Just as Labubu, a hot item in short supply not long ago, is losing steam, a new darling―the Japanese anime sensation Chiikawa―is taking centre stage, bearing witness to a typical star succession in action. Trend-following consumers have struggled to get their hands on the Labubu they crave, only to find that fashion now seems to be shifting to Chiikawa. Last Saturday marked the official opening in Hong Kong of a Chiikawa ramen restaurant, the first of its kind outside Japan. Reservations at the Mong Kok diner are already fully booked for the coming weeks, testifying to the popularity of the eponymous manga series.
20 Aug 2025
Faculty
