The other day, I was in Sendai on a business trip. He said, "Do you know KIKKOUCHAN? You should definitely interview him," said actor Jun Murakami, who was with me at the interview site.
Mr. Murakami first became aware of the character called "KIKKOUCHAN" when he came to Sendai to DJ. A friend of his handed him a sticker. The sticker depicted a rabbit. But it was more than just a rabbit. It had unusual features that contrasted with its cute looks. The unbalanced contrast immediately struck Mr. Murakami.
The sticker is the one in this photo. The dull eyes and somewhat melancholy expression are indeed outstandingly cute. However, we can see some distorted peculiarities. What is that red line drawn on the body part?
When I asked him about it, he replied, "It's a rope. Yes, this rabbit is bound with a tortoise shell. A cute figure with an abnormal sexual habit (?). . When I learned the answer, something was born in my heart. What on earth is this character? How did the distorted worldview formed by KIKKOUCHAN come about? I was driven by a desire to know the story behind it.
According to Mr. Murakami, KIKKOUCHAN seems to be well known among people in Sendai. The stickers that Mr. Murakami received were distributed only to acquaintances of the producer, but there was no end to the number of requests for them from residents of the Sendai fashion scene. The stickers were distributed only to the producer's acquaintances, but there was no end to the number of people in the Sendai fashion scene who wanted them.
So, relying on Mr. Murakami, we contacted the creator of this character. A few hours later, a woman with brown hair, glasses, white T-shirt, denim, and sneakers on her feet appeared before us. Here is what she had to say in the form of an interview.
Please tell us about yourself.
People call me Bachiko. I am in charge of graphic design at a design company called PILE Inc.
When and where was KIKKOUCHAN born?
I was born about five years ago. I was originally a student at a design school, and as a student I was asked to exhibit my work at a certain market, where I made and sold KIKKOUCHAN stickers. The market was very strict about exhibitors, and if the stickers didn't sell, I had to buy them myself. I'll do whatever it takes to make something that sells!
KIKKOUCHAN was born from such a full-hearted effort. It has a perfect balance of power and energy.
I thought it would be a good idea to combine something cute with something poisonous.... In my mind, "cute" means "rabbit" and "poisonous" means "SM," so a rabbit bound in tortoise shell was born. Sometimes I am mistaken for a bear, but KIKKOUCHAN is a rabbit!
Did you sell those stickers at the market?
Yes, successfully. It is a different design from the one we are distributing now, but skaters bought it and it sold as soon as we put it out.
What happened to KIKKOUCHAN after that?
Although I liked the character in my mind, I did not present it to the world. I just made self-produced T-shirts and tote bags and distributed them to my relatives. I like to make silk screen prints, so it is just a hobby for me.
Is that what you were doing with the stickers you were distributing recently?
Yes, I did. We have made 500 sheets since the beginning of this year, and there are only about 10 sheets left. There are no plans to make more at this time.
KIKKOUCHAN is also on Instagram, right?@kikkouchan(Hashtag.) The hashtag "I don't want to be tied down except by my # body" was impressive.
I only want my body to be tied up. Oh, this is KIKKOUCHAN's story... (laughs). It's an expression of your will to do only what you want to do, without being tied down by relationships or anything like that.
Your body is bound, but your existence itself is independent.
Yes.
Do you have any plans for KIKKOUCHAN's future?
We have received requests to do something with KIKKOUCHAN, but nothing concrete has been decided yet. If you follow us on Instagram, we will let you know when we make a move.
Finally, what are KIKKOUCHAN's ambitions?
It is a stuffed animal! I want to make a KIKKOUCHAN costume! I want to be in it and shake hands with my fans. That alone would make me happy (laughs). Someday I will make it happen!
KIKKOUCHAN has been slowly gaining momentum in Sendai and other areas. We can't help but be tickled by her cute but actually perverted profile. We recommend that you start by following her official Instagram account to see what she's up to. By the time you find out, you may find yourself in a position to become a major presence that shakes the world.
Text_Yuichiro Tsuji
KIKKOUCHAN / Kikko-shibari no Usagi from Sendai
@kikkouchan
https://www.instagram.com/kikkouchan/
