Have you heard about Corocorokuririn? This adorable Sanrio hamster with a matching fun name is making a big comeback from the 90s and winning hearts all over again. Despite being shy and mischievous, Corocorokuririn has a unique charm that makes him so likable, proven by his 77 hamster friends! Whether you loved him before or meeting him for the first time, Corocorokuririn is here to bring a smile to your face. Let’s dive into the charming world of this lovable hamster and find out why he deserves a spotlight in your Sanrio collection!
- Japanese name: コロコロクリリン (pronounced Korokorokuririn)
- Nickname: Kuririn
- Birthday: February 4
- Debut Year: 1997
- Hobbies: Collecting treasure and chewing everything
- Favorite food: Cookies and sunflower seeds
- Fun fact: Corocorokuririn may have big, round eyes, but he has poor eyesight!
WHO IS COROCOROKURIRIN?
Corocorokuririn, also known as Kuririn, is a cute golden hamster. Though he’s a little timid, Kuririn can be a rascal. He is also very curious, squeezing into small spaces to collect things from around the house to build his playhouse. Corocorokuririn loves cherry blossoms and always wears his special flower hat.
Kuririn enjoys chewing on almost anything but likes cookies and sunflower seeds the most. Be careful though, because tulips, daffodils, and roses are poisonous to Kuririn, just like to any regular hamster! Corocorokuririn also doesn’t like onions, garlic, milk, and human sweets (well, except cookies!)
IS COROCOROKURIRIN FROM SANRIO?
That’s right! Corocorokuririn came from Sanrio, the famous Japanese company that brought us Hello Kitty and other well-known kawaii characters. Kuririn is one of the retro characters created in the late ’90s, alongside Pompompurin, Chococat, and Dear Daniel. If you want to learn more about this cute company, check out our complete guide to Sanrio!
In the 1990s, hamsters were popular as pets in Japan. So, when Sanrio wanted to create a new character based on a small animal, Koji Ito (the same designer who created Pochacco and Pekkle) brought two real hamsters to the Sanrio office. These hamsters were kept there for a while, and they had real offspring! The hamster family became the model for Kuririn, Sakura, and their little children.
WHAT DOES COROCOROKURIRIN MEAN?
This cute hamster gets his name from his big, dark eyes! Corocorokuririn is a play on the word “kuri,” which means chestnut in Japanese. Kuririn’s eyes are big and round, just like chestnuts. So, that's why Sanrio called him Kuririn. It's a fun and sweet name that matches his adorable look perfectly!
IS COROCOROKURIRIN A HAMSTER?
Yes, as mentioned above, Corocorokuririn is indeed inspired by a real golden hamster and a super cute one at that! This Sanrio cutie has a small size and fluffy body that captures the typical charm you’d expect from a hamster. He’s irresistibly cuddly and is the perfect character for those who love small animals!
IS COROCOROKURIRIN THE FIRST SANRIO HAMSTER?
Corocorokuririn is one of the first Sanrio hamster characters, but it's not clear if he was the very first. That’s because he made his debut around the same time as other hamster characters like Muffin, who is Pompompurin's friend, and Nutz, who is Chococat's friend. It’s hard to say exactly who the first one was since they all appeared around the same time, but Corocorokuririn is definitely one of the original and most beloved Sanrio hamsters!
IS COROCOROKURIRIN A BOY OR A GIRL?
Corocorokuririn is a cheerful boy hamster. He even has a girlfriend named Sakura. Together, they have many little hamster babies! Kuririn loves spending time with his family and playing with his kids. They all enjoy exploring and collecting things they find around the house.
HOW TO DRAW COROCOROKURIRIN
Drawing Corocorokuririn is super fun and easy! With just a few simple steps, you can create your very own cute hamster friend. Simply follow the video above, which shows you exactly how to do it! Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—practice makes you better. So grab your pencil, follow along, and have a blast drawing Kuririn!
WHEN IS COROCOROKURIRIN’S BIRTHDAY?
Corocorokuririn's birthday is on February 4th! But here’s the twist — this special day is not when he was born, but the day his owner, a human girl, brought him home. He shares this birthday with his girlfriend, Sakura, since they were both adopted together. Every year, they celebrate February 4th as their happy "Gotcha Day,” a day when a pet gets home to its family!
