YumeTwins

YumeTwins is a monthly box of Japanese kawaii products from Tokyo. It is part of the TokyoTreat subscription box group which also includes TokyoTreat and nomakenolife.Each box contains 5 kawaii items including plushies and lifestyle goods plus premium anime brands.

They have one-, three-, six-, and 12-month subscriptions costing $35.00, $33.50, $32.00, and $31.50 per month respectively (from around £25).

For the first box of the new year, YumeTwins is giving us a little kawaii spin on some Japanese new year traditions.

It’s a really fun idea to give an idea of how Japan celebrates the new year!

The menu booklet contains a list of all the goodies inside, as well as how they relate to the theme.

Shiba Chopstick rest. This cute ceramic shiba pup is great for resting any piece of cutlery, plus of course it also looks adorable as it is.

Shiba Bowl. Even though this doesn’t feature a picture of an actual Shiba, the pup-themed decoration continues the theme. This little bowl is a good shape for rice or cereal, and it can be put in the dishwasher too. It comes in black, red, or brown, and I have the brown one.

Ghibli No-Face Chopsticks. Stodio Ghibli is a classic character world, and No-Face is know for the love of food! These chopsticks work perfectly with the little ceramic rest too.

YumeTwins Exclusive Pompompurin New Year’s Plushie. YumeTwins always has the best plushies, and this one is no exception! He’s been made especially for YumeTwins in this special New Year edition. He’s holding a ‘hagoita’ paddle and ‘hone’ which are used to play a traditional game, rather like badminton, to ward off evil spirits. The plushie is also super squishy and cuddly! Just a fantastic fusion of a beloved kawaii character and traditional culture.

Daruma Plushie Magnet. This little guy is a mini daruma, which is a round doll which symbolises good luck and fresh beginnings. And we all need those this year! It comes in a variety of animal shapes (I have a white sparrow) has a little magnet inside so he can be popped on the fridge or any metal surface to bring a little good luck into your home.

Shiba Serving Tray. This is in a complementary design to the bowl, this time with a little Shiba picture too. It’s an interesting shape, and also has raised edges to keep food (or whatever) from sliding off. Like the bowl, it’s made from moulded plastic.

Here are the bowl and plate together, and while the style is similar they don’t match.

Our score: 8.0/ 10

I really like the idea of Japanese New Year Traditions done in kawaii style, though I think this box is a little bit hit and miss. The greatest hit is the plushie, which is everything you would expect from YumeTwins, from the generous size to the fantastic softness. I have to say I'm not keen on the bowl and plate. They don't match, and the printed on pictures are a bit odd, not very nicely done, and I suspect they will come off in the dishwasher very fast. While the idea behind them is interesting, and I love practical items, I don't think they're either kawaii enough or traditional enough. It would have been fun to go all out either way, but as they are they just look a bit dull. Also while the bowl is a nice shape, I can't imagine using the plate for anything, it's too small and easily scratched. I do love the chopsticks though, and the cute holder, it's fantastic that it's ceramic. The little Daruma is gorgeous, and a nice twist to make it a tiny plush. Overall a mixed bag, though what is good really is excellent!

How would you rate YumeTwins ?