Dakimakura

Dakimakura with an anime character

A dakimakura (抱き枕) (from daki (抱き) "to embrace or cling" and makura (枕) "pillow"), is a type of large pillow from Japan. The word is often translated in English as a "body pillow". In Japan, dakimakura are similar to Western orthopedic body pillows, and are 'commonly' used by Japanese youth as "security objects".[1]

History

During the 1990s, dakimakura began to intertwine with otaku culture, leading to the production of pillow covers featuring printed images of bishōjo and bishonen in laying poses from various anime or bishōjo games. Many of these early otaku dakimakura covers were released through Cospa, a character goods and apparel store which continues to release official dakimakura covers to this day.

Although sometimes called a "Dutch wife", the original definition of this phrase is closer to the chikufujin, or "bamboo wife".

2015 saw some of the first talking body pillows with Ita-Supo and its mascot, Rina Makuraba. It was invented by former Kyushu Institute of Technology researcher, Koichi Uchimura.[2][3]

Dakimakura size

A dakimakura is available in two main sizes, 160 cm or 150 cm in length with a 50 cm width (100 cm circumference).

Prior to the mid-2000s, dakimakura were available in one size; 160 cm x 50 cm, which is considered to be the authentic Japanese-sized pillow. Since the late 2000s, 150 cm x 50 cm dakimakura became available and increasingly popular due to shipping cost savings from being under the 2 kg airmail weight limit.[4]

Love pillows are a subset of dakimakura usually portraying life-size pictures of anime characters. Some pillows may portray furry characters, anime characters or pornographic film actors in suggestive poses.

References

  1. ↑ Galbraith, Patrick W. (2009). The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan. Tokyo: Kodansha International. ISBN 9784770031013.
  2. ↑ "Make Your Hug Pillow Experience More Pleasurable with Rub-Activated Talking". 28 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Interactive, Rubbing-Activated Hug Pillows Finally Get Release Date". 16 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Dakimakura - The early days and why the 10cm difference".
  • Kohler, Chris (February 6, 2004). "Getting in Bed With the Customer". Wired News. Retrieved 2014-02-13. - An article on the release of a Japanese limited edition Xbox, which includes a Kasumi (from Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball) dakimakura.
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