🐵 Monchhichi × Avail: Japan's October Drop

Monchhichi, the monkey doll Sekiguchi launched in 1974, is back on Japanese shelves in a big way. On Saturday 10 October, Avail, the Shimamura group's fashion chain, launched a 60-piece Monchhichi range across its stores in Japan: plush keychains, pouches, winter warmers, bedding and loungewear, almost all of it under ¥4,000.

It's a Japan-only drop. Avail has no stores outside Japan, and its online store doesn't ship overseas, so from Singapore the way in is someone who's there.

Keychains first

The plush keychains are the stars of the range. There are three sizes: the full-size keychain in boy and girl versions (¥2,200), the big-face SS with an oversized head (¥1,650), and the mini (¥1,320). Online, some pieces, such as the big-face keychains, went up as pre-orders that ship from late October.

Pouches, bags and warmers

The small goods are where Avail's prices shine. The die-cut pouch is a plush Monchhichi lying on its tummy (¥2,860), the square pouch has her face, a pink bow and a clip (¥1,320), and the furry tote looks like a fluffy brown shopping bag with Monchhichi peeking out (¥2,310). For winter there are neck warmers, belly warmers and hand warmers, including a pair topped with little plush heads (¥1,320). Hair ties, a charm scrunchie, can badges and bag charms all come in under ¥1,000.

Monchhichi × Hokaron bedding

The most unexpected tie-in is with Hokaron, Japan's disposable hand-warmer brand. The Monchhichi × Hokaron bedding comes in Hokaron's red and white: a gingham blanket with Monchhichi in a Hokaron beanie (¥2,750), floor cushions (¥1,980), pillow pads (¥990), and bed pads in single and double (¥3,300 and ¥4,400). A plainer Monchhichi bedding line adds blankets, pillow covers and bed pads from ¥770.

Loungewear, with no limit

Clothes are the one part of the drop without a purchase limit. There are fleece-lined pullovers and hoodies (¥2,750 to ¥3,300), a knit pullover (¥3,300), pyjamas and roomwear (¥3,300 to ¥3,850), a leopard-print hanten, the padded Japanese house jacket (¥3,850), fluffy sandals and room shoes (¥1,980 to ¥2,750), and socks from ¥429. Women's sizes run M to L, and there are room shoes and socks for men too.

Four things to know

• Where: Avail stores across Japan, except the Honjo, Matsumori and Aira stores.
• Limits: one per product name per person for the small goods, warmers and bedding. Clothing and loungewear have no limit.
• Online: Avail's online store opened orders at noon on 10 October. Some pieces are pre-orders shipping from late October to mid-November, and the store doesn't deliver outside Japan.
• Stock: it varies by store. The Shimamura group app has a stock search, in Japanese and behind a login.

Every highlight and price

Prices include Japan's 10% consumption tax. The Singapore-dollar figures are rough conversions at S$1 = ¥123.5, the mid-market rate on 15 October. The Japanese names are the ones on Avail's online store, handy for showing staff.

• Plush keychain, boy or girl (モンチッチ キーチェーン 男の子 / 女の子): ¥2,200, about S$18
• Big-face keychain, SS (頭デカモンチッチ SS 男の子 / 女の子): ¥1,650, about S$13
• Mini keychain (キーチェーン ミニ 男の子 / 女の子): ¥1,320, about S$11
• Die-cut pouch (マスコットポーチ（モンチッチ）): ¥2,860, about S$23
• Square pouch (スクエアポーチ（モンチッチ）): ¥1,320, about S$11
• Furry tote (トートバッグ（モンチッチ）): ¥2,310, about S$19
• Charm scrunchie (チャーム付シュシュ（モンチッチ）): ¥990, about S$8
• Plush hand warmers (ぬいぐるみ付アームウォーマー（モンチッチ）): ¥1,320, about S$11
• Monchhichi × Hokaron blanket (ブランケット（モンチッチ×ホカロン）): ¥2,750, about S$22
• Fleece-lined hoodie (プルパーカ（モンチッチ）): ¥3,300, about S$27
• Hanten jacket (半纏（モンチッチ）): ¥3,850, about S$31
• Room shoes (ルームシューズ（モンチッチ）): ¥1,980, about S$16

Where to buy it in Japan

Avail has 323 stores in Japan, and the range is in all but three of them. These are the easiest to reach from where visitors usually stay. All of them are tax-free for visitors and among the roughly 100 Avail stores that carry its limited character lines.

• Tokyo, Omori Ekimae: 4F of the Omori Ekimae Building, 1 minute from JR Omori Station (West Exit). 10:00 to 20:00.
• Tokyo, Sunny Mall Nishi-Kasai: Sunny Mall 2F, 8 minutes from Nishi-kasai Station (Tozai Line). 10:00 to 20:00.
• Yokohama, Kamiooka: Fuji Shopping Center 1F, 1 minute from Kamiooka Station (Blue Line, exit 5). 10:00 to 20:00.
• Kyoto, Kyoto AVANTI: 3F, across from Kyoto Station's south (Hachijo) exit. 10:00 to 21:00.
• Osaka, Foleo Osaka Dome City: 2F, 7 minutes from Dome-mae Station (Hanshin Namba Line). 10:00 to 20:00.
• Kobe, Harborland: Harborland Center Building 2F, 5 minutes from JR Kobe Station (South Exit). 10:00 to 20:00.
• Fukuoka, Hakata Bus Terminal: 1 minute from Hakata Station (Hakata Exit). 10:00 to 20:00.
• Nagoya, Tokaidori: EDION Tokaidori 3F, 8 minutes from Tokai-dori Station (Meiko Line). 10:00 to 20:00.

Stock differs from store to store, so check the Shimamura app before making a special trip.

How to get one through HELB

1. Create a request on HELB for the exact piece. Copy its Japanese name from the list above, add a photo, and say which version you want (boy or girl, colour, size).
2. Set your price. Start from the yen price in Singapore dollars and add a little for the traveller's trouble. Requests priced a little above retail get picked up faster.
3. A traveller heading to Japan accepts, picks it up at an Avail store and hands it over back in Singapore. HELB holds your payment until you mark the request complete. Fees are explained in the Help Centre.

Going to Japan soon? Flip it around. Open HELB, look for Monchhichi requests before you fly, and pick them up at one of the stores above. Remember the limit: one of each small piece per person.

If you're looking for any of these, simply create a request on HELB. Our network of verified travellers can help you get what you need.

Sources

• Avail Monchhichi goods on sale from 10 October, Monchhichi official site (Sekiguchi), 9 October 2026 (Japanese)
• Monchhichi 10/10 release, Avail online store, with every item, price and photo (Japanese)
• Monchhichi keychains and bedding arrive at Avail from 10 October, Collabo Cafe, 6 October 2026 (Japanese)
• Avail store finder, Shimamura group, for store addresses, hours and access (Japanese)
• Shimamura online store FAQ, on overseas delivery (Japanese)
• Exchange rate: S$1 = ¥123.46, mid-market, 15 October 2026, from ExchangeRate-API

Product photography and lineup © 2026 Sekiguchi Co., Ltd., reproduced from Avail's online store and Monchhichi's official site for editorial coverage. Hokaron is a registered trademark of Lotte Co., Ltd. HELB is not affiliated with Sekiguchi, Shimamura or Lotte.