HOW OLD IS COROCOROKURIRIN?
If we consider Kuririn’s debut year, which is 1997, we can say that he’s more than twenty years old. But, just like most of the cuties from Sanrio, Kuririn doesn’t have a specific age and doesn’t really grow old! He remains a fun and timeless little hamster. If you’re interested, you can find out more about ageless Sanrio cuties from our list of Sanrio Characters!
WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS IN COROCOROKURIRIN?
Kuririn is surrounded by a big family and friends! With 9 family members and 77 hamster friends, this bunch surely is a lot. Let’s get to know them all!
Sakura (サクラ)
This gentle and friendly hamster is Kuririn’s girlfriend. She loves delicious food, especially eggplant, but she’s a little overweight now so she needs to be on a diet.
Chibikuri (チビクリ)
The eldest of Kuririn and Sakura’s septuplets, this little hamster is called Chibikuri because he looks like a cute version of Kuririn! He likes to follow his dad around and is really good at hide-and-seek.
Komachi (コマチ)
Also one of the septuplets, Komachi is all about speed! He likes to dash off whenever he and his foster parent Ken-chan go for a walk.
Kurumi (クルミ)
Kuririn and Sakura’s mischievous and tomboyish third child, Kurumi, is kept by a foster parent named Rina-chan. She likes making beds out of newspapers.
Cherry (チェリー)
Just like her father Kuririn, Cherry has a flower on her head (but this one is pink). She also loves cherries and has a big appetite!
Shingo (シンゴ)
Another child of Kuririn is this big and mischievous hamster kept by a girl named Nami-chan. He loves running wheels!
Milk (ミルク)
Milk is Kuririn’s second youngest child, and cleanliness is his game! He never misses grooming, and always keeps his playhouse clean. His most prized possession? The chew stick that his owner Miki gave him!
Chacha (チャチャ)
This athletic hamster is the youngest among the septuplets. He’s a very fast runner who isn’t afraid of anything! Chacha is really good at doing handstands and he does this special skill whenever he wants to be the center of attention.
Pants (パンツ)
Next, let’s meet Corocorokuririn’s friends, starting with Pants. This hamster is good friends with Kuririn, and maybe they vibe so well because they’re both shy.
Book (ブック)
It should come as no surprise that this cutie is named Book. He loves reading all types of books and he knows all about them!
Leonardo III (レオナルド３世)
With his noble-sounding name, it’s no wonder this hamster comes from a high-profile family! Rumor has it that his grandfather’s foster parent was an aristocrat.
Joe (ジョー)
Kuririn’s confidant, Joe is a free-roaming hamster who has traveled to many places. That’s why he knows a lot about the outside world.
Pero (ペロ)
Pero only eats gourmet food, and that’s because he grew up in a bakery where he was always fed the best dishes!
Fumufumu (フムフム)
This super cute and fluffy hamster is always sleeping and is very forgetful!
Shima-chan (シマちゃん)
Thanks to her owner who loves new things, Shima-chan has been trying lots of new hamster products! This made her gain weight, but she’s not complaining!
Michael (マイケル)
This hamster just moved from the neighboring town. Michael is kind to girls, but some of the hamsters think he is a bit pretentious.
Elder (長老)
The oldest hamster, Elder is wise and respected by everyone. If the little hamsters need advice, they know where to go!
Rain (レイン)
Whenever the hamsters want to know if the day will be sunny or rainy, they’ll simply turn to Rain. That’s because his fur can predict the weather! If it curls, it will rain.
Moguchan (もぐちゃん)
The heaviest hamster in town, Moguchan is the contending hamster sumo champion!
Tough (タフ)
Kuririn’s friends aren’t all cute, some are tough, like this hamster called Tough! He’s strong-willed and has many scars which he got from fighting a lot.
Genki (げんき)
This hamster is mischievous and has lots of energy! Genki never stays in one place.
Arashi (アラシ)
Although he has a scary face, Arashi is actually kind. You won’t even expect that his favorite toy is a teddy bear!
