2014

The cute Sumikkogurashi characters are one of the youngest members of the San-X family, but they are already super popular. Time to introduce some of the characters a bit more detailed.

Sumikkogurashi piled animals in corner mini Note Pad

Literally Sumikkogurashi means ‘Corner Living’. All the cute little characters are super shy which is why they like to hide in the corner where they feel safe. They can be seen as a reflection of Japanese society, as many Japanese people can be very shy, so being in the corner of a place makes them feel more comfortable, because they get a feeling of security.

The Sumikkogurashi family consists of many different characters. They all have their own personalities with different reasons why they like to hide in corners.

Sumikkogurashi polar bear figurine finger puppet from Japan

Shirokuma

The shy white bear hates the cold. But he lived in the north, so he decided to run away from his chilly home. He used the cloth Furoshiki to tie up his belongings when he ran away. He is afraid of strangers and only feels comfortable when he can have a cup of hot tea in the corner.

kawaii green Sumikkogurashi penguin plush pouch wallet

Penguin?

The green penguin is so cute, but he seems to have lots of issues with his identity. He even puts a question mark behind his name and used to wear a plate on his head that made him look like a ‘Kappa’ (water spirits from Japanese folklore). He really has no confidence and questions himself.

Sumikkogurashi glitter clip peg beige cat

Neko
The beige cat is super shy and really loves to hide in the corner. It’s just the best place for her to sharpen her claws by scratching the corners or sofas.

Tonkatsu cutlet Sumikkogurashi A4 plastic file folder

Tonkatsu
The kawaii pork cutlet Tonkatsu is very greasy and oily. He actually consists of 99% fat, which is why he is left behind on the plate. His pink nose is 1% meat. He loves to hide behind the soy sauce bottle on the table.

mini Sumikkogurashi bubble tea plush toy San-X Japan

Tapioca
The cute colorful Tapioca are the bubbles from the popular Taiwanese bubble tea drink. They are left behind when the tea is finished, because most people don’t eat all the bubbles. There are always a couple of bubbles together as several ones are left over.

Sumikkogurashi glitter clip peg green seaweed

Zassou
The cute green seaweed is left behind as decoration on the plate. He is very cheerful and has a positive attitude. His dream is to be part of a pretty flower bouquet made by a florist.

San-X Notepad drawing book Sumikkogurashi stacked animals

Hokori
The happy little grey dust ball is super light and sometimes flies through the air. But he can be found in the corner or under the sofa as well.

Sumikkogurashi glitter clip peg white polar bear

Furoshiki
The pink wrapping cloth Furoshiki was used by polar bear Shirokuma when he ran away from the north. He is a are a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth.