Stripes Everyday - Rilakkuma Store Exclusive

Rilakkuma Store Exclusive! (So now Kii gets to be a blue penguin!)

Super cute! Definitely one of Rilakkuma’s most huggable series yet! Not super sure what stripes have to do with penguins and polar bears, like I’m surprised that their standard release plushies have no stripes at all hahaha, but I love it so far!

I think this series has such a cute color scheme and theme! The standard S plushies are each 1,780円, and the polar bear hugging pillow is 3,800円. They also have a lot of other super cute merchandise in this line as well, such as bicycle seat covers and umbrella cases!

As for the Rilakkuma Store Exclusive line, they will be available March 8 for 2000円 each! There will also be special Rilakkuma Store Exclusive bags available in this release, as well. I think they’ll be stocking some of the Rilakkuma version at the San-X Net Shop, too!

It’ll be really exciting to see how this series develops – caravan, anyone?

I think I’ll be ordering a Rilakkuma from the standard release (the blue penguin)! Since this release was leaked, I’ve been waiting for this series to appear so I could make a big Net Shop order :D

Off to study again! Let me know what your thoughts are on the new Rilakkuma Stripes Stripes Everyday Series in the comments!

Tokyo Station 5th Anniversary Announcement!

Super quick update before my anatomy dissection lab starts: Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary Plushie designs have been announced!

Tokyo Station 5th Anniversary - Annoucement

Wow, look at that Korilakkuma holding those tiny Korilakkumas!

Wow, so many! And so cute!

The first row of plushies are Hinamatsuri (雛祭り – Doll’s Day/Girl’s Day) themed. Looks like Korilakkuma is holding her own Korilakkuma dolls, Rilakkuma is holding some bear-shaped hishi mochi (菱餅), and Kiiroitori has his own plate of arare (あられ) all for Doll’s Day! They are 1300 円 each, and will be released on February 14 (Valentine’s Day)! Last year, San-X released special Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma dolls for Hinamatsuri!

The 2nd row shows a special plushie that features a Marunouchi (丸の内 – a commercial district of Tokyo) design! Super adorable – I love a Rilakkuma with a camera – and they’ll come in a bunch of different sizes, from keychain, to standard S (22 cm – collectible size), to M (like my first Rilakkuma), and will be 1480 円, 2000 円, and 3500 円, respectively. The M size will only be sold at the Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store! They will also be released on February 14.

What do you all think?

Year of the Horse 2014 Rilakkuma Store Exclusive Plushie!

Happy 2014 everyone!

I’m so proud to have this plushie in my collection! It’s the Year of the Horse 2014 Rilakkuma Store Exclusive Plushie!

Year of the Horse - full

Happy New Year, Rilakkuma!

Year of the Horse - back saddle

Back of the saddle says “Rilakkuma” while the front says “2014”!

Year of the Horse - Rilakkuma detail

Rilakkuma can be removed from the hole, too!

Year of the Horse - horse detail

Horse face! Though its snout kinda looks like a face in itself.

Year of the Horse - tag detail

Tag Art! Looks just like the plushie!

Year of the Horse - bag

Haha a little belated, but this is the Rilakkuma Store bag – Heartful Happy Christmas! So beautiful and detailed! I love the bear ornaments :)

This plushie is the Rilakkuma Store Exclusive plushie for the Year of the Horse 2014 Series, and was released December 7th, 2013.

As I mentioned before, I was born in the year of the horse, so this plushie is extra special to me! They were so perfect to have on display during my family’s new year celebration :) What’s wonderful too is that they get another special celebration later this month for lunar new year, too!

Wow, I can’t believe another year has passed already! So many wonderful Rilakkuma-related things have happened in the past year, from visiting Japan (and a real Rilakkuma Store!) for the first time, to attaining my dream Rilakkuma plushie, 2013 was a rollercoaster of great Rilakkuma things!

Here’s to another year living a Rilakkuma Lifestyle!

Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary Plushie!

Finally here – the Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary Plushie!

Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary - full

Just hanging out.

Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary - fish

Mr. Red Sea Bream says “Hello!”

Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary - Kiiroitori

Kiiroitori rides along in the back!

Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary - tags

Red fabric ribbon says “Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary!”

Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary - coasters

Plus some Halloween coasters! My first Halloween-themed Rilakkuma items actually haha

He kinda looks like a Christmas ornament, doesn’t he?

