Sendai 4th Anniversary Hockey Rilakkuma Plush!

Though we finally broke a long dry spell with our first rain here in St. Augustine this week, it is getting hotter and hotter here!

Still dreaming of cooler temperatures with this cute new Hockey Rilakkuma Plush from the Sendai 4th Anniversary Series!

リラックマストア仙台店4周年記念 - あつめてアニバーサリーぬいぐるみ - 氷上のウィンタースポーツ - Sendai Rilakkuma Store 4th Anniversary Plush - full

Hockey Rilakkuma, ready for action!

リラックマストア仙台店4周年記念 - あつめてアニバーサリーぬいぐるみ - 氷上のウィンタースポーツ - Sendai Rilakkuma Store 4th Anniversary Plush - helmet detail

His white helmet features a yellow Rilakkuma emblem, and soft grey cage to protect his face!

リラックマストア仙台店4周年記念 - あつめてアニバーサリーぬいぐるみ - 氷上のウィンタースポーツ - Sendai Rilakkuma Store 4th Anniversary Plush - helmet cage flip

The cage also conveniently flips up when you want to see his handsome face!

リラックマストア仙台店4周年記念 - あつめてアニバーサリーぬいぐるみ - 氷上のウィンタースポーツ - Sendai Rilakkuma Store 4th Anniversary Plush - hockey puck detail

One of my favorite details: an adorable bright yellow, bear-shaped hockey puck attached by string to the end of his hockey stick!

リラックマストア仙台店4周年記念 - あつめてアニバーサリーぬいぐるみ - 氷上のウィンタースポーツ - Sendai Rilakkuma Store 4th Anniversary Plush - hockey stick and jersey detail

On the other end of his hock stick, a nice bear detail. His white and blue jersey features a blue bear emblem with “Rilakkuma” in the front and center, with three grey stars on each sleeve.

リラックマストア仙台店4周年記念 - あつめてアニバーサリーぬいぐるみ - 氷上のウィンタースポーツ - Sendai Rilakkuma Store 4th Anniversary Plush - skate detail

Charming plush ice skates for Rilakkuma, featuring felt blades and a yellow Rilakkuma design on the lateral sides!

リラックマストア仙台店4周年記念 - あつめてアニバーサリーぬいぐるみ - 氷上のウィンタースポーツ - Sendai Rilakkuma Store 4th Anniversary Plush - tag art

Tag art featuring Rilakkuma’s snazzy skates! Also with a peek at the gilded fabric tag with the big “4” representing the Sendai Rilakkuma Store’s 4th anniversary.

Continuing the sports anniversary trend for this cycle, Sendai celebrated their 4th anniversary in November 2016 with this athletic hockey Rilakkuma!

Did you know that ice hockey is one of the oldest professional sports in Japan? And ice hockey is a popular sport in Sendai, making it a very appropriate choice to celebrate the Sendai Rilakkuma Store’s 4th birthday!

I love the way this plush is constructed, from the flip-up cage down to his plush skates—absolutely adorable! I’ve never played hockey, but this Rilakkuma certainly makes me want to! Or at least just skate around a little bit indoors while the sun slowly roasts Florida.

Enormous thanks to my Aunt Lulu for helping me get this sporty Rilakkuma! I hope he still has the chance to play hockey here in sunny Florida haha.

Do people still do #FollowFriday / #FF? I’m notoriously really spotty with my Instagram/social media usage, but these are a few photos I’ve saved that I’ve been really inspired by!

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🐻 #rilakkuma #くま #リラックマ #ゆき

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So beautiful! I really enjoy seeing everyone’s unique Rilakkuma aesthetics as I scroll through the #rilakkuma and #リラックマ tags, and these photos always get me motivated to capture more Rilakkuma photos!

Be sure to check out the Rilakkuma Lifestyle Instagram for fun snapshots of my Rilakkuma plush ;)

Personally, I love shooting concepts of Rilakkuma with objects like what he is wearing, like this Burger Rilakkuma with a burger which I took back in 2015 hehehe.

Of course, I always have so much fun bringing Rilakkuma out with me to do errands, and I always bring Rilakkuma with me when I travel!

Do you bring your Rilakkuma plush out in public? If so, where do you like to bring them?

Rilakkuma x Hayabusa x Komachi Plushies! + New! Rilakkuma goes to the Netherlands!

Beep beep! Say hello to the Rilakkuma x Hayabusa x Komachi train bears!

Rilakkuma x Hayabusa x Komachi - リラックマ×はやぶさ×こまち - full

Beep beep! Two new train bears!

Rilakkuma x Hayabusa x Komachi - リラックマ×はやぶさ×こまち - Komachi front

Each design differs slightly with each model. Komachi Rilakkuma’s front (hood) has a grey window panel, and two dashed white arcs.

Rilakkuma x Hayabusa x Komachi - リラックマ×はやぶさ×こまち - Komachi side view

Komachi also has a single side door with two side windows.

Rilakkuma x Hayabusa x Komachi - リラックマ×はやぶさ×こまち - Hayabusa front detail

Meanwhile, Hayabusa Rilakkuma’s hood has a narrower window with lights, and also the two dashed white arcs.

Rilakkuma x Hayabusa x Komachi - リラックマ×はやぶさ×こまち - Hayabusa side view

Hayabusa Rilakkuma has two side doors, and has a lovely violet stripe at the base.

