Rotofugi Cat Daruma

Konatsuya is a Japanese art toy brand founded by Konatsu, a well-known artist and illustrator famous for her unique kaiju (monster) and animal-themed designs. She is best known for her Negora series, a fusion of a lucky cat (maneki-neko) and a kaiju, which has become a staple in the designer toy scene. Konatsuya produces high-quality soft vinyl (sofubi) figures, often featuring hand-painted and limited-edition colorways. The brand’s aesthetic blends traditional Japanese elements with playful, whimsical, and sometimes fierce monster-like creatures. Apart from Negora, other popular Konatsuya characters include Shibara (a Shiba Inu-inspired kaiju) and Daioh Negora (a larger version of Negora). Konatsu Koizumi is a Japanese artist and toy designer best known for her adorable yet fierce kaiju (monster) art toys, particularly her signature character, Negora—a cat-inspired kaiju. Her work blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern sofubi (soft vinyl) toy culture, creating highly collectible and charming figures. Her most famous creation, Negora, is a cat-like monster with a playful yet destructive personality, inspired by classic Japanese kaiju movies like Godzilla and Ultraman. Beyond Negora, she has designed other animal-based creatures like Shibara (a Shiba Inu kaiju), Pigora (a pig monster), and Daioh Negora (a larger, more powerful version of Negora). Her work has gained a strong following among sofubi collectors, kaiju fans, and designer toy enthusiasts, making Konatsu one of the most recognizable contemporary sofubi artists in Japan. Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery, established in July 2004, is located on the border of Chicago's Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods in a beautiful vintage building. Since opening, Rotofugi has grown to become one of the world's premier sellers of designer toys from artists all over the world. Rotofugi features a diverse selection of vinyl figures, capsule toys, plush and more from both eastern and western designers. The adjoining Rotofugi Gallery features monthly art exhibits by a range of both local and nationally known artists. Beginning in late 2007 Rotofugi partnered with Chicago based product development specialist Squibbles Ink to begin producing artist-designed figures by the talented designers located in their home town. Click here for more information on Squibbles Ink + Rotofugi projects. Rotofugi is owned and operated by husband and wife duo Kirby and Whitney Kerr. You can find the couple in and around the store on most days. They love to talk about toys and art.