Marutaro, Japan’s most beloved shiba inu, not only shares his name with a hedgehog — he also shares his nappy time with an adorable stuffed polar bear!
Marutaro
When we first met Marutaro the hedgehog last year, he was just about the cutest thing we’d seen in months. Now, over 12 months later, we have to say that’s still the case! And it looks like the adorable little spike ball is only getting more and more popular—popularity that we’d say is well deserved.
In case you haven’t been following Marutaro on Twitter, we’ve decided to round up a few of our new favorite photos and videos of the little guy being adorable, as well as some family photos. Get your fill of loveable cuteness below!
MOST POPULAR
Now
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Kyoto’s 100 Demons yokai monster parade returns!
Hello Kitty isn’t a cat!? We called Sanrio to find out!
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
Super Nintendo World expansion gets delayed for several months at Universal Studios Japan
Five of Japan’s best locations to ski and snowboard
Weekly
- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】- All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Monthly
- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Kyoto creates new for-tourist buses to address overtourism with higher prices, faster rides
Yearly
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
RECOMMENDED STORIES
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
Super Nintendo World expansion gets delayed for several months at Universal Studios Japan
Five of Japan’s best locations to ski and snowboard
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Japanese high school students hatch chick without an eggshell during class【Video】
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Constipated cats, sticky blue poop and more: Japan’s 9 weirdest vending machine toys
The Ultimate Battle for Ham Sandwich Supremacy – we rank Japan’s convenience store sandwiches
Häagen-Dazs brings back its popular mochi ice cream line with two classic, luxurious flavors
Sanrio’s 2022 popularity ranking brings fans to tears after character’s shock return to top ten
Stunning Japanese restaurant is like eating in a samurai residence
Is Japan’s massive Shizuoka steak sandwich really as delicious as it looks in promo photos?
-
