Chiikawa (Japanese: ちいかわ), short for Nanka Chiisakute Kawaii Yatsu (なんか小さくてかわいいやつ; lit. 'Something kind of small and cute'), is a Japanese web manga series written and illustrated by Nagano. It follows the daily adventures of the titular protagonist, along with a series of animal-inspired characters. It has been serialized online via X (formerly Twitter) since January 2020, and has been collected in eight tankōbon volumes by Kodansha, as of November 2025. By November 2024, Chiikawa had sold over 3.6 million copies, including digital versions in circulation.
An anime television series adaptation was produced by Doga Kobo and premiered in April 2022. The first season was broadcast in Japan from April 2022 to March 2025, with the second season premiering in July of that year. A film adaptation of the Siren Arc produced by Cypic, titled Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island, was released on July 24, 2026.
Contents
Synopsis
Chiikawa is set in a civilized world inhabited by small animal-like creatures known as chiikawas, armor-wearing figures known as Yoroi-san (armor people), and various monsters and other creatures. The story follows the daily adventures of the titular protagonist, Chiikawa, and their friends, as they enjoy delicious food, pursue hobbies, and find joy in everyday life, while navigating constant dangers of their world. To earn money, some of them take on jobs assigned by the Yoroi-san, including weeding and hunting, which can be fatal.
Production
The character of Chiikawa originated from a May 2017 tweet expressing Nagano's wish to escape modern life and become a simple creature that cries over its troubles, runs away from them, sleeps, and dances. Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi were originally named Nitori, Ikeya, and Donki, respectively. The reason that Nagano chose Twitter was because of its immediacy and accessibility. By November 2020, Kodansha collected the comics into physical volumes, the first of which was published in February 2021.
A separate account was created in January 2020 and the manga began serialization. A book version was published by Kodansha on February 12, 2021. Prior to that, a one-shot story was published in the eleventh issue of Morning was released on February 10.
Characters
Chiikawa (ちいかわ; lit. 'Something kind of small and cute')
Voiced by: Haruka Aoki
Chiikawa is the titular protagonist of the franchise. Chiikawa is small-sized, has rounded ears and a teardrop-shaped tail, resembling a mouse or a hamster. Early on, Chiikawa was named as Nitori. Cowardly, timid, and having a tendency to cry, they live in a house won in the Muchauma Yogurt lottery. Unlike some other characters, Chiikawa cannot for the most part speak in a way that is intelligible to the audience – mostly saying things such as "yada" and "iya" – both of which are childish ways of saying "no" in Japanese. They express themself primarily through sounds and facial expressions, but it is understandable to the rest of the cast.
Chiikawa passed the fifth-grade grass cutting exam after three attempts, which stands in stark contrast to another main character, Hachiware, who passed it on the first try.
Hachiware (ハチワレ; lit. 'Eight-split or Broken-helmet')
Voiced by: Makoto Tanaka
Hachiware, originally named Ikeya, is a friend of both Chiikawa and Usagi and lives in a cave. Hachiware's name and design are based on those of a bicolor cat, though they are not one. Hachiware is depicted as chatty, curious and optimistic, as well as being kind-hearted and willing to help their friends, especially Chiikawa. Hachiware is also an avid photographer, and they like the Charumera brand of instant ramen.See the Japanese article for cats with this fur pattern, or hachiware (はちわれ)
Usagi (うさぎ; lit. 'Rabbit')
Voiced by: Ari Ozawa
Usagi, originally named Donki, is a friend of both Chiikawa and Hachiware. Depicted as high-spirited, they occasionally act as a troublemaker, but support their friends when they are in trouble. Similar to Chiikawa, Usagi is unintelligible to the audience, making noises such as "una" and "yaha", but can be understood to the other characters. Usagi's name and design is based on those of a rabbit, though they "may or may not" be one. Usagi is mainly known for being eccentric and a foodie.
Media
Anime
In October 2021, it was announced that Chiikawa would receive an anime adaptation by Doga Kobo. The production team decided that Chiikawa and Hachiware would be voiced by then-child actors, with Nagano taking part in the casting process. It is directed by Takenori Mihara and Juria Matsumura (beginning with episode 121), with Yuma Yamaguchi and Shugo Tokumaru composing the music. The series premiered on April 4, 2022, on Fuji TV's Mezamashi TV morning news and entertainment program. Sentai Filmworks licenses the series outside of Asia. In 2022, 120 English subtitled episodes were released on Hidive, but more episodes have been released outside of the service since then. In March 2025, it was announced the anime would be on three-month hiatus.
An anime film adaptation of the Siren Arc, titled Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island (映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ, Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu) was announced on November 24, 2025. It was produced by Cypic and directed by Kei Oikawa, with Nagano writing the film's script. The film was released on July 24, 2026.
Video game
A mobile game titled Chiikawa Pocket was released worldwide in March 2025. It is a casual, idle RPG where players can battle enemies, pull weeds to collect items, cook dishes in Om Nom Fest, a food festival, and decorate their in-game spaces. Players can also unlock outfits and customize characters such as Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi. The game is free to play, with optional in-app purchases, and supports multiple languages. It is available in 43 countries, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Cultural impact and reception
With over 2.7 million copies in circulation, the manga has been nominated for the 48th Kodansha Manga Award in 2024 in the General category. The series won the 53rd Japan Cartoonists Association Award in the Manga Division. Chiikawa merchandise rose popularity in China and Hong Kong in early 2024.
Collaborations and merchandise
Chiikawa has given rise to a variety of merchandise. On the official online store, there are various products designed based on the anime characters, including plush toys, stickers, clothing, and more. Co-branding between Chiikawa and other comics or companies are also well-received. The official Chiikawa website has collaborated with Sanrio, Hankyu, and Converse, among others. A wide range of themed products are also offered, including magical girl series, sushi series, and Lailai Chinese restaurants series. In July 2025, Chiikawa Park opened in Tokyo, Japan.
Chiikawa collaborated with Ariana Grande on the music video for "Santa Tell Me". Popular characters from Chiikawa were dressed as Santa Claus and the music video was animated. Since the video's release on December 6, 2023, it was viewed approximately 1.38 million times in a single day, further increasing the popularity of Chiikawa. In September 2024, Chiikawa stickers was released in Japanese Happy Meals. Chiikawa, among other Japanese brands, partnered with Major League Baseball for the 2025 Tokyo Series.