
Sometimes, anime merchandise gets an unfairly bad rap. Anime figurines aren’t all busty or bikini-clad, for example. Some are actually quite tasteful, built more to show off the characters’ cool costumes or awesome poses than their knockout figures.
Heck, even anime-themed hug pillows, perhaps the skeeviest sector of anime paraphernalia, isn’t 100 percent submissive-looking girls with half their clothes peeled off. For example, this cube-shaped Love Live cushion isn’t even suggestive, it’s just plain weird.
The blocky gal is the handiwork of Twitter user Utsusora Kuu. Measuring 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) to a side and weighing in at 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds), the felt-covered cube is a freakishly disturbing testament to its creator’s affection for high school idol singer Umi Sonoda.
If you’re picking an anime crush, you could do a lot worse than the pretty and proper Miss Sonoda, who counts kendo and calligraphy among her hobbies. But rather than one of the many images of Umi practicing the traditional arts or honing her singing talents, Utsusora instead chose to recreate the idol wearing an expression of paralyzing fear.
▼ Thankfully, and, sadly, surprisingly, the underside is just flesh-colored, and does not feature a bloody stump where the head was removed from the shoulders.
Utsusora explained the impetus that led him to fashion this morbid interior decoration. “I really wanted to make a stuffed version of Umi….Now I can pet her as much as I want!”
▼ Ordinarily, this is where we’d shout, “Run, Umi!” but the poor girl doesn’t have legs!
And we haven’t even come to the strangest part of all. Despite Utsusora’s obviously strong desire for Umi’s company, he apparently never noticed that her eyes are not green.
Do this mean we should add “colorblind” to our profile of Utsusora? Maybe, but for now, we’ll stick with the two descriptors we know for sure are accurate, “obsessed” and “pretty good at arts and crafts.”
Source: Jin
Top image: Twitter
Insert images: Love Live, Twitter, Niwasoku (edited by RocketNews24)





Cotton Wife and Cotton Husband aren’t huggy pillows, they’re life partners for the lonely!
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Second-generation sumo burger coming to Burger King Japan with return of Baby Body Burger
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Studio Ghibli hair accessories keep your style tidy with help from Kiki, Moro, Calcifer, and more
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
Make-them-yourself Pokémon frappes arrive at Japanese convenience stores, can be mixed at home too
Pringles Chocolate, but with a Japanese twist, is the snack hack you should be trying right now
Final Fantasy VII’s Sephiroth finds happiness in a canned cocktail[Video]
Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
Mipig Harajuku: We visit the new micro pig cafe in Tokyo
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
7-Eleven Japan releases Uji matcha smoothies… but only at select locations
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home