Moo-chan (モーちゃん)
Being able to fit 68 sunflower seeds in his cheek pouch, Moo-chan became the cheek pouch champion! He just hoards everything, really.
Pocket (ポッケ)
This hamster loves being in his owner’s pocket whenever they go out. It’s probably why he’s named Pocket.
Time (タイム)
Because he is kept by a watchmaker, Time is always punctual and patiently waits for meal time.
Speedy (スピーディ)
This cutie is a member of the Hamlympics team because he’s the fastest runner in town!
Circus (サーカス)
With her agility, this hamster is good at acrobatics. She even teaches Chacha how to backflip!
Catch (キャッチ)
True to his name, Catch is good at catching anything! He goes outside to catch lots of things, but his favorite is catching bugs.
Chokki (チョッキ)
A good friend of Pants, Chokki turned his house into a hotel and invited many hamsters to stay there.
Mosacco (モサッコ)
Mosacco doesn’t care about the small things, and it shows in his hygiene! He has messy and dusty fur that badly needs grooming.
Vic (ビク)
This poor little fellow is always shaking because he’s easily scared. When he gets startled, he instinctively jumps three steps sideways.
Butch (ブッチ)
Just like Genki, Butch is mischievous and likes to play pranks. He’s also a quick runner.
Scoop (スコップ)
Scoop loves scooping or digging holes in the sand. Take him to the beach and he’ll start digging in no time.
Cube (キューブ)
Being stuck in a square box for so long, this unique hamster turned into a cube shape! In case you’re wondering how he got stuck, well, he loves small spaces.
Macky (マッキー)
Unlike Mosacco, Macky hates getting dirty and always grooms himself. In fact, he boasts his shiny and curly hair.
Nenne (ネンネ)
This cute hamster has a pillow in his food bowl because he’s always sleeping. He can doze off even when he’s not yet done eating, and he often talks in his sleep.
Ai-chan (アイちゃん)
Ai-chan has really good eyesight, unlike Corocorokuririn. That’s why this hamster is always looking around.
Tere-chan (テレちゃん)
This talkative cutie likes watching TV, especially late-night variety shows.
Marilyn (マリリン)
Thanks to this hamster’s owner who likes taking and posting pictures, it’s now a famous little creature! Marilyn’s photos are often found in hamster magazines and postcards.
Choco (チョコ)
This cutie smells as sweet as chocolate because he stays at a candy store. That’s why he’s often nibbled on by other hamsters!
Maro (マロ)
A gentle, sheltered hamster girl, Maro is naive about the things going on in the real world.
Nico-chan (にこちゃん)
You would never see this hamster angry. She’s always smiling!
Prima (プリマ)
A prima ballerina, this cutie starts dancing whenever she hears music. She’s a music lover, but her favorite is classical music.
Bebe (べべ)
A very affectionate hamster, Bebe likes to sleep beside his owner! That’s why he also keeps himself clean.
Lily (リリィ)
Lily is a young hamster lady who was raised well. She tends to be a dreamer and hopes to be successful one day.
Ring Ring (リンリン)
This hamster got her name from the ringing sound of the bell around her neck. She’s honest and friendly, and she is a good friend to Kuririn.
Pia (ピア)
If you need fashion advice, don’t hesitate to ask Pia! She’s a fashionable hamster who loves accessories. She even has pink hair! However, Pia can be slightly arrogant.
Teddyco (テディコ)
This hamster loves plushies, especially teddy bears. She even wears one as a hat.
Elizabeth (エリザベス)
A sulky hamster, Elizabeth was really thin when she was young, but now, she has started to gain weight and become stronger.
Fuku-chan (ふくちゃん)
This kind hamster mom has already given birth five times and has 40 children! That’s why whenever Kuririn and Sakura need parenting advice, they give Fuku-chan a call.
Mus (ムス)
Although he looks mad and in a bad mood, Mus is actually a gentle hamster and doesn’t like arguments.
Ange (アンジュ)
Ange is kept by a manga artist and has three manga stories modeled after her. She’s smart and has a quick memory.
Genie (ジニー)
Whenever they need to know about the future, the hamsters go to Genie for help. This fluffy cutie is a fortune teller who has a crystal ball that can tell all sorts of things. But be careful, sometimes, what Genie says is a bit suspicious!
