So you want to buy a Kumya

(illustration by Hoshimi | source)

I am late to the Kumya party, but I occasionally find myself thinking about buying one because they are cute. Admittedly, part of my hesitation is that because they're so popular, there are plenty of opportunities to overpay or get scammed. I decided to write this post to prepare myself with some basic information in case I ever want to seriously shop for one, and if you're considering diving into the world of Kumyas, I hope it helps you too!

What is a Kumya?

It is Baby, the Stars Shine Bright's mascot character. The two most common variants are (1) Usakumya, a bear that wears a hood with bunny ears and (2) Kumakumya, a bear that wears a hood with another pair of bear ears. There are also some other variations, such as Nekokumya (bear that wears cat ear hood). These mascot characters are most often seen in the form of stuffed animal/plushie type bags of many different sizes -- more on that below. In general, Usakumya is white with pink accents and Kumakumya is light brown with darker brown accents, but they are occasionally released in other color combinations.

Sizes and approximate retail prices

Type	Length (cm)	Price (JPY)
Tiny Rucksack	13	3600
Mini Purse	16	2500
Rucksack Mini-Mini	21	4400-5000
Smart Phone Pouch	22	6500
Purse	25	7800
Pochette	33	9200-15000
Rucksack Mini	40	9800
Rucksack	53-56	16000
Big Rucksack	70	30000-36000

 

The Pochette and Rucksack sizes are released the most often. Keep in mind that sometimes they are sold with their own clothes or extra accessories (especially the pochette size), and those usually cost more than a plain one of the same size. The Purse type has a coin purse clasp on the back instead of a zipper, and likely has less interior space than the Pochette type. The Smart Phone Pouch type has a metal chain instead of strap, and a clear rectangular window pouch on the back side. Fluffy Kawaii Jo made a review video about it if you are curious!

 

There may be additional sizes not listed above but they are usually very small and included in lucky packs rather than being sold by themselves.

Visual size comparison

Pochette (left) vs. rucksack (center) vs. big rucksack (right)

Stock photos of three common sizes. All three are photographed on the same size dress form. While the center and right ones may look close to the same size in the images, and the bottom of Usakumya's body ends at the hips in both images, the top of the head of the biggest one starts at the top of the back, while the head of the middle one starts between the shoulder blades.

Beware of fakes 

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT FAKE / COUNTERFEIT USAKUMYAS EXIST. I am not sure how much of a concern these are at the moment, but in 2016-2017 someone was caught selling fake Usakumya pochettes, and because they were very convincing, some people may still have them and/or try to sell them not knowing that they're fake. Here's a graphic showing some of the most obvious differences.

I would add that the bows on the real one look like they're constructed of multiple pieces of ribbon sewn together, but the bows on the fake one (especially around the neck) look like they are tied from a single piece of ribbon. You can tell because the bow centers look different; the bows made from separate pieces have a much cleaner look, with the center being smooth (not wrinkled) and of an even width throughout. This look is nearly impossible to achieve with a bow tied from a single piece of ribbon.

The faces and body proportions of the older ones (pre-2007 or so) are different from the ones sold now, so if you see one, do not immediately dismiss it as a bad knockoff -- it might be an old-school treasure! If you really like the look of the early 2000s type and know how to sew, you could also make one (!) using a sewing pattern printed in the Gothic and Lolita Bible vol. 3. Check out this one that Josine made!

How to get a good deal

The very best way to know you're getting a genuine one for a fair price is to buy it directly from the maker (Baby, the Stars Shine Bright). Because they're popular among the lolita community right now, Baby releases at least a few every year. Another advantage to buying one directly from Baby is that it will be in brand new condition and clean.

However, I understand wanting to hunt for a bargain because they're a luxury item and tend to be expensive. If they're not selling the color or type you want, or you're looking for a very specific one, secondhand may be your best or only option.

Know the original retail price of the one you want to buy. Check Lolibrary to see if it is entered in the database. It is one of the easiest places to find retail information for older releases. Also check previous sales listings, because it may regularly sell for higher than retail price if it's in high demand or difficult to get (for example, a type that was only sold at one particular store location, like this one).

On a sales listing, look for a numerical measurement so you know what size you are buying. It can be hard to tell what size it is just from a photo, especially if there's nothing else in the photo to give a sense of scale. Additionally, some people are not very precise with trying to figure out exactly what they have and might (un)intentionally list it under an inaccurate name. You don't want to pay a seller $300+ thinking you're getting the big rucksack and then realize it's a regular size rucksack that sold brand new for $160. 

I hope this helps you get the Kumya you are looking for!