Can a cat fit in a chikuwa hole? A thorough review of the "Kibun O-hirune Chikuwa Cushion" size and my cat's reaction.

The "Kibun's Nap Chikuwa Cushion," which sold out soon after its release, can be obtained by purchasing the "Kibun's Nap Chikuwa Cushion BOOK" published by Wani Books.

This time, through a stroke of luck, I received an actual one from the editor at Wani Books, so I'll introduce its real-world use and how my beloved cats reacted. The one who got most excited was quite unexpected.

"Kibun's Nap Chikuwa Cushion BOOK" filled with chikuwa love

The "Kibun's Nap Chikuwa Cushion" is a giant size, equivalent to 40 actual chikuwa. When it arrived at my home, the first thing that surprised me was the size of the box.

The "Kibun's Nap Chikuwa Cushion BOOK" not only includes the cushion, but also cute chikuwa bookmarks and a booklet with delicious chikuwa recipes, making it absolutely packed with chikuwa!

Like real chikuwa, the "Kibun's Nap Chikuwa Cushion" has a hole in the center, designed so you can put your arm through it.

The cushion arrived compressed, so before opening it, I was excited to see "just how big it would be...!" As I sparklingly opened the compressed plastic, my beloved cats started their usual box inspection.

They were waiting for the chikuwa to appear, trying to get inside or sharpening their claws.

When I opened the compressed plastic, the chikuwa started to expand, becoming much larger than I had imagined! It was already big at this point, but apparently, it takes about a week for this cushion to fully inflate. I was surprised, thinking, "It's going to get even bigger?"

However, I'm the type who's not good at waiting. I thought, "I want to see the fully expanded chikuwa cushion soon!" so I resorted to a desperate measure: putting both arms into the chikuwa cushion's hole and moving them up and down to help air get in.

It seemed to inflate faster that way, but I probably just imagined it.

How did my cats react to the giant "chikuwa cushion"...?

Once the chikuwa cushion was fully inflated, it was time to introduce it to my beloved cats! I called out, "Everyone, look! A huge chikuwa cushion has arrived!" but cats rarely meet their owner's expectations.

Kotaro, the tabby cat, seemed to like the compressed plastic that the chikuwa came in, using it like a tent and playing with it, looking satisfied.

That was the moment "That's not it, that's not it, that's not how it goes..." played in my head.

On the other hand, Leon, the "new item enthusiast" who always checks out new purchases immediately, seemed a bit perplexed by the chikuwa, which was larger than him, perhaps because he's a little timid. First, he cautiously approached it, sniffing it to check its safety.

If the scent of chikuwa had been perfectly replicated, they would surely have bitten it (lol).

In my household, both cats are a bit timid, so it took about a day for them to get used to the giant chikuwa cushion.

Normally, when I buy a new cushion, Leon is relatively quick to knead it, but unfortunately, he didn't knead the chikuwa cushion. However, there have been cushions in the past that suddenly became kneading targets after some time had passed since the purchase, so I'm personally hoping that this will be the case again.

On the other hand, Kotaro started sleeping with his paws on the chikuwa cushion when he was napping nearby...! The sight of him clinging to the nicely browned chikuwa is always so precious that I can't help but take a burst of photos with my phone.

By the way, the hole in the chikuwa cushion isn't very large, so it seems difficult for adult cats to use it like a cat tunnel. In fact, my cats showed signs of trying to stick their heads in, but then seemed to give up, realizing "I probably can't fit in..."

However, I also got the impression that a very young kitten might be able to explore the inside a little, so I think it would be fine to let them enjoy it while keeping an eye on them to ensure they don't get stuck.

Also, since it's soft and squishy to the touch, some cats might use it as a bed during the coming cold season.

The one most excited by the chikuwa cushion was, surprisingly, my husband.

It seems that "Kibun's Nap Chikuwa Cushion" also tickles the inner child. In fact, the one who got most excited in my house was my husband.

He came home from work, saw the chikuwa cushion, and immediately exclaimed, "This is great!" with high spirits. When I told him there was a hole to put his arm through, he immediately inserted his hand and, for some reason, struck a punching pose.

Seeing that, I too felt like playing with the chikuwa cushion, and I experimented with different ways to use it. After some thought, I decided to wear it on my head and immerse myself in "the feeling of being a chef."

The scene of adults over 30 wondering, "Are there any other ways to use this?" and showcasing one-off gag uses for the cushion must have been chaotic. My beloved cats looked at us with cold eyes.

The "Kibun's Nap Chikuwa Cushion" takes owners back to their childhood and elicits various reactions from cats. Since having it in my daily life, I haven't been able to shake this "irresistible craving for oden with chikuwa" illness.

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