Moko-chan (モコちゃん)
This hamster is proud of her fluffy satin fur, and to take good care of it, she makes sure to take a bath at 3 o’clock every Saturday! Moko-chan is optimistic and is good friends with Choco.
Hoppe (ホッペ)
Because this hamster is shy and sensitive to cold, it’s always kept in a comfy pouch made of yarn.
Tech (テク)
Another good friend of Corocorokuririn, Tech loves going for walks!
Mikke (ミッケ)
A naturally curious hamster, Mikke is always eager to learn, which is also probably why this hamster likes to gossip.
Mimiko (ミミコ)
This hamster is very sensitive to sound, so she hates loud noises like the sound of a vacuum cleaner. Besides that, she also uses her ears to express her feelings. Her ears droop when she’s sad, and they perk up when she’s happy!
Pinto (ピント)
“Pinto” means focus in Japanese, and when this hamster focuses on one thing, it can’t stop. One time, it was so focused on a tissue from a tissue box, that it didn’t stop until it was empty!
Heart (ハート)
Aside from the heart-shaped spot on her forehead, this hamster also got its name from being a hamster Cupid. It acts as a liaison between fellow hamsters.
Pan-chan (パンちゃん)
This hamster is cautious in everything he does, so he’s a bit shy and likes to clarify things first before doing something.
Jean (じゃん)
Jean is such a shy hamster! That’s why you’ll often find him hiding in a corner. That’s where he also takes a nap, and it’s very hard to wake him up once he does!
Gar (がり)
This hamster is super cute, but he’s also a spoiled brat who’s always acting silly.
An (あん)
Always full of energy, An is a friendly hamster who loves playing with his buddies. His favorite food is dried sardines, and he can eat five of them in one go!
Hamucci (はむっち)
Lying down, standing up, and even upside down, this hamster can sleep in any position! He’s a laid-back cutie who does things at his own pace.
Star (すたあ)
The star that she is, this hamster is a lively girl who likes to be the center of attention and is good at posing for photography. However, she’s a bit moody and easily gets bored.
Bean (ビーン)
Bean loves coffee, but gets the opposite effect when it smells the coffee aroma. Instead of waking up, this hamster feels like dozing off and dreaming.
Mash (マッシュ)
Mash got its name from its love of mushrooms. This hamster is precocious and is always arguing with fellow hamsters, even with Kuririn!
Kinako (きなこ)
This boyish friend of Corocorokuririn is restless and always jumps around.
Ohagi (おはぎ)
Unlike Kinako, Ohagi doesn’t move much. He always sits down and moves around by rolling.
Tomo-chan (トモちゃん)
This cutie can quickly become friends with anyone, but his best friend is Riku the turtle. He likes riding on Riku’s back and taking walks.
Dandy (ダンディー)
Dandy always likes to look cool because he has a high sense of pride. He also acts tough and likes to fight!
Boss (ボス)
What used to be a bad-tempered hamster has become gentler! This cutie avoids fights now.
Prince (プリンス)
Just like a real prince, this hamster likes to take the lead. But he can also be a bit selfish.
Koge (こげ)
This hamster is good friends with Maru, and her favorite food is burnt rice. She’s a lively girl hamster who loves professional wrestling.
Maru (まる)
Maru means circle, and this hamster loves round or circular things! When he sees one, he can’t help but chase it. He also has a round spot on his forehead.
Bell (ベル)
Bell is a strong-willed and caring older sister to Corocorokuririn. She has unique red eyes and likes wearing a ribbon on her hair.
Rorobo (ロロボ)
This cutie is a reliable boy. He’s triplets with Bororo and Loloco, and they’ve been close since they were born.
Bororo (ボロロ)
One of the triplets, Bororo is mischievous and is the total opposite of Rorobo. But, this difference didn’t stop them from being close siblings!
Loloco (ロロコ)
The only girl among the triplets, Loloco is small but she’s really smart and old beyond her years.
Curly (カーリー)
This cutie has curly hair, likes flashy things, and has a strong sense of adventure.