Oh my gosh, I pre-ordered him way back in September and just received him this weekend because I was waiting for the Happy Natural Time Series Caravan design to be announced for the longest time. Ah well, he is definitely worth the wait!

As I mentioned in a previous post, the first Rilakkuma Store (Umeda) opened five years ago – to celebrate, San-X released both an anniversary plushie specific to the Umeda branch (chestnut-themed) as well as an anniversary plushie for the Rilakkuma Stores as a whole (this guy!).

Rilakkuma and Kiiroitori are riding a big red sea bream (鯛, tai), a symbol of good fortune in Japanese culture. There’s also a Japanese proverb “腐っても鯛” (Kusattemo tai) which roughly translates to “No matter how spoiled/old, it’s still sea bream” because even when sea bream isn’t very fresh, its flavor lasts longer than most other fish so it’s still good to eat (turns out that the fish produces a substance, inosinic acid, that decomposes slower than most fish and helps it resist spoiling!). Following, this proverb reflects how even in dire circumstances or old age, a person of quality still has their worth.

Hopefully this Rilakkuma and sea bream will give me some good luck for my upcoming medical school years!

In other news, the Rilakkuma x Enherb collaboration is gearing up again!

Rilakkuma x Enherb 2013 - Winter ad

I love their ad this year!

Looks like they’ve extended their product line since last year with some honey/herb mix and bath salts, which is great to see!

The Enherb collab is close to my heart because (1) I love tea and (2) it was one of my very first posts on my blog!

Speaking of flashbacks to old loves, how CUTE is this new ad for the new Sumikko Gurashi tableware line?

Sumikko Gurashi - tableware ad

Too cute to eat?

Appropriately, Tonkatsu is positioned at the very end of the cutlet hahaha

So amazing to see San-X developing Sumikko Gurashi! My sister has the mini plush like the one in the photo, and we both have the larger/regular sized one too!

Tonkatsu has always been my favorite, and like Enherb, was also the subject of one of my blog’s earliest posts :D

Speaking of which, Rilakkuma Lifestyle’s 1 year anniversary is coming up on the 21st – wow, I can’t believe it’s been a year already!

December 2013 – Heart Theme!

Kind of a sneak attack on San-X’s part (though I really love the larger images they’re doing now), but check out the new Hearts theme!

Rilakkuma Hearts Series - header

Rilakkuma Loves Pancakes!

Rilakkuma Hearts Series - plushies

Cute knits with a heart theme on the plushies!

Rilakkuma Hearts Series - keychains

Itty bitty keychain versions, too!

Rilakkuma Hearts Series - aroma balls

And… bottles of aroma balls? Has San-X sold these before?

They’re scheduled to be released December 2013! Check out the prices and the extended product list here!

There was a Rilakkuma Hearts theme back in 2008, too! I guess San-X is bringing it back for the first Hearts Series’ 5 year anniversary :D

Rilakkuma and friends really look so snug in their knits!

And you can be snug just like them in the Rilakkuma Store exclusive knitwear line:

Rilakkuma Store Exclusive Knits - announcement

Cozy!

They look so warm!

It never really gets too cold here in Florida (in fact, it was a beautiful, sunny 80F today), but I really do love the knitwear line!! I’d totally wear the beanie and scarf regardless of weather hahaha

The return of the indifferent snowperson!

Yay, the Sendai Rilakkuma Store 1st Anniversary designs were officially announced, and look who’s back for a cameo!

Sendai 1st Anniversary - Announcement

Snow and orange theme!

Christmas 2011 San-X Net Shop Exclusive - indifferent snow person

I see you!

The Sendai 1st anniversary Kiiroitori is holding a mini version of the indifferent snowperson from the Christmas 2011 Net Shop Exclusive playset!

Wow, I can’t believe they brought it back again this year, I’m so ecstatic!

I love the snow and oranges theme because oranges are also my home state Florida’s state fruit! Oranges are the sweetest after a frost because the cold makes the oranges produce more sugar for energy!

These cute mini-plushies will be sold at all the Rilakkuma Stores for 1300 円.

Getting more into the Christmas spirit…

Christmas 2013 - individual plushies

Going down the chimney to deliver presents!

Chrismas 2013 - Santa hat

Wow!

Christmas 2013 - Store Exclusive set

A Christmas scene that says “Heartful Happy Christmas”! Loving the bear ornaments, wrapping paper, and stockings :D

Wow! The Christmas 2013 lineup is pretty incredible!

