
One of Japan’s most ubiquitous toys reveals that beneath its cute and cuddly exterior lies an angry death metal machine.
The Kuma no Tonbi has been around since all the way back in 1988 and continues to be popular to this day—every time my daughter walks through the a store’s toy section, she homes right in on it out of all the other mechanical puppies and rabbits on display. There’s just something in the combination of bright yellow fur, cute round head with a big red whistle in its mouth, and little snare drum on which Kuma pon pon pons…
But these once adorable features tend to lose their appeal in our adult lives filled with technical marvels like Casio calculator watches and fax machines. So Mansooon, a humor writer for the website Netallica, developed a way to give Kuma no Tonbi a little more edge by adding a stronger motor powered externally by eight AA batteries. Here’s what happened.
WARNING: This video contains flashing images which may be harmful or cause discomfort to some
Mansooon’s new Kuma no Tonbi is powered by a Plasma Dash Motor intended to Tamiya Mini 4WD which are popular toy cars that hobbyists customize and race in competitions.
As the Kuma no Tonbi starts revving up, it quickly spits out the big red whistle.
Then as things get into full swing it rips off its own face simply by the raw power of its rocking.
What’s left is a yellow plastic robot face with a clearly pissed off expression.
Mansooon was impressed with the hidden potential the bear had and will consider super-charging more toys in the future. He also warns that if you should try this at home, be careful because the motor heats up very quickly.
All I know is next time I’m with my daughter in the toy section, I’m going to steer her away from Kuma no Tonbi towards something more wholesome, like “You Can Shave the baby.”
Image: standby life
Source: Netallica, Twitter/@mansooon (Japanese)
Video & Images: YouTube/omochanojumbo, YouTube/Netallica






Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Tokyo sweets store has a “350% Pudding Soft Serve”, and people are going wild for it
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu and Winne-the-Pooh announce crossover merch line [Pics]
Shinto shrine in downtown Tokyo announces cosplay ban
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Tokyo sweets store has a “350% Pudding Soft Serve”, and people are going wild for it
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu and Winne-the-Pooh announce crossover merch line [Pics]
Shinto shrine in downtown Tokyo announces cosplay ban
Wagyu ramen for foreign tourists appears in Kabukicho, with a very high price tag
Studio Ghibli releases new Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji music box for anime fans
This awesome Japanese arcade chain has crane game coaches to help you win prizes
McDonald’s Japan’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures are here![Photos]
Did you know? Only one Beard Papa’s in all of eastern Japan sells soft serve in a cream puff
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Wagyu ramen for foreign tourists appears in Kabukicho, with a very high price tag
Studio Ghibli releases new Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji music box for anime fans
This awesome Japanese arcade chain has crane game coaches to help you win prizes
McDonald’s Japan’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures are here![Photos]
Did you know? Only one Beard Papa’s in all of eastern Japan sells soft serve in a cream puff
This Japanese chopping board sanitising bag might be the handy kitchen gadget we never knew we needed
Stray cats almost became classified as an invasive species in Japan but the change was overturned
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
7-Eleven Japan adds new doughnut-like tonkotsu ramen fried chicken to its hot food section
Are Japan’s room-temperature curry packets the boxed lunch heroes we’ve been looking for? [Taste test]
Japanese convenience store food gets turned into hyper-realistic stationery you can peel open
Over 1,400 cities in Japan see foreign population rise, total populations drop in new statistics
Studio Ghibli theme park announces new expansion saluting a previously off-limits anime
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]