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?

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive!

So excited to share the Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive plush set today!

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive スぺシャルネコぬいぐるみ - full

All together, they make a super cute Rilakkuma kitty tower! Their promotional page always has them side-by-side, but I love them as a tower too!

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive スぺシャルネコぬいぐるみ - Rilakkuma

Rilakkuma and his kitten pal are separate from Korilakkuma and her kitten!

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive スぺシャルネコぬいぐるみ - Rilakkuma kitten detail

Rilakkuma’s brown kitten is a little sleepy! Though taken out of context haha I think he looks a little smug.

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive スぺシャルネコぬいぐるみ - paw pad

I love the paw pad detail!

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive スぺシャルネコぬいぐるみ - bottom view

Bottom view to better highlight the snuggly shape!

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive スぺシャルネコぬいぐるみ - Korilakkuma

Korilakkuma dresses up as a brown cat, with her own white kitten!

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive スぺシャルネコぬいぐるみ - Korilakkuma kitten detail

Korilakkuma’s kitten has lovely fluffy whiskers just like she does!

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive スぺシャルネコぬいぐるみ - bow detail

Cute matching red bows on the back!

Rilakkuma Cat Series Net Shop Exclusive スぺシャルネコぬいぐるみ - tag art

Tag art replaced Korilakkuma’s kitten with Kiiroitori!

What I love most about this plush set is that they both fit snugly on one’s lap! This plush set was particularly exciting for my family because many of us are allergic to cats hahaha so this is as close as we can get to having cats of our own!

There are lots of great details like the bells on each of them, and the matching motifs: Rilakkuma/Korilakkuma and their respective kittens have matching whisker designs (two lines on each side for Rilakkuma, and generously fluffy ones for Korilakkuma), and Korilakkuma has a matching ribbon design with her kitten.

Also very interesting that Rilakkuma’s cat costume is that of a Calico cat, which are almost exclusively female due to a biological phenomenon called X-inactivation. The genetics behind their color patterning is really elegant, and I love that it’s represented in this Rilakkuma plush!

I preordered this cuddly set back in October 2015, so it’s great to see them after a long wait! These super cute cat-kumas were a Net Shop exclusive design released in the second iteration of the Rilakkuma Cats Series in October 2015.

Elsewhere in the Rilakkuma world, there are lots of cute new additions, here’s what I’m looking forward to:

Tokyo Station 7th Anniversary: On February 11, the Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store celebrated their 7th anniversary with a New York themed Rilakkuma plush set! I think it’s very fitting because Tokyo definitely has the hustle and bustle feel just like NYC! I ordered the Rilakkuma from this series and can’t wait to see him – I love that his “I <3 NY” sign has a bear shape in the place of a heart!

Tokyo Station Rilakkuma Store 7th Anniversary - cover

Rilakkuma is front and center as the Statue of Liberty, and while I’m not sure what Korilakkuma and Kiiroitori are directly representing, they look like they’re ready to tour NYC! 1,580円 each.

Where would you like to see Rilakkuma and pals travel to next?

Introducing Koguma-chan (こぐまちゃん): In this new series called “Korilakkuma’s New Friend” (コリラックマと新しいお友達) to be released in March, Korilakkuma makes friends with a new little brown bear cub named Koguma-chan! I think this series and the marketing so far has been so great, though my favorite detail is Rilakkuma playing an ocarina in the middle of the woods while Korilakkuma is off making friends with new bears haha – I think personality-wise, it’s very fitting for each character. You can find an awesome translation of Koguma-chan’s story over at PescaMaryan’s blog! I ordered the medium Koguma-chan hehehe.

Korilakkuma's New Friend - Koguma full

Lots of different sized Koguma-chan plushes for your interest, each with a cute yellow bear motif on his paws and back! Mini hanging plush: 900円, Small: 1,200円, Medium: 2,300円.

Korilakkuma's New Friend - Rilakkuma Korilakkuma Kiiroitori set

Of course, Rilakkuma and pals are in on the fun too, and they are all dressed up as Koguma-chan with their own yellow honey motifs! 1,900円 each.

As for new additions, my wonderful aunt Lulu was able to secure a Rilakkuma Osechi playset! Lots of new Rilakkuma to look forward to, I just hope my schedule allows me to post more often!

Outside of Rilakkuma news, I rang in 2016 on my pediatrics rotation! I just took my final exam in pediatrics yesterday, and will be starting my 3 month surgery rotation next week. My schedule just keeps getting busier and busier, but nothing like shelves stuffed full of Rilakkuma plush to help me relieve the stress!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? Simon and I will be going to a restaurant called Soco for a dinner date – yum!