Shopping Guide
HELP / FAQs
By onemall 
TL;DR
Japanese plushies come in a few formats: ぬいぐるみ (plush), マスコット (a palm-size plush keychain), ぶらさげ (hanging plush) and BIG prize plush. They come from character shops, kuji lotteries and crane games. On November 4, 2026, the Sanrio, Chiikawa and mofusand plush listings in our Mercari price table ran from ¥1,300 to ¥17,300.
- Search in Japanese: the character name plus ぬいぐるみ (plush) or マスコット (the plush keychain size).
- Kuji and UFO catcher prizes are won rather than bought off a shelf, so resale is the practical route for overseas fans.
- Decode the listing: タグ付き means tag attached, 新品未開封 new and unopened, プライズ a crane-game prize.
- Plush are light but bulky, and shipping bills the larger of actual weight and the box’s L × W × H ÷ 5000.
As of November 2026, Sanrio shops sell a Hello Kitty 当りくじ (atari-kuji) from November 7, with a Hello Kitty plush on its prize list[1]. That is Japan’s plush culture in one line: the cutest things are often won, not bought. Seven of the ten listings in our price table below are lottery, crane-game or campaign prizes.
This is our team’s fan guide to the kawaii side of Japan: who is behind Sanrio, Chiikawa and mofusand, what listing words mean, what Mercari listings cost and how to ship a box of fluff. Plushie, plushy or plain Japanese plush, every Mercari listing we quote was read live on November 4, 2026, and the OneMall plush picks page collects more like them.
Japanese Plushies 101: Sanrio, Chiikawa and Mofusand
If you are shopping for the best Japanese plush brands, start with the three this page is built around.
Sanrio: Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll and the Sugarbunnies
Sanrio is the heavyweight. Its 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking drew a record 70,647,379 votes: Pompompurin won, Cinnamoroll came second, Pochacco third, Kuromi fourth and Hello Kitty fifth[2]. Our plush page focuses on Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll and the Sugarbunnies, the rabbit brothers Shirousa and Kurousa. Looking for newer faces? See our guide to Sanrio’s newest 2026 characters.
Chiikawa: small, cute and (sometimes) sold out
Chiikawa is drawn by Nagano, an illustrator hugely popular on X (formerly Twitter), and its online shop, Chiikawa Market, sells plush, mascots, stationery and apparel[3]. On November 4, 2026, its front page listed plush mascots at ¥1,430 to ¥1,980, but its ¥550 おすわりぬいぐるみ (sitting plush) showed 売り切れ (sold out)[3]. That is the Chiikawa plush Japan price story: modest list prices, drops that sell out. Store tips live in our guide to where to buy Chiikawa products in Japan.
Mofusand: the cats in shark suits
The artist behind mofusand (モフサンド) is illustrator ぢゅの (Juno), popular on Instagram and X, whose slightly surreal cats include Same-nyan, a fluffy cat in a shark costume; its licensing runs through the Japanese company Spiral Cute (スパイラルキュート)[4]. So, is mofusand Japanese? Yes. Is mofusand Sanrio? No, though the brand’s shop sells a “mofusand × Sanrio Characters” crossover line, such as a Hangyodon “Potefuwa” mascot at ¥2,200, about 15 cm tall[5].
Pokémon, Rilakkuma, Sumikko Gurashi and Hatsune Miku are on the page too; see buying Pokémon Center plush from overseas and our Sumikko Gurashi and Rilakkuma guide.
Nuigurumi, Mascot, BIG: Japanese Plush Types and Where They Come From
ぬいぐるみ (nuigurumi) is the everyday word for a plush toy, shortened by fans to ぬい (nui), as in ぬい服, plush clothes. The format or size word in a listing tells you more than any photo angle.
| Listing word | Reading | What you get | Example read on November 4, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ぬいぐるみ + S / BIG | nuigurumi | A plush; the letter or BIG is the size grade | Chiikawa “BIG” crane-game plush, ¥1,300 |
| マスコット | masukotto | Mini, palm-size plush on a ball chain or clip: the Japanese plush keychain | mofusand × Sanrio mascot, about 15 cm tall, ¥2,200[5] |
| ぶらさげぬいぐるみ | burasage | Hanging plush made to dangle from a bag | Rilakkuma bag plush holding a blue umbrella, on a ball chain, ¥2,000 |
| おすわりぬいぐるみ | osuwari | Sitting plush | Chiikawa “Mocchiru” sitting BIG plush, crane-game prize, ¥2,490 |
| 大 / 小 | dai / shō | Large / small; sets list both | Korilakkuma 大小 (large and small) pair, 30 cm and 15 cm, ¥2,399 |
Where Japanese plush come from
Character shops sell new releases at list price: Chiikawa Market, the mofusand shop and Sanrio’s own stores.
