If you grew up in the 80's like me you may remember there were these really cute little monkey toys.
Back then everyone in England called them Chicaboos, but almost everywhere else in the world they were known as Monchhichi. (It's a bit like Marathon's and Snickers - no idea why we always have different names for things here!)
Back then everyone in England called them Chicaboos, but almost everywhere else in the world they were known as Monchhichi. (It's a bit like Marathon's and Snickers - no idea why we always have different names for things here!)
My collection of Monchhichi's |
When I was three years old I got my first Monchhichi as a present and it fast became one of my favourite toys. I called him Chicaboo! The reason my parents (I think it was my parents, but it could have been my nan) got him for me was because I was a thumb sucker and he was just like me. He sucked his thumb too! I took him everywhere with me... and there's photographic evidence of that fact :-)
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Me, my Nan and Chicaboo |
When my sister Anna was 10 years old she asked me if she could take Chicaboo to school on the last day of term (do you remember how you would always be allowed to take in a toy or game from home to play with?) I said she could take him, but she had to take good care of him!
That evening she came back and his head had been ripped off by one of her friends! I am not sure what exactly happened but I was really upset! Some friends! Even though I was 13 at the time this was my favourite toy and I was a bit devastated by his decapitation!
That evening she came back and his head had been ripped off by one of her friends! I am not sure what exactly happened but I was really upset! Some friends! Even though I was 13 at the time this was my favourite toy and I was a bit devastated by his decapitation!
In my twenties I saw my Chicaboo online and had to buy him! This is when I discovered that there were many of them now listed on ebay, and most of them were listed as Monchhichis. I bought a few, and then a few more, and it wasn't long before I'd grown a nice little collection!
I didn't know much about the history of my Chicaboo and how Monchhichis came to be until recently; The original Monchhichi character was born in 1974 in Japan from the imagination of Mr K. Sekiguchi. The Monchhichi name comes from the French word "mon petit" which means, "My small cute thing" and the hint of "mon" from the English word for monkey and the "chhichi" comes from the sound of a baby sucking a pacifier (dummy) like "chu-chu" in Japanese.
Monchhichi has won fans of all ages from all over the world and has sold more than 70 million toys and accessories since he first came into being.
Monchhichi has won fans of all ages from all over the world and has sold more than 70 million toys and accessories since he first came into being.
I was really surprised and excited when I saw a collection of Monchhichis in a shop a few years ago here in the UK that I decided to add to my little collection. Of the new ones, I particularly love the girl with the baby, and of course my keyring girl.
Newer Monchhichis. |
This year Bandai has been appointed the distributor of Monchhichis in the UK and they have introduced a beautiful new collection, including this gorgeous sailor boy (below) who they kindly sent to me to add to my own personal collection.
I absolutely love him! He is so cute! I especially love his little hat and stripy sailor shirt!
I absolutely love him! He is so cute! I especially love his little hat and stripy sailor shirt!
Sailor boy |
If you're thinking like me, "These Monchhichi are so cute and adorable and I must get some!" then you're in luck because Monchhichis are available NOW to buy in online shops, including Argos, The Entertainer and Harrods (but I wouldn't be surprised if they pop up everywhere soon).
For more information and to keep up to date on the new collection, join the Monchhichi Official UK Facebook page.
*** COMPETITION ***
Bandai have kindly given me some Monchhichis to give away to one of my lucky blog readers. The winner will get to choose one classic Monchhichi (20cm) and a classic keyring of their choice, as pictured below.
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To enter the competition and win your own classic Monchhichi and keyring, simply complete as many of the steps as you wish on the Rafflecopter form below.
A winner will be chosen at random at the end of the competition.
Open to UK residents only.
A winner will be chosen at random at the end of the competition.
Open to UK residents only.
Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Feel free to comment and let me know if you had a Monchhichi of your own, or if you're new to these cute creatures!
Listed on Loquax
Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com
I love the one with the pink hair bunches, & she would be for me xxx
ReplyDeleteI'd love the Monchhichi with the white and pink bib for my youngest daughter! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI like the one with blue bib - I have a bigger version at home! it would be for me.
ReplyDeleteThe pink ones, for my Daughter!
ReplyDeleteAny would be lovely; I don't have any children so would donate them to charity, to go to Romania.
ReplyDeleteI'd choose the ones with blue bibs. When my younger daughter was small, she was Monchichi crazy, and now she's expecting a baby boy of her own
ReplyDeleteThe one with the blue bib for my son
ReplyDeleteit sooo has to be the one with the pink and white bib for my darling niece - please make our day....
ReplyDeleteboth the pink ones, please - the keyring for me, the toy for my daughter..
ReplyDeleteI would choose the big pink one for my 5 year old she would love it x
ReplyDeletethe ones with blue bibs
ReplyDeleteI love Monchhichi! I didn't realise they were called chicaboo in the UK - I have a feeling I'll be trying the term out on ebay later... My favourite is the one with the blue bib, I'd give it to my daughter (and maybe steal it occasionally!) :)
ReplyDeleteI've never seen these before but they are so cute!
