TV-Series
Description
Kuririn, also known as Corocorokuririn or Korokorokuririn, is a male golden hamster character created by Sanrio. He debuted around 1997 or 1998. His appearance features orange-and-white fur, pink feet, round eyes, round ears, and his signature pale yellow flower hat. His name potentially comes from the Japanese word for "chestnut," alluding to his large, chestnut-like eyes.
Born in a pet store, Kuririn was adopted on February 4th, celebrated as his birthday and that of his girlfriend Sakura, as a human girl owner brought them home together. This date also marks the adoption of the real-life hamster inspiring his design at Sanrio. His personality blends curiosity and mischievousness with a laid-back, timid hamster nature. He enjoys chewing objects, excels at speed-nibbling, and fits into tiny spaces.
Kuririn collects household items to build playhouses, explores with Sakura for buttons and seeds (which he hides in his tissue-paper bed), and admires cherry blossoms. His favorite foods are cookies and sunflower seeds. He lives in Florapolis, teaching sewing and providing sewing quests after being awakened with a key obtained through local quests.
His family includes his girlfriend Sakura and their seven children, all born October 8th: Chibikuri (eldest son), Komachi, Kurumi, Cherry, Chingo, Milk, and Chacha. Each child has distinct traits, including Chingo's plump yet active nature and Kurumi's cheeky joke-making. Kuririn also has 86 hamster friends (counting Sakura and his children) and a tortoise friend named Riku. The number 86 references Japanese goroawase wordplay for "ham" (hamster).
Kuririn appears in the OVA *Korokoro Kuririn no Inaka no Nezumi Tokai no Nezumi* (2001), part of *Hello Kitty's Animation Theater*, starring in an adaptation of "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse."
Sanrio designed Kuririn during the 1990s rise in hamster popularity in Japan, especially around 1996 (Year of the Rat). He ranked 6th in Sanrio's Character Rankings from 1999 to 2001, fluctuating later but reaching 19th place in 2024.
Born in a pet store, Kuririn was adopted on February 4th, celebrated as his birthday and that of his girlfriend Sakura, as a human girl owner brought them home together. This date also marks the adoption of the real-life hamster inspiring his design at Sanrio. His personality blends curiosity and mischievousness with a laid-back, timid hamster nature. He enjoys chewing objects, excels at speed-nibbling, and fits into tiny spaces.
Kuririn collects household items to build playhouses, explores with Sakura for buttons and seeds (which he hides in his tissue-paper bed), and admires cherry blossoms. His favorite foods are cookies and sunflower seeds. He lives in Florapolis, teaching sewing and providing sewing quests after being awakened with a key obtained through local quests.
His family includes his girlfriend Sakura and their seven children, all born October 8th: Chibikuri (eldest son), Komachi, Kurumi, Cherry, Chingo, Milk, and Chacha. Each child has distinct traits, including Chingo's plump yet active nature and Kurumi's cheeky joke-making. Kuririn also has 86 hamster friends (counting Sakura and his children) and a tortoise friend named Riku. The number 86 references Japanese goroawase wordplay for "ham" (hamster).
Kuririn appears in the OVA *Korokoro Kuririn no Inaka no Nezumi Tokai no Nezumi* (2001), part of *Hello Kitty's Animation Theater*, starring in an adaptation of "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse."
Sanrio designed Kuririn during the 1990s rise in hamster popularity in Japan, especially around 1996 (Year of the Rat). He ranked 6th in Sanrio's Character Rankings from 1999 to 2001, fluctuating later but reaching 19th place in 2024.