Kuji lotteries. Ichiban Kuji is BANDAI SPIRITS’ character lottery, sold at convenience stores, bookstores and hobby shops across Japan; every ticket wins something, and whoever draws a store’s last ticket also gets the Last One prize[6]. Its official site lists both ちいかわ and mofusand among its titles[6]. Sanrio runs its own 当りくじ, also with no losing tickets, at ¥990 a draw for the Hello Kitty edition[1]. Kuji listings name the tier, like the C賞 (C prize) on our mofusand set, and one seller’s unopened 1等賞 (first prize) My Melody plush is for sale because, in their words, they were aiming for Kuromi.
Crane games. プライズ (prize) plush are made for the crane game, the claw machine fans call a UFO catcher. FuRyu, one prize maker, says its prizes are licensed by rights holders as amusement-facility crane-game prizes, that it never sells or authorizes flea-market or auction listings, that resold prizes fall outside its support, and that some resale listings are no-stock listings (the seller buys the prize after you order) that can break marketplace rules[7]. So a Japanese UFO catcher plush on a resale site is a stranger’s secondhand item: judge it on photos, the tag and the seller’s notes.
Campaign prizes. Hello Kitty plush Japan-exclusive campaign prizes turn up too: the priciest row in our table is a Yamato Transport Hello Kitty and truck plush set that the seller says was an A prize in the Takkyubin 50th-anniversary campaign.
How to Read Japanese Plush Listings (and What They Cost Right Now)
Mercari listings pair a platform condition grade (Unused, Nearly unused, No obvious damage or stains) with the seller’s own shorthand:
| Term | Reading | Meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 新品未開封 | shinpin mikaifū | New, unopened | A sealed bag or box in the photos |
| 未開封品 | mikaifū-hin | Unopened item | Nobody has tested it; the Cinnamoroll kuji set’s seller says so |
| タグ付き / タグ付属 | tagu-tsuki | Tag attached | A close-up of the tag |
| 美品 | bihin | “Beautiful item,” the seller’s own claim | Compare it with the platform grade |
| プライズ | puraizu | Crane-game prize | No maker support on resale[7] |
| 一番くじ / 当りくじ / A賞 / 1等 | kuji | Lottery prize and its tier | Does the photo match the title? |
| 平成 / 90s | Heisei | Japan’s previous era name, flagging a vintage or retro-styled piece | Old stock or a retro-themed release? Read the description |
| まとめ売り / 4点セット | matome-uri | Sold together / four-piece set | What is left out |
Titles are keyword soup; photos and descriptions are evidence. Our ¥3,333 My Melody listing’s title says 一番くじ, yet its photo shows Sanrio 当りくじ artwork. The Sanrio Sugarbunnies plush pair is photographed in hoods and scarves, but only the plush bodies ship, without the clothes or めじるしアクセサリー charms. One listing in our table also mentions a cat at home, worth knowing if you have allergies.
Live prices: Sanrio, Chiikawa and mofusand plush on November 4, 2026
| Character | Listing (our translation) | Platform grade | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiikawa | “Swapped” BIG plush (crane-game prize the seller won at an arcade, kept in a bag) | Unused | ¥1,300 (US$8.97) |
| My Melody | Sanrio Character Ranking 当りくじ plush, new and unused | Unused | ¥2,000 (US$13.80) |
| Hello Kitty | Nurse, light blue, “90s” plush mascot keychain | Unused | ¥2,666 (US$18.40) |
| My Melody | Kuji plush, new and unopened | Unused | ¥3,333 (US$23.00) |
| mofusand | Kuji C prize “Kororin Daruma” mascots, set of four | Unused | ¥3,598 (US$24.83) |
| Sugarbunnies | Shirousa “Heisei-born fluffy heart” plush | Nearly unused | ¥3,999 (US$27.59) |
| Cinnamoroll | Plush speaker, Sanrio kuji prize | Unused | ¥5,550 (US$38.30) |
| Cinnamoroll | July 2026 Cinnamoroll kuji set: headphones, plush, mascot, ribbon charm | Unused | ¥7,777 (US$53.66) |
| Sugarbunnies | Shirousa and Kurousa plush pair, tags attached | Unused | ¥9,888 (US$68.23) |
| Hello Kitty | Yamato Transport campaign set: Hello Kitty plush and truck plush | Unused | ¥17,300 (US$119.37) |
Yen prices are the sellers’; the US$ figures are the conversions shown on each listing page. For Chiikawa, the unused BIG prize at ¥1,300 costs less than the cheapest plush mascot on the official shop’s front page (¥1,430), though it is a resale item, not shop stock. For mofusand, four kuji mascots cost ¥3,598 on Mercari, against ¥2,200 for one crossover mascot in the brand’s shop. Secondhand listings sell out or change price without notice.
How to Buy Japanese Plushies From Overseas With OneMall
Our team’s routine for a first plush haul:
- Step 1: Search in Japanese. The plush page’s search groups make a ready-made list: マイメロディぬいぐるみ, ハローキティぬいぐるみ, シナモロールぬいぐるみ, シュガーバニーズぬいぐるみ, ちいかわぬいぐるみ and モフサンドぬいぐるみ. Swap in マスコット to find a Chiikawa plush keychain.