Rilakkuma x Hayabusa x Komachi - リラックマ×はやぶさ×こまち - top view

While they came out together, each of them is very different by color and by design!

Rilakkuma x Hayabusa x Komachi - リラックマ×はやぶさ×こまち - tag art

Tag art: Rilakkuma and friends riding the trains!

I’m always so excited to introduce new bears to my transportation Rilakkuma collection!

This pair of bears from Komachi and Hayabusa came out in July 2015 as part of an ongoing collaboration between Rilakkuma and Japan Railways (JR). As I wrote in a previous post when this design was first announced, these two lines have very meaningful names, as Hayabusa (はやぶさ) means peregrine falcon (a bird that has the fastest speed in the animal kingdom), and Komachi (こまち) is named after a famous waka poet from the area, Ono no Komachi.

Of course, this all means that my transportation Rilakkuma collection just steadily grows…

Transportation Collection - 10-23-15

My complete transportation Rilakkuma collection as of today! Can’t wait to see which designs are next! Yamanote (x2), Hankyu (x2), Dr. Yellow (x2), Shinkansen, and now Hayabusa and Komachi!

I think this is my most complete series in my collection! One day, I’ll take them all to their origin trains like Liemzie did for her Hankyu Rilakkuma – make sure to check out her adorable photos and video of her Hankyu Rilakkuma at the Hankyu line in Osaka!

In other news, the second Cats Series came out this month, and I love the direction they’ve been taking with it this year!

Cats Series 2 - cover

A second year of cats!

Cats Series 2 - puppets

Standard line features Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma puppets in costume! 2,800円 for both.

Cats Series 2 - Net Shop exclusive

Net Shop Exclusive features a life-size (cat-sized) Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma in full costumes, nestled with kittens that look just like them! 8,424円 for both.

Remember the Cats Series from 2014? Looks like it was so successful that they revisited the cats theme again this year, too! 2015 is seeing lots of renewals, including the second iteration of Rilakkuma Factory! Personally, I love long term series that are revisited each year, like train bears, so I wouldn’t mind seeing other series revisited like the Bonjour Series or the Space Series!

I really adore the Net Shop Exclusive for this line because its to life-size! I love the Rilakkuma Cats Series because as someone who is highly allergic to actual cats, this is as close as I can get to snuggling with a cat in real life! The pre-order for the Cats Series 2 Net Shop Exclusive will be open until November, so make sure to place your order soon!

Speaking of new iterations on successful lines, check out this year’s Rilakkuma x J!NS PC line!

J!NS PC 2 - glasses and case

In addition to your glasses, each Rilakkuma x J!NS PC order comes with a beautiful cleaning cloth and case – wow!

J!NS PC 2 - plushes

In addition to glasses, you can also get J!NS PC-themed Rilakkuma plushies! A playset featuring Rilakkuma and pals sleeping with their glasses on for 4,100円, and a plush stand for 2,300円.

J!NS PC 2 - exclusive plush

Of course, they had to shake things up with this adorable exclusive: you can’t directly buy this diligent Rilakkuma working on his Kuma-book late into the night, you must purchase a pair of J!NS PC glasses, and win from a lottery where only something like 11 plushes will be given out, whoa! Wonder if any will pop up on the auctions, this is certainly one of the most exclusive collector’s items!

J!NS PC is an eyewear design that is crafted to block out the blue light from computer and phone screens that can be harmful to your eyes. Most relevant, however, is that their collaboration with Rilakkuma is one of the cutest I have ever seen! All of their Rilakkuma collaboration products, which first came out in 2014, are really adorable and they are a testament to a quality collaboration!

Currently, I have the Rilakkuma plush from the first collaboration release. One day, maybe I will get my own set of J!NS PC glasses too hehehe – right now I’m just admiring their products from afar!

And to keep following Rilakkuma around the world, the next destination is the Netherlands, courtesy of the Sendai Rilakkuma Store’s 3rd Anniversary!

Sendai 3rd Anniversary - cover

Beautiful traditional outfits for team Rilakkuma! 1,580円 each.

What a creative design! Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma are wearing the traditional Dutch folk dress, while Kiiroitori is nestled in a klomp, a wooden clog from the Netherlands (though his is made of cloth!). My favorite part of this design is the tulip motif, as Holland in particular is quite famous for its tulips. Did you know that the Netherlands exports two-thirds of the world’s total fresh cut plants, flowers, and flower bulbs? Flowers and tulips in particular are a very meaningful symbol to Dutch culture and economy.

I’d love to spend some time in the Netherlands one day – so far, I’ve only had a stop-over in the Amsterdam airport, so I’ve never actually stepped foot in the city, but I’d love to travel there one day. Thanks for the inspiration, Rilakkuma!

In personal Rilakkuma anniversary news, as a true American patriot, I placed my order for the American West Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori from the Kichijoji 5th Anniversary recently, so I should be able to share that set with you soon!

The next anniversary location will be at Tokyo Station in February 2016! Where in the world would like to Rilakkuma to go next? He’s been to the North Pole, Italy, the American West, and the Netherlands so far – where to next?

Finally, word on the street is that Rilakkuma and friends will be joined by a new bear friend in March 2016! I’m already quite comfortable with the current crew, so let’s see what happens in March!

Hope everyone’s keeping warm! The temperature here in Florida is rather perfect now :D I’m right in the middle of my outpatient internal medicine rotation, and life is pretty swell! Take care, and stay relaxed like Rilakkuma!

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