The highly anticipated Yōkai Cat is about to infiltrate Huashan! The grotesque incarnation from the brush of renowned Japanese picture book artist Ayako Ishiguro—"Yōkai Cat Wearing a Husky Kigurumi Head"—was sculpted by prototype artist San.3, presenting a unique charm that is both adorable and unsettling. This dream item, which previously sold out instantly in Japan, will be available in limited quantities at the "Neko Yōkai Manman POP UP SHOP" pop-up store in Huashan. The event runs from February 13th to March 8th. This masterpiece, imbued with "Ishiguro-style" eerie aesthetics, awaits those captivated by the allure of yōkai to claim it!
About Ayako Ishiguro
Japanese picture book author and illustrator. With her unique brushwork, she depicts a worldview where cats, yōkai, and daily life intertwine. Her works achieve an exquisite balance between cuteness and eeriness, deeply loved by adult readers and the art toy community. Her representative "Bakeneko" (Yōkai Cat) series blends Japanese folklore, a sense of fairy tale, and dark humor, creating characters that are both approachable and strangely captivating, possessing high potential for three-dimensionalization and merchandise expansion.
In recent years, her works have not only been active in the picture book field but have also continuously expanded into exhibitions, toys, and various three-dimensional creations, making her one of Japan's most noteworthy contemporary creators.
About San.3
Prototype artist, painter, illustrator.
Began engaging with BJD dolls during high school and dedicated himself to BJD makeup artistry, gradually building a systematic understanding of three-dimensional forms, color layering, and character expressions. After graduating from university, he completed his first original BJD work, gaining attention and positive feedback from collectors, thus beginning his journey as a professional toy designer. He created the Little Buns series, combining soft forms with subtle unsettling textures to shape a character vocabulary that possesses both approachability and an unsettling aura, demonstrating the potential for character narrative and three-dimensional extension.
His creative style is diverse, featuring whimsical visual rhythms and high imagination, excelling at creating contrasts between cuteness and strangeness, softness and discord. He continuously conducts creative research centered on characters, focusing on the potential for toys as narrative mediums and emotional carriers.
The focal piece brought to life this time—the "Kigurumi Cat" (着ぐるみ猫)—is from Ayako Ishiguro's famous "Bakeneko" series. The physical prototype was meticulously hand-sculpted by San.3. It's worth noting that the prototype submitted by San.3 passed Ayako Ishiguro-sensei's review on the first attempt without any modifications, which not only demonstrates San.3's precise capture of the original's essence but also signifies the original author's high recognition of his exquisite skill.
In terms of paint application, the piece perfectly reproduces the unique fur texture details of hand-sculpting through a delicate matte finish, exuding a strong, lifelike presence. Coupled with the detachable husky kigurumi head design, collectors can freely switch between the "cuteness" of the husky and the "eerie" aura of the yōkai cat itself, offering extremely high playability. This colorway was originally a limited edition from the "0% POP UP SHOP" under the fashion brand JUICE. When it first debuted in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, in November 2025, it sold out completely in just 4 days. As the Japan tour unfolds, this dream item is also confirmed to make its official debut in Taiwan.
Ayako Ishiguro - "Yōkai Cat Wearing a Husky Kigurumi Head" (着ぐるみ猫) Soft Vinyl Toy
Available from February 13th to March 8th, 2026, as a limited edition item at the 'Neko Yōkai Manman POP UP SHOP @ Huashan' Ayako Ishiguro Huashan Pop-Up Store. Total height 245mm, reference price ¥19,800