Goodies from the Rilakkuma Booth at Anime Expo 2016!

Woooo! Check out this swag from the Anime Expo 2016 Rilakkuma booth!

Rilakkuma Anime Expo 2016 - swag

Collectible Rilakkuma bag, fan, sticker, brochure, and deco tape – wow!!!

Haha so I didn’t actually go to Anime Expo this year but! Rilakkuma.crossing did, and she picked up a ton of Rilakkuma stuff for me from their booth – so huuuuuuuge THANK YOU!!! (And check out her Rilakkuma-filled instagram!) I appreciate the opportunity to live the Anime Expo this year vicariously through her haha.

As someone who buys most of their Rilakkuma online, Rilakkuma events like these are always something I wanted to go to! I love meeting other Rilakkuma fans and actually seeing Rilakkuma stuff in person haha – maybe one year I’ll get to go!

I love the stuff they gave out this year because look! There’s Koguma-chan! Haha the introduction of Koguma-chan (Korilakkuma’s New Friend Series) has been a huge highlight for me this year, so I love that he is so prominent in their merchandising here in the US now too!

And woohoo that the fan features my favorite Koguma-chan scene with Rilakkuma playing the ocarina :D

Rilakkuma.crossing also picked up a black tank top for me from the newest Japan LA x Rilakkuma clothing line!

Rilakkuma Anime Expo 2016 - look 1

Casual with Rilakkuma

Rilakkuma Anime Expo 2016 - look 2

Dressing up for a night out with black leggings and heels!

Rilakkuma Anime Expo 2016 - look 3

Just relaxing, maybe.

Rilakkuma Anime Expo 2016 - look 4

(I wonder what’s over there >>>>> hahaha)

Rilakkuma Anime Expo 2016 - pancake necklace

And finally I get a chance to pair an outfit with my new pancake stack necklace from Oh Lucky Charm!

Rilakkuma Anime Expo 2016 - tag art

Clothes have tag art too!

I love it! Super soft material that matches will lots of other items – easy to dress up or dress down!

I feel so confident wearing this, and I can’t wait to see what Japan LA cooks up for their Rilakkuma clothing line next!! You can pick up this top and their other collaboration pieces over at Japan LA’s online store!

Elsewhere in the Kuma-verse: have you spotted the A’PIEU x Rilakkuma collaboration?

Super cute!

APIEU is a Korean cosmetics brand, and their Rilakkuma collaboration line includes foundation, bronzer, blush, cleanser, and eye products is out now – wow!

I definitely don’t need any more beauty products, but I have to admit, I’m a huge sucker for cute product packaging and marketing.

Speaking of egregiously cute, the newest addition to the summer Teahouse Series is this San-X Net Shop Exclusive plush!

Teahouse Series - リラックマ茶屋 ぬいぐるみ - 大きいだんごもーちもちクッション - Net Shop Exclusive - cover

Big dango cushion! Korilakkuma even has her signature button! 10,800円 on pre-order.

Teahouse Series - リラックマ茶屋 ぬいぐるみ - 大きいだんごもーちもちクッション - Net Shop Exclusive - instructions

There’s even a spot to rest your head next to team Rilakkuma!

Okay, well isn’t this just adorable? Seems about time for a dango-heavy theme to feature the Rilakkuma team faces in each of the dango pieces haha. I think this is a really creative and appropriate design, and just perfectly big and bombastic as I have come to expect from Net Shop exclusives.

Pre-order is now open at the San-X Net Shop, with expected delivery in early October.

Finally, the Rilakkuma World Tour is wrapping up with its final locations, and as such is wrapping up with a final bus playset!

Rilakkuma Store 7th Anniversary World Tour - スペシャルアニバーサリーぬいぐるみセット - 世界のリラックマ - full

How worldly! 13,800円 available on August 6th.

This big yellow bus features the themed Rilakkumas from London, Mexico, Africa, Austria, Hawaii, and France – and their tour guide in pink is who I’m guessing is the big boss representing all of the Rilakkuma stores celebrating their anniversaries!

That’s all for now! Any new Rilakkuma additions in your horizon, or did you get to go to the Anime Expo this year?

I just started my internal medicine rotation this week and it’s been so great so far. I also finished all of my exams for the year, so right now, I just have to focus on learning and getting ready for residency next year – feels amazing!

Stay cool with Rila-cool-ma!

Tokyo Station 7th Anniversary NYC Rilakkuma Plush!