Pyun (ピュン)
Although he is old, Pyun is still energetic and always works out! He believes he can still compete with younger people in the Hamlympics.
Chen (チェン)
The master of the Hamu Fist technique, Chen is light on his feet and likes to climb high places. This is where he enjoys looking at the scenery!
Han (ハン)
Han likes chewing on sweet chestnuts and she admires Chen.
Poe (ポー)
Another friend of Kuririn, it’s kind of hard to tell what this hamster is thinking about because he’s always in a daze.
Cosmo (コスモ)
This mysterious hamster has somehow slipped into Kuririn’s world mysteriously. Nobody knows where it came from, even its species and gender.
Riku (りく)
This male leopard tortoise is also Kuririn’s friend. His best friend is Tomo-chan, and they live in the same house.
IS COROCOROKURIRIN POPULAR?
Corocorokuririn was a popular character in the late 90’s. Back in 1999, he even came in 6th place in the Sanrio Awards (which you can read about in our blog about the Sanrio Character Ranking). That’s why Sanrio released Corocorokuririn merchandise, which actually had a lot of sales!
And guess what? Corocorokuririn has been making a comeback! In 2018, new Corocorokuririn goods were released for the first time in a long time, which made fans super happy. Plus, in 2024, Kuririn made it to the 19th place of the Sanrio Character Ranking! Even though he didn’t make it to the top 10, fans still adore him.
That’s not all! Did you know that Corocorokuririn is super popular in Hong Kong? He even made it to the 3rd spot in Hong Kong’s Sanrio ranking. There, he’s commonly known as CK Mouse and he’s often seen decorated in malls, like the Corocorokuririn Christmas Candy Paradise theme of The Whampoa, one of the biggest shopping malls in the region!
THE KURIRIN DIARY
So, what made Corocorokuririn popular back in the day? Well, it all started with the cute manga feature called "Kuririn Diary." This feature is about the hamsters in the Sanrio office. It showed what it was like to keep Kuririn inside the company. What made "Kuririn Diary" extra special was how it mixed the real world with Kuririn’s animated world. It even had a mix of a real hamster and the cartoon Kuririn!
COROCOROKURIRIN GOES DIGITAL
Aside from the web manga Kuririn Diary, Corocorokuririn also has other digital features. You can find him as cute stickers in the LINE messaging app, making your chats a lot cuter. Kuririn also worked with virtual YouTuber Yanmi Kuriyama from a collaboration of Sanrio and Tobidase Universe. And of course, along with his Sanrio buddies, you can see Corocorokuririn in the Sanrio Hello Sweet Days app. This hamster surely made chatting and video streaming a lot more fun!
IS THERE A COROCOROKURIRIN ANIME?
Unfortunately, Sanrio didn’t release an anime series for Corocorokuririn. But this cute hamster was featured in some special episodes from Hello Kitty’s anime series. There are short animations like “Corocorokuririn Country Mouse City Mouse," “Corocorokuririn’s Flame Diet,” and “Gold Miracle Milk.” These films show Kuririn and his hamster friends in fun adventures.
KURIRIN IN THE ANIME WORLD
Corocorokuririn may not have his own anime show, but he does have a lot of team-ups with other anime stars! That’s because Sanrio often includes Kuririn in the lineup of Sanrio Characters whenever they collaborate with anime shows. You can see the cute hamster alongside Sanrio stars like Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Hello Kitty, and Kuromi.
Some kawaii anime series that Corocorokuririn has worked with include “Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch” and “Ojamajo Doremi.” Additionally, Kuririn paired up with characters from action anime and manga series like “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Prince of Tennis,” and “World Trigger.” What’s more, this cutie was also seen in special Sanrio goodies that feature the comedy manga series “Pop Team Epic!” That’s a lot of exposure for Corocorokuririn, and it’s no wonder that he’s becoming popular again.
TRAVEL WITH COROCOROKURIRIN
If you’re in Japan, there are lots of mobile apps that serve as transit guides when you’re riding the trains. One of those is the Jorudan Transit Guide app, which has a cute theme called “Corocorokuririn Nostalgic Heisei Design.” This theme is perfect for fans who love the classic Kuririn look from when he first came out. You can dress up the app with this adorable design and enjoy your journeys with Kuririn by your side.
