Yoshiharu Washino and the monkey with its thumb to its lips
It was meant to teach children love and respect. Half a century later it still holds its thumb to its lips — and the whole world wants to hug it.
On 25 January 1974 the designer Yoshiharu Washino created, for the Tokyo company Sekiguchi Corporation, a character meant to teach children love and respect. A plush body, a vinyl little face, five freckles on each cheek and a thumb at its lips — that's how Monchhichi was born. The name is a blend of the French “mon” (my), the Japanese “chichi” (the sound of sucking a dummy) and the English “monkey”. In 2024 Monchhichi celebrated its 50th birthday — and it's just as loved as ever.
Sekiguchi itself is one of Japan's oldest toy companies, founded in 1918. For decades it made dolls and plush toys, until it bet on more universal, emotional characters — Monchhichi was the fruit of that transformation.
Global expansion
In 1975 Monchhichi arrived in Germany and Austria — where it sold better than in Japan. A different name in every country: Kiki in France, Chicaboo in the UK, Mon Cicci in Italy, Bolle in Denmark. In 1980 Mattel bought the US licence, and Hanna-Barbera (the studio behind Scooby-Doo and the Flintstones) created an animated series. In 2013 Sekiguchi unified the name “Monchhichi” worldwide.
Happiness in pairs
In Japan there's a lovely legend: a pair of Monchhichi given to the person you love brings the couple happiness for life. That's why the character was always sold as a duo — a boy and a girl. In Chinese, Monchhichi is “Mengququ”, meaning “sweet and full of charm”; it's been officially on the Chinese market since 2015, with a steadily growing fan base.
Half a century later, Monchhichi still holds its thumb to its lips — and every generation rediscovers the same little monkey anew.
Monchhichi today
After 50 years, Monchhichi is still alive and well — collaborations with Hello Kitty, My Melody, Ultraman, Monster Hunter and Tom & Jerry draw in new generations. Available in sizes from 10 cm to 80 cm, with limited editions in yukata and kimono, and forever present in the hearts of the millennials who grew up with Monchhichi's thumb at its lips.
The Monchhichi family
The whole Monchhichi collection is waiting here — thumb at its lips and five freckles.
See the collection →Follow: Monchhichi Official
