So Easter is coming up. For us Westerners, Easter is a holiday full of rabbits, chocolates, and eggs, but it’s not really something celebrated in Japan. So that’s why I never did an Easter merchandise list before. But I thought I’d be different this year.
There are a lot of adorable products that could fit this list, and series like Bunny Drop and Tiger & Bunny or even Sailor Moon are obvious choices to keep the rabbit theme going. However, I’m going to keep it on the relatively inexpensive side and more kid-oriented. Sorry, all those bunny girl figures are not included. Also, I chose items that have a good chance of being available in nearby stores so that you can pick it up in time for Easter if you need to.
Ouran High School Host Club 24″ Bun-Bun Rabbit Plush – $24.99 at FYE
I’ve used this adorable Bun-Bun before for Valentine’s, but it’s too cute to not make this list! After all, rabbit + pink + anime = a natural choice for a spring holiday involving bunnies. It just went out of stock online. It might come back in stock again, but you can always try the store. I know I’ve seen Bun-Bun at my nearby FYE.
Meiji Hello Panda Cookie, Chocolate, 2.1 Ounce (Pack of 10) – $11.88 at Amazon
Chocolate is often the best part of Easter, so celebrate with this Japanese treat. Pocky is the more common anime-associated treat, but the panda designs are cuter than a stick. If you really don’t need so full-size boxes, check out your local stores for either individual boxes or snack size packs. You can also look for other flavors like strawberry or green tea.
Pez Nintendo Candy & Dispenser – $1.78 at Five Below
Another sweet treat: the famous Pez dispensers with Nintendo characters. A nice filler item or when chocolate is not an option. If you need a bunch or want to collect the full set, you can also buy a box at Walmart with different packaging but only two rolls of Pez.
Pokemon Core Favor Container – $1.49 at Party City
Whether you need to make a gift basket or just need something for the kiddos to go on egg hunts, this Pokémon bucket is ready to go. It may not be big enough to use for some large gifts, but it can certainly hold some Poké-treats.
My Melody (Pink) ”My Melody”, Bandai FiguartsZERO – $24.95 at Barnes & Noble
Really, any My Melody product would fit here — and there are a ton of them. You may even be able to find an Easter plush of this Sanrio character, Hello Kitty, or Gudetama. While there are a lot of figures and plushies of them, this figure is posable, so you get some added enjoyment versus usual merchandise.
Tamagotchi Gudetama – $19.99 at GameStop
Speaking of Gudetama, combine the lazy egg with an old 90s craze from Japan, and you get this little electronic device. This Tamagotchi is available in yellow or white. If you don’t need one in a hurry and want to spend a little more, you can import one from Japan or go to a reseller to get one with one of two special Gudetama covers (GameStop exclusives in the US).