Sumikko Gurashi in Australia: Who's Who in the Corner and Where to Buy

Sumikko Gurashi (すみっコぐらし) means "life in the corner". Created by Japanese company San-X and first released in 2012, it's a group of shy, slightly anxious characters who feel safest tucked into the corner of a room. Their gentle humour has made them one of the most loved character brands in Japan, and they have a growing fan base in Australia.

Meet the main characters

• Shirokuma – a polar bear who ran away from the cold north. Sensitive to the cold, Shirokuma loves a warm cup of tea in the corner.
• Penguin? – not quite sure he is a penguin, and always searching for who he really is.
• Tonkatsu – the end piece of a pork cutlet, left on the plate because it was too fatty. Best friends with Ebifurai no Shippo.
• Neko – a shy, gentle cat who is a little self-conscious about her weight.
• Tokage – looks like a lizard but is secretly a baby dinosaur, keeping his identity hidden so he can live peacefully.
• Ebifurai no Shippo – a fried-shrimp tail, too crunchy to eat and left behind.

Popular Sumikko Gurashi gifts

Mochi cushions. San-X's Super Mochimochi cushions are round, squishy and very huggable. Try the Shirokuma mochi cushion or the Ebifurai no Shippo (tempura) cushion.

Small gifts and stationery. Tokage keychains, washi tape, puffy stickers and card holders make easy stocking fillers.

For the bedroom. Cotton bedding sets such as the Summer Fireworks bedding set turn a whole room into a cosy corner.

For puzzle lovers. The all-character 1000-piece puzzle packs in the whole gang.

Where to buy Sumikko Gurashi in Australia

Zakka House has been selling Japanese character goods in Sydney since 2009. You can shop our full Sumikko Gurashi collection online with delivery Australia-wide, or choose free pickup from Castle Hill at checkout. Everything listed as in stock ships from Sydney.