Rilakkuma visits the Big Apple! Check out this NYC Rilakkuma design from Tokyo Station’s 7th Anniversary celebration!

Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store 7th Anniversary - New York City NYC - Statue of Liberty - 東京駅店7周年は 「アメリカNY」 ぬいぐるみ - full

Hello, Statue of Liberty Rilakkuma!

Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store 7th Anniversary - New York City NYC - Statue of Liberty - 東京駅店7周年は 「アメリカNY」 ぬいぐるみ - sign detail

A kuma’s take on Statue of Liberty’s tabula ansata: with a variation on the classic “I ❤ NY” sign!

Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store 7th Anniversary - New York City NYC - Statue of Liberty - 東京駅店7周年は 「アメリカNY」 ぬいぐるみ - logo detail

Even the Rilakkuma Store logo has a Statue of Liberty crown! Rilakkuma’s flowing robe also has small white bear shape details.

Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store 7th Anniversary - New York City NYC - Statue of Liberty - 東京駅店7周年は 「アメリカNY」 ぬいぐるみ - ice cream torch detail

Rilakkuma’s torch is actually an ice cream with strawberry sauce!

Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store 7th Anniversary - New York City NYC - Statue of Liberty - 東京駅店7周年は 「アメリカNY」 ぬいぐるみ - crown detail

A beautiful diadem with a silver bear detail at the base. Like the Statue of Liberty itself, Rilakkuma’s crown also has 7 rays, symbolizing the sun, 7 seas, and 7 continents.

Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store 7th Anniversary - New York City NYC - Statue of Liberty - 東京駅店7周年は 「アメリカNY」 ぬいぐるみ - tail detail

My favorite detail of them all: the hot dog motif with “R” in mustard cleverly hidden on his tail! And a pretty Tokyo Station 7th anniversary ribbon, too.

Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store 7th Anniversary - New York City NYC - Statue of Liberty - 東京駅店7周年は 「アメリカNY」 ぬいぐるみ - tag art

Tag art: a tasty, plump hot dog, a perfect symbol for NYC that Rilakkuma would enjoy!

Wow, what an amazingly detailed design to celebrate the Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store’s 7th Anniversary! This patriotic Rilakkuma came out in February 2016, as part of the Rilakkuma World Tour anniversary theme. He joins the Wild West Rilakkuma crew (who I will post about soon, too, promise!) as the newest addition to my “American” Rilakkuma collection.

The Statue of Liberty is an incredibly meaningful symbol of freedom for us here in America. It is so fitting that the Tokyo Station Anniversary team selected NYC to represent them on Rilakkuma’s world tour this year, as both Tokyo and New York City are bustling cities that embody the metropolitan lifestyle of their respective nations. From the homage to Bartholdi’s original vision to a nod to contemporary NYC (hot dogs, I ❤ NY), this Rilakkuma plush design offers such a unique take on a classic symbol, and I really appreciate the depth of detail that I have come to expect from San-X plushies.

What else is fresh in the Rilakkuma-verse?

If you find yourself in Osaka this summer, you can relax at the Rilakkuma Cafe for a limited time only!

Rilakkuma Cafe - リラックマカフェ - dish

What a beautiful design featuring Koguma-chan, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori!

Rilakkuma Cafe - リラックマカフェ - goods

Rilakkuma Cafe goods! Plate: 1,080円. Notebook & pen set: 680円.

Opening on May 25, this cute cafe will offer a Rilakkuma-themed menu with special Rilakkuma Cafe goods – don’t miss out! I think their paper napkins are especially great, and I love how Koguma-chan is prominently featured!

I’ve always wanted to go to a Rilakkuma-themed restaurant! Japan often features seasonal Rilakkuma pop-ups for a limited time, and Taipei has a permanent Rilakkuma Cafe – I’ve always wanted to go! Maybe I can make my way to Taiwan sometime in my future.

Also, a sneak peek into the upcoming Teahouse series!

Teahouse Series - standard full

A multicolored dango theme with removable hoodie!

Teahouse series - jumbo

A jumbo Rilakkuma dango, how cute!!

Anticipated to be released this July! So look forward to this cute (and convertible!) design and more to come! I’ll post more information as soon as I learn more!

Back in the real world, I just finished my third year of medical school! After my super intense surgery rotation, I now have two major national board exams to take before I begin my 4th year of medical school – exciting but exhausting!

What are your plans for the summer?