Foreword from ZenPlus
Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global otters and other cute plushies continue to find their way into the hands of happy kawaii culture enthusiasts worldwide, courtesy of ZenPlus.
And as guest contributor Grace explains in this post, it's not just because their cuteness is off the charts visually!
Read on to learn about the real calming effects an adorable plush toy can have on your life.
Contents
About me
Hi! My name is Grace, and this is my story about Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global and other Japanese branded kawaii plushies.
Most children form attachments to plushies and stuffed toys from a young age, but there is a growing community of people who still feel just as attached going into young and later adulthood – this is where Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global comes in.
Kawaii plushies and Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global
Japanese kawaii culture has always been admired from afar, but the rise in popularity of plushies, specifically “mochi” style toys, has been the most noticeable in recent years. The term “mochi” in plush toys refers to the soft and squishy feeling of the toy, like the mochi snack.
Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global plushies are the same, weighted down by beads in the bottom of the toy but also understuffed and squishy, ideal for cuddling.
Love at first squish
I saw a couple of fellow collectors on Instagram post pictures of the Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global mochi sea otter plushies and instantly fell in love. They have released several animals, but I took one look at the kawaii faces of the otters and was hooked. They came in a range of colours and sizes, and I knew I had to have one. I ordered my first otter, a medium brown one I named Otter (original – I know!) and knew I needed more.
A huge reason a lot of adults collect plushies is mental health and neurodivergence. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and anxiety, both of which I still struggle with daily. My newly acquired Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global otters became my friends, my cuddle buddies and my travel companions. I would take a medium or large one out with me as a squishy comfort for when I felt anxious, or I would take a mini keychain otter with me to work for when I felt nervous about public transport or crowds. The comfort I felt from them was endless.
The positive impact of Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global
At first, I was embarrassed to be 25 years old and still carrying plushies with me, but I just couldn’t leave them at home. Since I’ve been carrying around my mochi otters and other kawaii plushies, I feel happier to leave home and face my social anxiety which has made a huge impact on my life overall.
I personally know many other adult collectors who feel the same as I do, even to the extent of dressing their plushies up and carrying them in public like babies (because they are our babies!).
My favorite Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global plushies
Whilst I love all my Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global plushies, I of course have my favorites. That mantle goes to my large brown Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global otter (lovingly named Orlando); he tends to come to places and events I would often feel the most anxious about, like on a recent cruise holiday. My second favorite would be my large pink otter called Mei, a Japanese exclusive who was picked up for me by a friend and also helps a lot with long journeys.
I also have a Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global polar bear and a frog on the way, both from the same Mochi line. I love all the animals that Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global has released, but mostly the sea otters; you just cannot ignore their kawaii faces. In the future I would love the XXL size otter, but I’d have to try hard not to take it everywhere with me!
Besides the Mochi range, I’d also love to try the Fumofumo-san range from Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global too. They look extremely cute and travel-friendly, which is important to me, so I will have to look into buying myself one from ZenPlus soon.
Final thoughts
I’d encourage anyone to investigate Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global and other Japanese kawaii plushies as they’ve become such a big part of my life. There are so many Facebook groups and Instagram accounts such as mine to turn to if you need inspiration. If there is anyone out there suffering with mental health problems, disability, trauma, or even if you just need a new friend, I’d highly recommend purchasing yourself a cute sea otter – just think of a better name for it than mine!
About the author
Grace is a 25-year-old plush collector from England, UK who has been collecting plushies since she was a small child. You can see more of her collection on her dedicated Instagram account, @icedplushies.
Got a story to share?
Thank you kindly, Grace, for sharing how Shinada Global plushies fill your life with sunshine!
Do you have a personal story you'd like to share with us about products, brands, or Japanese culture in general?
Feel free to get in touch via our contact form or on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
We'd love to share it in this blog space and help bring the community closer together!
As always, thanks for reading!
Tap or click the button below to browse all Shinada Global otters and other cute mochi plushies!
Browse Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global Otters
Other articles you'll enjoy
For more kawaii character coverage, check out the articles below:
- Morisaka (previously Shinada) Global: Otters That Ought To Make You Smile
- Cute Rilakkuma Plushies: A Crash Course in Kawaii
- Bear With Us: Quick Rilakkuma Character Guide
Thanks for reading!
....................................................
Like this article? Please share to
....................................................
Related Topics
