In Japan, the love for plush toys isn’t limited to childhood. A unique cultural trend called \u306c\u3044\u64ae\u308a (nuigurumi-tori)<\/strong> \u2013 meaning “plush toy photography” \u2013 has become a social phenomenon that combines creativity, lifestyle, and active presence on social media. From train journeys to mountain hikes, from themed cafes to traditional markets, people photograph their plush toys in various locations and share these images online. In this article, we explore how the nuigurumi-tori<\/em> culture reflects a form of personal expression and a way to create emotional connections through objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The term comes from the words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This hobby involves taking photos where the plush toy is the main character in a real context: at a meal, in nature, in front of monuments, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The motivations of those who practice nuigurumi-tori<\/em> are varied:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nuigurumi-tori<\/em> photos have become increasingly elaborate, with styles such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Practicing this culture often involves using auxiliary elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram<\/strong> is the central platform for nuigurumi-tori<\/em>, where hashtags often used include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photos are often accompanied by descriptions “written from the plush’s perspective,” giving them the air of a travel journal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many fans create identities for their plush toys:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This form of storytelling stimulates empathy and imagination, comparable to a personal journal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is very common for people to take plush toys out to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A thriving industry has developed around this phenomenon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Studies conducted in Japan have shown that nuigurumi-tori<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nuigurumi-tori<\/em> culture promotes a way of life that encourages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Nuigurumi-tori” is not just a cute hobby or a fleeting Japanese trend. It is a form of art, an emotional journal, and a lifestyle for thousands of people who choose to see the world through the eyes of their plush friends. On social media, these images not only delight but also inspire \u2013 reminding us that small joys can be shared and experienced alongside something as simple and universal as a plush toy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Introduction In Japan, the love for plush toys isn’t limited to childhood. A unique cultural trend called \u306c\u3044\u64ae\u308a (nuigurumi-tori) \u2013 meaning “plush toy photography” \u2013 has become a social phenomenon that combines creativity, lifestyle, and active presence on social media. From train journeys to mountain hikes, from themed cafes to traditional markets, people photograph their… The Culture of “Nuigurumi-tori” and Social Media \u2013 A Lifestyle Where Plush Toys Travel with Us<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1647"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1944,"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1647\/revisions\/1944"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gl.artsimpleliving.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n1. What is “Nuigurumi-tori”?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n2. Why is it Popular?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n3. Styles and Themes in Nuigurumi-tori<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n4. Accessories and Tools for “Plush-graphers”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n5. Social Networks as an Exhibition Space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n6. Themed Journeys and “Mascot Plush Toys”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n7. Nuigurumi in Public Spaces<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n8. The Plush Toy Clothing Workshop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n9. Psychological Benefits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n10. A Slow and Mindful Lifestyle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n