LET’S GO GAMING WITH KURIRIN
Are you a kawaii gamer? Then, you’d be happy to know that Corocorokuririn also pops up in mobile games and video games! You can see him as a special character in Sanrio games, such as "Hello Kitty and the Magical Apron: Sanrio Characters Gathered" and “Hello Kitty World 2: Nostalgia Fancy Shop.” Kuririn also appeared in the popular mobile game "Puzzles and Dragons."
But that’s not all! From time to time, Sanrio collaborates with popular games to create limited-edition Sanrio goodies, and Corocorokuririn got to be a part of it! Kuririn paired with characters from the dating simulation game “Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side,” the anime-based mobile game “A3!” and “Tokyo 7th Sisters.” You may not see Corocorokuririn while playing these games, but you can definitely grab the special merch featuring Kuririn and your favorite video game characters!
COROCOROKURIRIN’S KAWAII COLLABS
Everybody’s so glad about Corocorokuririn’s comeback, especially other kawaii characters. That’s why they welcomed him with open arms and had collaboration projects with Kuririn. First off is his Corocorokuririn’s fellow Sanrio cutie, Pompompurin! Sanrio released a special collection featuring Kuririn and his buddies with the cute yellow puppy.
Besides that, Corocorokuririn also teamed up with Mofusand, along with the Sanrio Characters! The cute and fluffy cats (which you can learn more about in our complete guide about Mofusand) were dressed as Sanrio cuties and one of those was Corocorokuririn. This hamster was also featured in a limited-time collection by Nagano, the company behind another cute hamster, Chiikawa.
ENJOY SWEET COROCOROKURIRIN TREATS
Yes, Kuririn isn’t a fan of desserts, but you’ll still see this cutie featured on delicious sweets! As such, Sanrio fans got to enjoy frozen cake tins labeled with a cute Corocorokuririn sticker, along with eight other Sanrio characters. The first vending machine was installed at the Kobe Marui shopping mall in Hyogo, Japan and there are plans of spreading this vending machine all over Japan.
Corocorokuririn’s face could also be seen stamped on a yummy manmaru-yaki (custard-filled pancake) from Japanese manufacturer Bandai. This treat was sold in 7-Eleven stores across Japan and even came with a free sticker!
WHERE TO MEET COROCOROKURIRIN
If you’re in Japan, you’ll be lucky enough to meet Corocorokuririn. He’s a regular character at Sanrio Puroland, Japan’s indoor theme park that’s like a Sanrio universe. He’s also at Harmonyland, another Sanrio-themed amusement park in Japan. Check out Corocorokuririn’s schedules in both parks so you know exactly when to visit him!
WHERE TO BUY COROCOROKURIRIN MERCHANDISE
Now, don’t be sad if you can’t get to meet Kuririn. You can still surround yourself with a Corocorokuririn collection so you’ll see him every day! There are lots of merchandise to collect, such as Corocorokuririn plushies and even jewelries. This hamster gets featured in lots of different brands like Japanese jeweler White Clover and U-Treasure.
So, where can you find these Corocorokuririn goodies? First off, you can visit different stores like the Sanrio Gift Gate stores that are not only in Japan but also in different countries, or other shops that sell Sanrio goodies. Thank You Mart stores in Japan even featured Corocorokuririn in their limited-edition products! Or, you can also check out the official Sanrio online store.
Not in Japan? No problem! There’s an easy way to grab cute Corocorokuririn merchandise even while you’re at home! We have a Corocorokuririn collection on Blippo filled with lots of goodies, from Corocorokuririn plushies to Corocorokuririn accessories. Be sure to check it out and fill your cart with everything Corocorokuririn!
That’s the end of the line! Corocorokuririn may be from the past, but he’s proof that some things never go out of style! With his curious nature and love for collecting things, Kuririn is always up to something fun, along with many, many friends. We’re so glad that Corocorokuririn is making a comeback so he can spread his charm all over the kawaii-sphere!
If you’re as charmed by Kuririn as we are, why not join the fun? Leave a comment below and share your favorite thing about this cute little hamster. We’d love to hear from you!