All About Japan

Transformed Not by Alchemy, but by Sanrio

Sanrio Fashion Fullmetal Alchemist Souvenirs

Edward and Alphonse Elric have transformed again, but this time it’s not the result of alchemy. Sanrio, the company famous for characters such as Hello Kitty, Gudetama (and their cute merchandise) have given the characters of Hiromu Arakawa’s hit manga and anime Fullmetal Alchemist a cutesy makeover for a new line of products.

https://www.atpress.ne.jp/news/143056

The items are currently available only at the Ichiban Plaza store in the Tokyo Character Street section of the underground shopping center below Tokyo Station, but will go on sale at Kiddyland and Tokyu Hands shops across Japan from December 1, 2017.

https://www.atpress.ne.jp/news/143056

While the incredibly successful franchise has remained popular long after the manga ended serialization seven years ago, the opening of a live-action film next month and the announcement of a new manga chapter has led to renewed interest in the series. These Sanrio-designed and produced paraphernalia are set to capitalize on this, and, with shrunken bodies and oversized heads, the new goods even make the intimidatingly spiky suit of armor that is Alphonse huggably cute, especially surrounded as he is by kittens.

https://www.atpress.ne.jp/news/143056

The prices, excluding tax, range from ¥380 (US$3.39) for ladies’ socks (no sign as of yet of men’s socks, a pity), to ¥1,000 for the zipped pouches, with the drawstring purses coming in at ¥450, the plastic keyholders at ¥480, and the metal badges at ¥600.

Read full story: en.rocketnews24.com

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