ReplyDeleteI'd have to go for the pink ones and they'd be for myself hehe x
ReplyDeleteI like the one with bunches for my daughter :-)
ReplyDeleteI used to have one when I was a child they bring back so many memories ! I would love the classic girl one with bunches for my daughter I'm sure it would bring her as many good memories as it did for me
ReplyDeletethe pink one for my grandaughter x
ReplyDeleteDont mind which one i get they are all so cute. Xxxx
ReplyDeleteas i loved these growing up id like my youngest 5 year old daughter to enjoy them as much as i did,of course it would have to be the girly one with the pretty bunches she is delightfull
ReplyDeleteLike classic boy x
ReplyDeletethe one with pink hat for grand-daughter
ReplyDeletethe one with the blue bib i had it as a kid so it would be for me
ReplyDeleteThe blue ones please for grandson
ReplyDeleteThe red one for my cousin :)
ReplyDeletethe sailor boy for my son
ReplyDeleteBoth with bows in her hair for my daughter :)
ReplyDeleteI like the one with the pigtails for my daughter. Honestly, I'd be happy with any.
ReplyDeletepink small one
ReplyDeletethe pink one please for my granddaughter
ReplyDeleteThe pink one for my daughter.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the one with bunches and a pink and white bib, Lydia would love it, ty for the chance
ReplyDeleteI'd love the Doggy Trainer Girl one for my niece!
ReplyDeleteI love the ones with pink ribbons in their hair x
ReplyDeletethe blue ones for my son.
ReplyDeletei like the one with the bunches my daughter would love these xx
ReplyDeleteThe one with the pink and white bib..so cute!!
ReplyDeleteThe one's with the blue bibs look really good
ReplyDeleteRed, one for my son & one for my daughter!
ReplyDeleteBlue & not sure who it would be for
ReplyDeletethe red bib one, for my daughter
ReplyDeleteThe one with the bunches
ReplyDeleteThe pink one with pig tails for my daughter x
ReplyDeletethe pigtailed one for my daughter :)
ReplyDeleteRed Bib for Niece xx
ReplyDeleteThe one with the pink hair bunches, For my daughter
ReplyDeletethe blue bib one for my little boy
ReplyDeleteThe one with the blue bib for my son - leanne w
ReplyDeleteany would be lovely and would be donated towards a charity that collects toys for underprivileged families and children for Christmas
ReplyDeleteRed for my daughter, she loves her cuddly toys x
ReplyDeletepink hair bunches
ReplyDeleteThe one with the blue bib for my boys and the keyring for my house keys
ReplyDeleteThe one with the blue bib for my son <3
ReplyDeleteThe pink one for my little girl
ReplyDeleteThe big blue on for my son
ReplyDeletethe one with the blue bib and the keyring with the blue bib for my son
ReplyDeleteI would like the one with a blue bib for me
ReplyDeleteThe pink one with pig tails, for my lirtle girl!
ReplyDeleteId love the pink keyring for my daughter and the blue bib for my youngest son, I love them :) Had quite a few when i was younger :)
ReplyDeleteThey're all great, but the one with a blue bib is my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI would like the one with a blue bib for my grand son
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear what happened to yours when your sister took it to school. If I win I'd like the pink one for my daughter who will love this please. x
ReplyDeleteThe pink for my niece
ReplyDeleteI would choose the little girl keyring with the red bow for me and the little girl with the pink bib which I would give to a little girl who lives in South Africa
ReplyDeletethe little girl in pink :)
ReplyDeleteThe one with the blue bib please x
ReplyDeleteso hard to choose love them all :)
ReplyDeletePink ones for my little girl Chloe x
ReplyDeleteThe pink one for my daughter :)
ReplyDeleteThe one with pink pig tails,and I would keep it for myself
ReplyDeleteThe one with the blue bib for my Nephew
ReplyDeleteThe blue one for my son
ReplyDeleteThe one with pink bib for my daughter :)
ReplyDeleteI love the blue bib ones for me!
ReplyDeleteI'd love the big blue one for my son
ReplyDeleteI'd choose the blue ones for my little girl :)
ReplyDeleteThe pink one and it would be for my wife. She use to have one as a kid in the 80s so what a nice hubby I would be if I won one!
ReplyDeleteI have mine from 1976 which my granddaughter has duely pinched lol
ReplyDeletethe blue bib one for my son
ReplyDeleteThe Pink one please for my niece :)
ReplyDeletepink one for my niece
ReplyDeletethe pink one :)
ReplyDeleteThe one with the blue bib for my son!
ReplyDeleteI'd choose the pink ones - the classic for my little girl and the keyring for me :)
ReplyDeleteThe one with the pig tails
ReplyDeleteFor the big one I would pick the one with the blue bib, for the keyring I would pick the one on the far left :-) I hadn't remembered these but now I've seen them they bring back memories!
ReplyDeleteoh and I would keep the big one and give the keyring to a friend :-) forgot that part, I was so distracted by thinking about how I did remember them after all!
ReplyDeleteThe one with the blue bib for my son.. I used to love these!
ReplyDeleteLove the blue one!
ReplyDeleteThe one with bunches for my daughter
ReplyDeletethe pink one
ReplyDeleteThe pink one with bunches but any really I loved mine when I was little
ReplyDeletePink one with bunchies, I would keep it for myself :)
ReplyDeleteThe blue one
ReplyDeleteGeorge Williamson
love the pink one x
ReplyDeleteLove the little girl - i'd keep her myself. She's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSailor Boy because l love the sea
ReplyDeleteOh wow this brings back memories. Chickaboo was one of my sister's favourite toys. Didn't know the other name. Shame I missed your comp
ReplyDelete