Dakimakura Kisai is a "festival" for hug pillow fans to celebrate their beloved anime character-decorated cushions while moshing their hearts out to rock music.
For the fourth event, the festival was held at Shinjuku Antiknock, a gig venue, on December 6th.
Unfortunately we couldn't be there in person but reliable subculture online magazine KAI-YOU was, so here are some pictures to give you some idea of what this unique event is like.
Essentially this is a concert event for the band milktub, which is led by vocalist bamboo -- a colorful performer also known for making ...
Kotaku has shared a story about what may be the "longest hug pillow in the world".
The dakimakura in question features human-snake lady Miia from the anime and manga Monster Musume, which is an ultimate masochist fantasy.
Of course, the hug pillow cover matches Miia's long, slivery body with its length, which could strength down between floors! 7 meters (22.96 feet) of hug pillow glory!
It was popular with fans, selling out (it was only made in a single batch, surely?) when it went on display at the recent Comiket in Tokyo, priced ¥100,000 ...
Even a 2D anime character has feelings, you know.
Otaku love to decorate their hug pillow (dakimakura) with an anime character cover. Their companion is theirs to squeeze and talk to at night.
But Rina Makuraba, developed by Koichi Uchimura, takes things to another level.
She is a hug pillow that responds to your touch verbally. Just stroke her to elicit a "conversation".
She has a real personality and will even get cross with you if you get too touchy-feely. As we know, a cute girl getting angry at you is a fetish in Japan.
The system is called Itaspo ...
Mineo is a mobile virtual network operator.
It offers a range of services. As reported by Rocketnews 24, apparently one of these is making giant (and we mean, GIANT) anime hug pillows!
Mineo is so big now they even have a mascot, Maineo-tan. In this video they showed off a new blow-up hug pillow of Maineo-tan that is six meters long and two meters wide.
Needless to say, the otaku customer who unwittingly finds himself with the giant character has to sacrifice some things in his small home to get her to fit in his apartment. But once they are snuggled up, he seems ...
Dutch wives -- a euphemism for sex dolls, especially ones which don't look like sex dolls -- are always evolving.
From Taiwanese art projects to the masterpieces of foam that are the Dekunoboo, hug pillows come in all shapes and sizes.
And some are barely disguised, while others are pretending to be more sophisticated. Take the Wata Danna and Wata Yome, two new cotton "partners" for lonely people who want a friend when none is around, or who want to turn their home into a soine sleep-together cafe.
These "cotton husband" and "cotton wife" products are ...
You see! It's not just Japanese guys! Other Asian men also have a thing for dakimakura.
Artist Lee Kan Kyo originally hails from Taiwan, though he came to Japan in 2007 to study. Now he is holding his first solo exhibition in Japan at Guardian Garden gallery in Ginza.
And the theme? Pop art-style dakimakura Dutch wife hug dolls.
The exhibition "Dream That Girl (Don't Stop)" -- which may or may not be ironic -- will be held from January 13th to January 29th.
It will feature around 13 exhibits of Lee Kan Kyo's original idol ...
Forget Fifty Shades, sado-masochism infiltrates all walks of life in Japan, it seems. Including anime cover hug pillows.
Hug pillows (dakimakura) are of course the pillows designed to be "hugged" to help you through the night. Sometimes they are innocent enough (like comfort blankets) but often it's a euphemism for a type of sex doll, complete with slots for masturbator sleeves. And naturally, there are lots of cool covers to go on these hug dolls, especially moe ones of anime characters.
But the this month saw a strange trend sweeping the Twittersphere in Japan.
Turning your ...
Mitsu Dan is everywhere these days. The thirtysomething voluptuous saucepot has crossed the line into the mainstream but still can be found plying her trade in soft-core porn and appearing in bare-all photo shoots. A good balance.
With her level of exposure now there will be items like this dakimakura (hug pillow).
It's unofficial so doesn't appear to be on sale anywhere, but we certainly hope it makes it onto the shelves properly one day!
Want to sleep with Mitsu Dan? Of course you do.
Now here's your chance with this very revealing "pillow".
What do you think? ...
We loved the first Super Sonico doll so much.
The Nitroplus character has been around since 2007 and you can find her getting into all kinds of sexy poses in a range of goodies, including curtains for the otaku fans who wants to decorate their rooms.
Needless to say, we were delighted when our intrepid reported spotted a new model in Akihabara, a sample before the actual product goes on sale later in the year.
The Super Sonico 2 is the hug pillow cover for the guy who loves anime girls with asses. Sure the breasts and big eyes are there. That's standard. But now there is a rump ...
We all love a hug pillow (dakimakura) for the comforting body shape they offer that we can grip and embrace.
Many also have holes in them so you can insert a favorite masturbator and plough away.
Typically they have a print on the front of an anime idol or porn star.
Some are even more special. Take this example, based on the sexy anime mascot character Super Sonico, which has giant "3D" breasts literally bursting out of her pillow.
The front and back of the cover has a different but equally gorgeous print of Sonico, who is the mascot for Nitroplus Company.
This guy ...
