Beginner's Guide to Dakimakuras

Everything you need to know to get started with dakimakuras

What Are Dakimakuras?

A dakimakura (抱き枕) is a Japanese-style body pillow, typically with a printed cover featuring an anime, manga, or video game character. The word comes from "daki" (抱き) meaning "to embrace" and "makura" (枕) meaning "pillow".

While originally created as comfort items, dakimakuras have evolved into a collector's hobby with high-quality prints, various fabric types, and designs from both official sources and independent artists.

Basic Terminology

Cover: The printed fabric case featuring artwork
Inner: The actual pillow that goes inside the cover
Circle: An independent group or artist that produces dakimakura covers
2WT: Short for "2-way tricot," the most common fabric type for quality covers

Finding Your First Dakimakura

Before making a purchase, you'll want to find a design that appeals to you. There are several ways to discover dakimakura designs:

Dakimakura Databases: Sites like dakidex and Omiai-Dakimakura catalog thousands of designs
Social Media: Many artists announce new releases on Twitter/X or Pixiv
Online Stores: Browse legitimate stores for a design you like (see this section)

Tip for Beginners

Start by identifying favorite characters or art styles, then search for them on dakimakura databases. Consider your comfort level with different designs, as dakimakuras range from completely safe-for-work to explicit.

Types of Dakimakura Covers

There are several categories of dakimakura covers you'll encounter:

Official/Licensed Covers: Produced with permission from the copyright holders of anime, games, or visual novels. These are often released as merchandise or promotional items.
Doujin Circles: Independent artists or groups that create and sell dakimakura covers, often at events like Comiket or through online stores like Booth.pm. These are legitimate products but are not officially licensed.
Western Circles: Similar to doujin circles but based outside Japan. Examples include Cuddly Octopus and Dakimakuri.
Chinese Circles: Independent groups based in China, often selling through Taobao.
Bootlegs: Unauthorized copies of existing designs, usually on lower quality fabric. These should be avoided as they steal from the original artists.

Important Note

For your first purchase, we recommend buying from established Western circles like Cuddly Octopus or Dakimakuri as they're easier to navigate, ship internationally, and use quality materials. As you become more experienced, you can explore Japanese and Chinese circles.

Understanding Fabrics

The fabric quality greatly affects your dakimakura experience. Here's a simplified guide to the most common types:

Fabric Type	Characteristics	Recommendation
Japanese 2WT (A&J, Fules, Shiromoufu)	Extremely soft, excellent print quality, but more fragile and expensive	Best quality, but requires careful handling
Western/Chinese 2WT (Cuddly Octopus, Dakimakuri)	Good balance of softness and durability, good print quality	Excellent for beginners
Generic Chinese 2WT	Variable quality, less soft, decent durability	Budget option, quality varies widely
Peach Skin	Rough texture, poor print quality, often used for bootlegs	Avoid - common on bootlegs

Choosing a Pillow Inner

The inner pillow is just as important as the cover. A quality inner provides the right firmness and weight for a good hugging experience.

Size: The standard size is 150×50cm (older) or 160×50cm (modern). Most covers now are made for 160×50cm inners.
Fill: Quality inners use polyester fiber fill with good density and weight.
Weight: Heavier inners (3-5kg) generally provide a better hugging experience than lightweight ones.
Anti-slip: Good inners have an anti-slip covering to prevent the cover from rotating.

Recommended inners for beginners:

Dakimakuri Inner: Excellent quality with good weight, ships internationally
Cuddly Octopus Inner: Good quality and ships internationally
A&J DHR Series: Premium Japanese option, Amazon Japan ships internationally at a high cost
Fules withAQUA Inner: Good quality and ships internationally
Shiromofu Marumimi: Good quality, only ships in Japan

Avoid Cheap Inners

Avoid very cheap inners from Amazon or eBay. These are typically underfilled, lumpy, and can ruin your experience. A quality inner might cost $80-150 but is a worthwhile investment that will last for years.

Where to Buy Legitimate Covers

For beginners, these are the safest and most accessible places to buy your first dakimakura cover:

Stores listed on dakidex

You can find many legitimate stores listed on our Stores page, or on the list of Circles with dakimakura designs. These stores have been vetted by the community and offer a range of covers.

Western Circles (Easiest for Beginners)

Japanese Stores

BOOTH - Marketplace for many Japanese doujin circles. Check if a BOOTH store is legitimate on the list of approved stores. Some BOOTH stores sell bootlegs or AI generated covers, so always check the store's reputation.
Melonbooks - Another major Japanese store for doujin goods
Mandarake - For second-hand Japanese covers, ships internationally
Suruga-ya - For second-hand Japanese covers, ships internationally on their international site

Note: These stores usually don't ship internationally or accept foreign payment methods. You'll need to use a proxy buying service.

Chinese Stores

Note: Taobao stores typically require a proxy buying service for international orders. Be sure to verify the store's reputation before purchasing.

