My Monchhichi Collection and...a Competition!

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!)

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 :-)

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! 

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.

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!

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.

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. 

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!

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