The three individual Christmas plushies (1800円 each) will be on sale at multiple locations as well as the San-X Net Shop, while the Santa hat (1480円) and playset (10000円)will be a Rilakkuma Store exclusive – all to be released on November 2nd!

There are also keychains and special drawstring bags exclusive to the Rilakkuma Stores, too!

Whew, November 2nd seems like a pretty exciting day! I can’t believe it’s coming up so soon, I feel like the time is really flying by!

In the just past week, I’ve learned how to draw blood, perform a cardiac exam, and insert an IUD. I also talked to someone about lowering their blood pressure by drinking less coffee, which was pretty exciting. Things seem really busy but everything is so fun/interesting that I don’t really feel too exhausted right now. I’ll just keep on keeping on with Rilakkuma by my side! :D

Kichijoji 3rd Anniversary designs announced!

Whew, I know I just posted yesterday, but just a quick update – I just get so excited about these anniversary plushies!

It’s the Kichijoji Rilakkuma Store’s 3rd Anniversary Plushies!

Kichijoji 3rd Anniversary - announcement

Lookin’ cozy!

Hey, they’re roasted sweet potato (焼き芋) themed, and they’re sporting some pretty suave plaid outfits! They come out on October 12, and they’re each 1,300円 and will be available at all 8 Rilakkuma Stores.

Also, looks like you can get some great Rilakkuma Halloween coasters too!

They look like a throwback to the 2006 Winter Caravan plushie… that also seems to be purged from the San-X website? Check out these Japanese bloggers’ accounts here and here (it existed, I swear!).

In other news, check out this bananas Yahoo Japan auction listing for the Rilakkuma Store 5th anniversary plushie!

Rilakkuma Store 5th Anniversary - upside-down

Hahahahahaha

So basically, the plush is supposed to look like the one on the right, but this person bought a defect that has the fishing rod upside-down and backwards! They were asking for 150,000円 for it – that’s $1,500 USD!! Pretty wild!

ETA: there’s another auction listing for an upside down one! Except this time, it’s for only 2980円 haha, much more reasonable. I guess there were a good number of upside down ones that made it to the shelves!

I’m expecting this plushie sometime soon actually (the normal one that’s right side up, and not over a thousand dollars haha), but I asked the seller to hold off until the Fall Caravan for the Happy Natural Time Series is announced so I can combine shipping if I end up wanting to order that one, too. Can’t wait to see this guy though!!

Bonjour Series Rilakkuma Plushie – Store Exclusive!

Ahhh I’m so excited to share with you all this plushie I received this week!

Hooray, it’s Sandwich Rilakkuma!!

Sandwich Rilakkuma - full

Sharing one big sub sandwich!

Sandwich Rilakkuma - Rilakkuma detail

Rilakkuma looks like he’s in a bit of a food coma haha

Sandwich Rilakkuma - Kiiroitori detail

Kiiroitori’s holding the Rilakkuma variation of the French flag!

Sandwich Rilakkuma - back

The back of the plush, with their little bear buns hovering in the air. Speaking of buns, the sandwich bun is incredibly soft and fuzzy!

Sandwich Rilakkuma - tag

Tag art! Looks like the illustration shows little kuma-toothpicks that hold the sandwich together, too!

Sandwich Rilakkuma - tomato detail

Wow, even the tomato slices hidden inside have little embroidered details!

This set was the Rilakkuma Store exclusive for the Bonjour Series, and was released February 19, 2010, which was also the weekend the Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store celebrated its 1st anniversary!

At the time, only the Umeda and Tokyo Station branches were open! Wow, and I was busy in the middle of my undergrad and hadn’t even heard of Rilakkuma back then haha how the times have changed.

This plushie is my ultimate dream piece, and has been at the top of my wishlist since I first started collecting. I love the Bonjour Series a lot (mainly because of its baguette-centrism), and I’m so lucky to have obtained two plushies I really dreamed for (this and the Caravan edition) during this past month!

This also means I’ll have to rebuild my wishlist again haha.

Huge thanks to Ariel for being so diligent in sending me links for Japanese auctions for this plushie!! I’ve seen 4 separate auctions for this plushie come and go (way above my price range) since the summertime, but I was finally successful with this one and it’s so perfect! Thanks again for keeping an eye out for me!

Of course, since these bears are French, we had to welcome them home with some croissants…

Sandwich Rilakkuma - with croissants

Any excuse to bake!

Hopefully one day in the future, I’ll get to visit France, and I’ll bring these two along – they’d blend right in, no problem!