Selected TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE and TSUTAYA ELECTRICS locations across Japan, along with the TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Online Store, will begin early sales of Mirumi — a "peek-a-boo" charm robot developed by Yukai Engineering Inc. — starting Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Early sales period: April 23 (Thu) – April 30 (Thu), 2026
A Baby's Gaze, Captivating the World
A sound draws its gaze upward. It looks around curiously, then fixes its eyes on something — only to glance away on a whim. Mirumi is a charm robot inspired by the movements of babies, designed to "peek" at the world around it.
Perched quietly beside a bag, it simply exists — and yet that presence is enough to add a small emotional warmth to any space. The robot drew significant attention through an international crowdfunding campaign, catching the eye of celebrities, designers, and media outlets abroad. Mirumi even made its way to Milan Fashion Week following a brand invitation. Now making its Japan debut, this is a chance to experience firsthand what it feels like when your eyes suddenly meet.
Design and Technology
Mirumi was designed with one goal in mind: to be a gentle presence that touches the heart through tiny, upward glances.
Behavior
Gazing steadily, flinching at a loud sound and burying its face, nuzzling into an outstretched hand, or nodding slowly — dozens of distinct movement patterns were designed to bring these behaviors to life. The timing and rhythm of each motion were carefully adjusted, and combined with microphone and touch sensor input, Mirumi turns its head toward sounds or voices and reacts when stroked, achieving natural, lifelike behavior that feels spontaneous yet endearing.
Embrace Mechanism
To achieve both soft, lifelike movement and the durability needed to stay attached to a bag while on the go, the arm mechanism went through extensive prototyping and refinement. The result is a proprietary embrace mechanism that strikes a balance between strength and cuteness — something existing mechanisms simply could not deliver.
Materials
The fur texture was crafted to feel soft and fluffy — the kind you can't help but reach out and touch. Mirumi uses an original domestically produced fur fabric, developed specifically for the product with custom color, length, and density.
Product Information
Product name: Mirumi
Manufacturer: Yukai Engineering Inc.
Price: ¥19,800 (tax included)
Colors: Ivory, Pink, Gray
Dimensions: Approx. W100 × D110 × H140 mm (D includes arms)
Weight: Approx. 155 g
Main features: Sound/voice response, touch sensor (head)
Body (mechanism): ABS
Body (arms): TPU
Outer material: Acrylic 100%
Backing material: Acrylic 55%, Polyester 45%
Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium polymer battery; charging spec: rated 5V 1A
Battery life: Approx. 8 hours from full charge (varies with usage frequency)
Charging time: Approx. 2 hours
Product specifications are subject to change without notice due to improvements.
Participating Stores
Mirumi will be available for display and purchase at the following stores starting April 23, 2026. It will also be available on the TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Online Store from the same date.
- Hakodate TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Hakodate, Hokkaido)
- Urawa TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Saitama City, Saitama)
- Makuhari TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Chiba City, Chiba)
- Shonan TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa)
- Futako-Tamagawa TSUTAYA ELECTRICS (Setagaya, Tokyo)
- Daikanyama TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Shibuya, Tokyo)
- Nagoya Minato TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Nagoya City, Aichi)
- Kyoto Okazaki TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Kyoto City, Kyoto)
- Umeda TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Osaka City, Osaka)
- Nara TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Nara City, Nara)
- Edion TSUTAYA ELECTRICS (Hiroshima City, Hiroshima)
- Ropponmatsu TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka)
Hours and availability may vary by location.
