Rilakkuma (リラックマ, Rirakkuma) is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company San-X and created by Aki Kondo. After the character’s launch in 2003, Rilakkuma has been featured on stationery and merchandise created by San-X, as well as several collaboration cafes. Along with picture books and comics, a stop-motion animation series titled Rilakkuma and Kaoru was broadcast in 2019.
Rilakkuma was launched in 2003 and first seen in San-X’s four-panel comic series titled Rilakkuma Seikatsu.[1] In Rilakkuma Seikatsu, which describes its origin story, it appears one day in the apartment of a female office worker named Kaoru, who only appears as a silhouette.[3][1][4] Rilakkuma spends every day relaxing.[3] The zipper on its back reveals that his appearance is a costume, and its true form is unknown.[3][5] It is accompanied by other creatures in the series, who also have their own character lines.[1]
“Rilakkuma” means “Bear in relaxed mood”. At all times and everywhere Rilakkuma goes, Rilakkuma is continuously lazy and relaxed. Rilakkuma is totally stress-free and also doing things at his own pace. Rilakkuma is someone impossible to be hated by others. You will be dragged into Rilakkuma’s world and become lazy and relaxed while watching everything Rilakkuma does.
This bear costume, known as Rilakkuma came out of nowhere and visited Kaoru’s house one day. Even now without plans, this costume hangs out at her place and disturbs her by not doing anything everyday but gives her some life advice occasionally. Rilakkuma’s favorite food is special sweets from local rice dumpling store and Rilakkuma’s weakness is summer season.
