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A character creation by illustrator Nagano, serialized on Twitter from 2020. Short for 'something small and cute,' Chiikawa features adorable characters in a surprisingly harsh world. Adapted into anime in 2022, it became a social phenomenon in Japan with explosive merchandise sales, representing the newest wave of Japanese character IP success.

The Japanese expansion of Pusheen, a rounded cat character from the United States. Its localized merchandise strategy has grown rapidly in Japan's market. The adorable, compact design aligns perfectly with Japanese kawaii culture, gaining popularity through specialty shops and character cafes across the nation.

An IP strategy that characterizes cute monsters and creatures as collectible trading cards and figurines. As a post-Pokémon approach, it emphasizes diverse and distinctive designs. Parallel initiatives include online gaming, metaverse compatibility, and NFT experiments, representing cutting-edge monetization strategies.

A stop-motion animation created by Tomoki Misato featuring 'Molcars'—guinea pigs that are also cars. Aired on TV Tokyo in 2021, it went viral on social media worldwide. The warm felt-craft visuals combined with socially satirical stories made this short-form animation a global sensation, showcasing Japan's innovation in animation techniques beyond traditional anime.

Sanrio's flagship character created in 1974. Its simple and adorable design is recognized worldwide and has become a symbol of kawaii culture. The brand is licensed across a vast range of fields including fashion, food, and theme parks.

A bear character created by San-X. Debuting in 2003 with a concept of laid-back laziness, Rilakkuma has expanded broadly from stationery and merchandise to a Netflix anime series. It enjoys international popularity as a quintessential healing character.

A popular character series by San-X. With the concept of 'feeling calm in corners,' these introverted and modest characters have won hearts across generations. The franchise has expanded into films and is beloved by both children and adults.

A 'lazy egg' character created by Sanrio. Its unmotivated and listless appearance resonates with modern audiences, gaining global popularity primarily through social media. With a Netflix anime adaptation, it has added a new dimension to traditional kawaii culture.

A popular Sanrio character — a white puppy who descended from the sky. Cinnamoroll has won consecutive first places in the Sanrio Character Ranking, making it one of Sanrio's most popular characters in recent years. Merchandise and collaborations are actively developed.