Yukai Engineering, a Tokyo-based robotics company with the vision of "Making the world joyful through robotics," launched mirumi, a "glancing" charm robot, in Japan on April 23, 2026. Priced at ¥19,800 (tax included), mirumi is available at 12 Tsutaya Books and Tsutaya Electrics locations across the country, as well as through the mirumi official online store.
Positioned as a fashion tech item that blends fashion and robotics, mirumi is designed to integrate naturally into daily life and share small moments of joy with those nearby.
The robot comes in three colors: Pink, Ivory, and Gray.
Inspired by a Baby's Gestures
mirumi is a charm robot modeled after the endearing gestures of a baby — looking up at a sound, glancing around curiously, gazing intently at something, then suddenly turning away. When eyes meet, it shares a small, quiet moment of happiness.
mirumi's Journey
mirumi was born at Yukai Engineering's annual internal hackathon "Makathon" in 2024. It made its world debut at CES in the United States in January 2025, drawing significant attention from media and visitors worldwide. The subsequent Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign attracted support from 1,870 backers across 32 countries and regions, raising over ¥70 million — a record for Yukai Engineering. In February 2026, mirumi appeared at Milan Fashion Week, captivating celebrities and designers from around the world.
Following its Japan launch, mirumi is set to roll out internationally at Lane Crawford, Hong Kong's historic luxury department store, as well as in Australia, China, the United States, Thailand, Germany, and other markets. A pop-up store at Harrods in London is also planned for July.
Pre-Launch Exhibition Sales in Japan
At Tsutaya Books and Tsutaya Electrics stores nationwide:
April 23 (Thu) to April 30 (Thu), 2026
Participating stores:
Daikanyama Tsutaya Books / Futakotamagawa Tsutaya Electrics / Hakodate Tsutaya Books / Urawa Tsutaya Books / Makuhari Tsutaya Books / Shonan Tsutaya Books / Nagoya Minato Tsutaya Books / Kyoto Okazaki Tsutaya Books / Umeda Tsutaya Books / Nara Tsutaya Books / Edion Tsutaya Electrics / Ropponmatsu Tsutaya Books
Exhibition and sales periods after April 30, and store hours, vary by location.
Design Philosophy
Yukai Engineering has long focused on the kind of gentle emotional exchanges that happen without intention — waving back at a baby peering out from a carrier, or exchanging a smile when eyes meet with a stranger. Rather than pursuing smart features or convenience, the aim is to design moments where the heart quietly relaxes, and to create soft opportunities for connection between people. mirumi represents an attempt to redefine what a robot can be.
Design and Technology
Behaviors:
mirumi gazes upward quietly, buries its face when startled by a loud sound, nuzzles against a hand, and nods slowly. These movements were realized through dozens of motion patterns, with careful tuning of speed, rhythm, and timing. Combined with a microphone and touch sensor, the robot turns its head toward the direction of a sound or voice, and reacts to being petted — creating natural, spontaneous behaviors reminiscent of a small living creature.
Arm Mechanism:
After repeated prototyping and refinement, a proprietary arm mechanism was developed that achieves both soft, lifelike movement suited to a bag-attached wearable and the durability needed to stay securely attached during everyday use.
Materials:
The fur fabric — custom-made by a Japanese manufacturer — was selected for its soft, fluffy texture. Color, fur length, and density were all specified to naturally encourage reaching out and touching it.
Product Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Product name | mirumi |
| Price | ¥19,800 (tax included) |
| Main functions | Sound/voice response, touch sensor (head) |
| Colors | Pink, Ivory, Gray |
| Materials | Body (mechanism): ABS / Body (arms): TPU / Outer fabric: 100% acrylic / Backing fabric: 55% acrylic, 45% polyester |
| Dimensions | Approx. W100 × D110 × H140mm (D includes arms) |
| Weight | Approx. 155g |
| Battery | Built-in rechargeable lithium polymer battery / Charging: rated 5V 1A |
| Usage time | Approx. 8 hours on a full charge (varies with frequency of use) |
| Charging time | Approx. 2 hours |
Specifications are subject to change without notice for product improvement.
mirumi Official Website: https://mirumi.tokyo/
mirumi Official Online Store: https://store-jp.mirumi.tokyo/
Instagram: @mirumi_tokyo
