Sumikko Gurashi: Adorable San-X characters with unique insecurities and heartwarming friendship. Embracing individuality and warmth in every adventure. Popular worldwide!

1. WELCOME TO SHOP.SAN-X.CO.JP

2. SHOP.SAN-X.CO.JP
PRESENTS
Sumikko Gurashi -
Biography

3. Sumikko Gurashi- Introduction
Sumikko Gurashi (すみっコぐらし) is a set of
fictional characters produced by the Japanese
company San-X. The name roughly translates to "life
in the corner".
The main Sumikko characters are Shirokuma, a polar
bear who dislikes the cold, and Penguin. who is
unsure of being a penguin, Tonkatsu, a piece of
leftover pork cutlet, Neko, a timid and anxious cat,
and Tokage, a dinosaur who pretends to be a lizard.
Minor Minniko characters include Furoshiki, a polka
dot furoshiki cloth, Zassou, a weed with a positive
attitude, and Tapioca, multi-colored leftover tapioca
pearls.

4. Sumikko Gurashi- Introduction
The characters were created by Yuri Yokomizo, a
graphic designer working for San-X, and the first
products were released in 2012.
Their main inspiration was the feeling of comfort
when one is near a corner, and they were based on
Yokomizo's notebook doodles when she was a
student.
A wealth of merchandise, such as stationery, plush
toys, and clothing, is sold. Books, mobile apps, and
video games based on the franchise have also been
produced. Two animated films with Sumikko Gurashi
were released in 2019 and 2021.

5. Sumikko Gurashi- Know More About This
Character
Targeting Japanese people with an affinity for
"corners", such as the corner seat of a café or the
corner of a room, the characters are
anthropomorphized animals and food items.
The characters are split into "Sumikko", the main
characters, and "Minikko", the smaller side
characters. The main characters have common
traits: they have a slightly negative personality, they
are castaways in everyday life, and they feel most
relaxed when they are near a corner.
In contrast, some of the Minikko characters have a
more positive outlook, like Zassou, the weed with
big dreams.

6. Sumikko Gurashi- Know More About This
Character
Yuri Yokomizo was a new designer when she
developed the Sumikko Gurashi characters in
her first year of joining San-X.
Before getting hired at San-X, Yokomizo
studied graphic design at Tama Art University
where Hikaru Suemasa, creator of the San-X
character Tarepanda, was one of her
professors.
Yokomizo based the Sumikko Gurashi
characters on doodles she made in the
corners of her notebooks as a student. They
were first conceived as a series of cute animal
characters, and early concept art included a
sheep and a giraffe.

7. Sumikko Gurashi- Know More About This
Character
Yokomizo said in 2015 that characters like Tonkatsu
and Tapioca were inspired by a feeling of pity for that
which is left over.
In 2019 Yokomizo said that some parts of the books
are based on her own experiences, like a scene
where the characters are afraid of answering the
phone.
In 2019, The Japan Times described Sumikko Gurashi
as being part of a trend which first began with the
release of the San-X character Rilakkuma in 2003,
where characters have more negative personality
traits compared to earlier kawaii (cute) characters
which were more cheerful or bland.

8. Sumikko Gurashi- Know More About This
Character
• For the seventh anniversary in 2019 an anime film
was released, called Sumikko Gurashi The Movie -
The Pop-up Book and the Secret Child (映画すみっコ
ぐらし とびだす絵本とひみつのコ, Eiga Sumikko
Gurashi: Tobidasu Ehon to Himitsu no Ko). The film
was produced by the studio Fanworks who previously
made the Aggretsuko series.
• It was directed by Mankyū, with the script written by
Takashi Sumita and Kaori Hino was art director. It
opened in 114 theaters in Japan in November, and
ranked #3 on opening weekend and rose to #2 the
week after.
• It grossed a total of 1.45 billion yen in 2019 and won
Best Animation of the Year at the Japanese Movie
Critics Awards.

9. Sumikko Gurashi- Know More About This
Character
• In 2021, a second movie was released,
Sumikko Gurashi The Movie: A Magical Child of
the Blue Moonlit Night (映画 すみっコぐらし 青
い月夜のまほうのコ, Eiga Sumikko Gurashi:
Aoi Tsukiyo no Mahou no Ko).[37] It was
directed by Takahiro Omori with a screenplay by
Reiko Yoshida.
• Like the first movie, it was produced by
Fanworks with art directing by Kaori Hino.
• Much of the work on the movie was done
remotely, using screen sharing. It opened in 184
theaters and was #2 at the weekend box office,
going up to #1 the week after. As of January
2022 the total box office was over 1 billion yen

10. Sumikko Gurashi- Some Characters
Shirokuma (しろくま shirokuma) is a shy polar bear
who ran away from arctic circle. It is sensitive to the
cold, and feels most at home while drinking hot tea
in the corner. It likes to draw and to bathe in hot
springs, and has an easygoing personality.
Furoshiki, the pink cloth with cream yellow polka
dots, is its most prized possession.
Penguin? (ぺんぎん？ pengin?) resembles a green
penguin, but is unsure if it really is one. It likes eating
cucumbers and has vague memories of having a
plate on its head (both of which strongly imply that it
is a kappa). Since it uses sneaky ways to take the
corner for itself, the Arm often picks it up and away.
It likes to read and listen to music.

11. Sumikko Gurashi- Some Characters
Tonkatsu (とんかつ tonkatsu) is an edge slice from a
fried pork cutlet. It is composed of 1% meat and 99%
fat, so it was left behind on its plate after the meal
finished. It often puts condiments like sauce, salt, and
mustard on itself to assert that it is still edible. Despite
being food, it can eat from its mouth, which makes up
its 1% portion of meat. Since it is covered with batter, it
refries itself instead of bathing.
Neko (ねこ neko) is a timid and socially anxious calico
cat. It is self-conscious about its rotundity. It often gives
the corner away to other Sumikko because of its
personality. It feels safe when snugly covered, like in a
pouch or under an empty cat food can. It often files its
nails on the walls of the corner. It has a wallet and acts
as the treasurer of the group. Its favorite foods are rice
balls, cat grass, canned cat food, and fish.

12. Sumikko Gurashi – Products available at SAN-X
Buy Sumikko Gurashi Sunglasses Purple
 https://shop.san-
x.co.jp/product/detail/SMG5666
Sumikko Gurashi Sunglasses Pink
 https://shop.san-
x.co.jp/product/detail/SMG5664
Sumikko Gurashi Mobile Battery
 https://shop.san-
x.co.jp/product/detail/SMGK162
Sumikko Gurashi Bear Cafe Tenori Plush Shirokuma
 https://shop.san-
x.co.jp/product/detail/RLK9430