- Step 2: Read past the title. Check the platform grade, a tag photo, what is left out and any notes on pets or storage.
- Step 3: Order. The service fee is ¥300 per item on most marketplaces; from ¥200 per item on Yahoo Auctions and LinkBuy. Mercari sellers must ship within 7 days, and in-stock items take 3–5 business days from seller dispatch to our Tokyo warehouse (estimated average). On individual sellers’ Mercari items priced ¥1,001 or more, our price negotiation can offer down to 80% of the list price (one negotiation per item, up to 3 a day, discounted items excluded).
- Step 4: Add a check if you want proof. A wrong or missing item check costs ¥200 on Mercari, Rakuma and Yahoo Flea Market items; unboxing photos cost ¥500 or ¥700 depending on the photo set.
- Step 5: Consolidate. The first 6 orders consolidate free, ¥100 per additional order, and you get 90 days of free storage after arrival (30 days after consolidation) while the haul grows.
- Step 6: Ship. Plush are mostly air, and shipping is priced on chargeable weight: the larger of actual weight and L × W × H ÷ 5000 (in cm) of the outer box, so a big, light box can bill for more than it weighs. US parcels currently go by ECMS or DHL, and international dispatch takes 1–3 business days after you pay for international shipping (estimated average).
- Step 7: Budget for duties. Since August 29, 2025, US-bound parcels of any value go through customs and pay applicable duties, taxes and fees — the $800 de minimis exemption no longer applies[8]. Customs duties, import taxes and clearance fees are paid by the buyer.
Spotted something in an official shop? LinkBuy buys from any Japanese online store by URL for the item price × 5% (¥200 to ¥1,000), but it cannot buy lottery, purchase-limited, members-only or Japanese-ID-required items.
Conclusion
Japanese plushies reward fans who learn a handful of words: ぬいぐるみ and マスコット for size, プライズ and くじ for prizes that never sat on a shelf, タグ付き for the tag, and the description for whatever the photo forgot. Check the official price, favor listings with the seller’s own photos and let the box fill up before it flies. When you are ready, browse this month’s Sanrio, Chiikawa and mofusand plush picks on OneMall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Japanese plushies called in Japanese?
A plush toy is ぬいぐるみ (nuigurumi), often shortened to ぬい (nui). A small plush on a ball chain or clip is a マスコット (mascot), the word to search for a plush keychain, and ぶらさげ marks a hanging bag plush.
How much are Sanrio plushies in Japan?
On November 4, 2026, the eight Sanrio listings in our price table ran from ¥2,000 for a Sanrio Character Ranking 当りくじ My Melody plush to ¥17,300 for a Yamato Transport campaign set. Kuji plush and kuji sets sat between ¥2,000 and ¥7,777, and a tagged Sugarbunnies pair was ¥9,888.
How much is mofusand plush in Japan?
On November 4, 2026, the brand’s own shop listed a mofusand × Sanrio Characters mascot at ¥2,200[5]. On Mercari the same day, a new, tagged kuji set of four daruma mascots was ¥3,598.
Is mofusand Japanese? Is mofusand Sanrio?
Yes, mofusand is a Japanese character brand: the cats are drawn by illustrator ぢゅの (Juno), and its licensing runs through the Japanese company Spiral Cute[4]. It is not a Sanrio character; the Sanrio link comes from the “mofusand × Sanrio Characters” crossover line[5].
Can I buy a crane-game or Ichiban Kuji plush from outside Japan?
Kuji tickets and Japan’s crane games are played in person, so the practical route from overseas is the secondhand market. Treat every Japan import plush as a stranger’s item: check photos and the tag, remember that FuRyu does not support resold prizes[7], and add an item check or unboxing photos before it ships.
Last updated: 2026-11-04.
References
- Sanrio — 11/7（土）～順次発売！「ハローキティ当りくじ」 (Hello Kitty atari-kuji announcement, October 29, 2026)
- Sanrio Co., Ltd. — 「2026年サンリオキャラクター大賞」結果発表 (2026 Sanrio Character Ranking results, June 28, 2026)
- Chiikawa Market — ちいかわマーケット 公式グッズショップ (Chiikawa’s online shop, front page)
- Spiral Cute — mofusand｜characters｜スパイラルキュート（SPIRALCUTE）
- mofusand Mofumofu Market — mofusand×サンリオキャラクターズ ぽてふわマスコット(ハンギョドン)
- BANDAI SPIRITS — 一番くじ倶楽部｜BANDAI SPIRITS公式 一番くじ情報サイト (Ichiban Kuji Club)
- FuRyu Corporation — クレーンゲーム景品について | フリュープライズ【公式】 (About crane-game prizes)
- The White House — Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries (Executive Order 14324, July 30, 2025)