The Origins of Summikogurashi

When it comes to iconic kawaii characters, there’s no place like Japan! From Hello Kitty to My Melody, wherever you go, you’re sure to find cute Japanese characters. Lately, you’re bound to run into Summikkogurashi (or Summiko Gurashi). They’re a group of kawaii characters produced by San-x and created by designer Yuri Yokomizo. Compared to brands like Sanrio, San-x has a reputation for producing quirky, unusual cartoon characters, and Sumikkogurashi are no exception.

Sumikkogurashi, which literally means “life in the corner,” is a group of 15 cute Japanese characters united by their desire to relax in the corner of a room. This is both literal and figurative. These are characters who feel left out and uncertain of themselves. At the end of the day, they just want to live a stress free life. As such, they stick together and avoid the center of the room, and they’re always quick to rush back to the corner whenever they become overwhelmed. All of their names come from simple, fitting words in the Japanese language.

Summikogurashi vs. The World

Since its release in 2012, Sumikkogurashi has exploded in popularity. Today, alongside the usual merchandise, there are over 50 books, 8 games, and 2 mobile apps dedicated to these corner-loving characters. In 2019, Sumikkogurashi was brought to the big screen in an animated movie that made over 12 million USD and won Best Animation at the Japanese Movie Critics Awards.

Local transport companies have also gotten in on the action! In 2017, the Yamanote Line in Tokyo ran a commemorative train decorated with Sumikkogurashi. A similarly themed bus in Kawasaki has proved so popular it’s been extended for an extra year.

But what makes Sumikkogurashi so appealing? While they’re not the weirdest characters Japan has ever come up with, each character has an endearing twist that helps them stand out from the crowd. Here’s a quick introduction to the main cast!

Sumikko: the main characters

One of the most popular of the main characters is Shirokuma. Shirokuma is a shy polar bear who ran away from the north to avoid the cold. As such, Shirokuma feels calmest when drinking hot tea in the corner.

Another popular character is Penguin?. Penguin? is a green-tinged animal so lacking in self-confidence they’re unsure of their own nature! Penguin? has memories of having a plate on their head, suggesting that they’re probably one of Japan’s mythological, turtle-like kappa.

This crispy brown ball is the last piece of a Japanese tonkatsu, a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. As the last piece, Tonkatsu is predominately fat with no meat, and was therefore rejected by diners.

Neko is a shy, anxious cat character. They like to use the corner of the room to hide, especially when worried about their body shape.

Finally Tokage, another popular character, is an amphibious dinosaur and the last of their kind. In order to avoid detection and capture, they pretend to be a lizard, or tokage.

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Minikko: the side characters

Furoshiki is a Japanese word describing a traditional cloth for wrapping gifts and other items for transport. This little pink-and-white friend is shaped like a traditional furoshiki bundle, and apparently contains Shirokuma’s luggage.

Named after the Japanese word for ghost, Obake enjoys cleaning more than spooking people. As such, this ghoulish character likes to linger quietly in the corner of attics to avoid attracting attention and giving anyone a fright!

Nisetsumuri is a little slug who carries a shell on their back and pretends to be a snail. Racked with guilt over this deception, they apologize frequently and unnecessarily to anyone who will listen.

This multicolored character is a group of small, pastel tapioca balls left at the bottom of a cup of milk tea. Similar to Tonkatsu, Tapioca is sick and tired of being discarded by drinkers.

Zassou, meaning “weed,” is one of the rare Sumikkogurashi with a positive outlook. Always smiling, they are a great admirer of flowers and long to one day be added to a bouquet.

Named after the Japanese word for a mole, Mogura only recently broke through to the surface after spending a long time in a corner underground, mining. Curious and shy, Mogura is rarely seen without their beloved red boots.

Literally meaning “the tail of a fried shrimp,” Ebifurai no Shippo is another food-based character similar to Tonkatsu and Tapioca. After being discarded for being too hard to eat, they joined the corner and now advocate for diners to finish their meals!

Otherwise a regular sparrow, Suzume bonds with their fellow Sumikkogurashi over their shared love of the corner and their habit of pecking on Tonkatsu.

Hokori is a little dust ball who likes to bunch up in room corners. Similar to Tapioca, this character is in fact multiple characters, and can combine with other Hokori to form a cluster at will.

Last but not least, Yama is a small mountain who always wanted to be taller! Yama likes to appear at hot springs and often poses as Mt. Fuji, their idol.

Bursting with off-beat charm and personality, there’s no denying that Sumikkogurashi are instant classics. From convenience stores to pop-up cafes, you’ll find posters, stationery, and plushies depicting these characters living a quiet and solitary life in the corner—and offering you the chance to brighten up yours!

Which of the Sumikkogurashi crew do you find the most #relatable? Let us know in the comments below!

Images sourced via sanx.jp/sumikko