Proxy Buying Services

To buy from stores that do not ship internationally, you'll need a proxy service. These services purchase items on your behalf and ship them to you. For Japanese stores, you can use:

For Chinese stores, you can use:

Superbuy

Beginner Recommendation

For your first purchase, stick with Western circles that ship internationally. They offer English websites, accept international payment methods, and ship worldwide, making the process much simpler.

How to Avoid Bootlegs

Bootlegs are unauthorized copies of existing designs, usually printed on poor quality fabric. They harm the original artists and deliver an inferior product. Below are some tips to help you identify and avoid bootleg stores. These tips are common red flags, but not all bootleg stores will have these issues, and some legitimate stores may have one or two of these characteristics. Always do your research before purchasing.

Red Flags for Bootleg Stores:

Suspiciously low prices and discounts - Quality covers typically cost $60-150 USD. Limited time sales with timers or "50% off" deals are often a sign of bootlegs.
Too many options - Offering many fabric choices or multiple (odd) sizes
Extremely large catalog - Thousands of designs from many different artists
No artist credits - Or incorrectly attributed artwork. Note that sometimes artists prefer to remain anonymous, so sometimes stores will not list the artist.
Mention of "peach skin" - This fabric is common for bootlegs
Sites with "dakimakura" in the domain name - Most legitimate circles have unique brand names

Places to Avoid

Be extremely cautious when buying from these sources, as they're commonly filled with bootlegs:

Amazon (except for specific official merchandise)
eBay (99% of dakimakura listings are bootlegs)
AliExpress, Wish, and similar marketplaces
Most convention vendor halls (except artist alleys)
Any store that seems "too good to be true"

Shipping and Receiving

When ordering your dakimakura, keep these shipping considerations in mind:

Shipping Cost: Quality dakimakura inners are heavy and can be expensive to ship internationally. Covers are lighter and less expensive to ship.
Shipping Methods: Express shipping (DHL, FedEx) is very fast but also very expensive. Regular airmail is slower but more affordable. Surface (sea) shipping is the cheapest but can take 1-3 months with little to no tracking.
Customs Fees: Depending on your country, you may need to pay import duties or taxes. Some western stores may undervalue the package to reduce fees, or even ship using tax-free methods. Contact the store before ordering if you're concerned about customs.
Packaging: Covers usually ship in sealed opaque plastic bags or boxes. Inners are vacuum-packed to reduce shipping size.

When Your Cover Arrives

When you receive your dakimakura cover, it will typically be sealed in a plastic bag. To prepare it for use:

Carefully open the plastic packaging
Inspect for any damage or defects
Wash the cover before first use (see care section)
Allow it to air out if it has a strong smell
If it has a zipper, check that it functions properly

When Your Inner Arrives

When you receive your inner pillow, it will likely be vacuum-packed. To properly prepare it:

Carefully cut open the vacuum seal packaging
Remove the inner and lay it flat
Allow it to expand for a few hours before putting on the cover
Fluff it by patting and gently shaking to distribute the filling

Basic Dakimakura Care

To keep your dakimakura in good condition:

Cover Care

Wash covers every 1-2 weeks depending on use
Use cold or lukewarm water, gentle cycle in a washing machine
Place in a mesh laundry bag when machine washing
Use mild detergent, never use bleach
Air dry preferred, tumble dry on low if necessary
Turn inside-out when washing to protect the print

Inner Care

Fluff your inner regularly by patting it
Store on a flat surface when not in use
Most inners cannot be machine washed
Spot clean stains with a damp cloth and mild soap

Personal Hygiene

The best way to keep your dakimakura clean is to maintain good personal hygiene:

Shower before bed
Keep your face clean (stubble can damage fabric)
Keep your nails trimmed
Avoid eating in bed with your dakimakura

How to Put on a Cover

Putting a cover on a dakimakura inner is different from a regular pillowcase due to the size and anti-slip material. The most effective method is the "roll-up method":

Lay the cover flat and roll/fold it up from the bottom, leaving about 8-10 inches unrolled at the top
Insert the top of the inner into the unrolled portion of the cover
Pull the cover down over the top of the inner, making sure the corners align
Gradually unroll the cover down the length of the inner, pulling and adjusting as you go
Once you reach the bottom, close the zipper

This method ensures the cover goes on smoothly without bunching or wrinkling. It takes practice to get right, so don't be discouraged if it's difficult at first.

Helpful Tip

There are many tutorial videos available online that demonstrate this technique. Search for "how to put on a dakimakura cover" to see visual demonstrations.

Community Resources

As you explore the hobby, these resources can help you learn more and connect with other collectors:

Dakimakura Discord - Active community for discussing all aspects of the hobby
r/Dakimakuras Subreddit - Forum for discussion and sharing collections
Comprehensive Dakimakura Guide - In-depth guide with detailed information

Ask the Community

If you're unsure about a store's legitimacy or have questions about a specific dakimakura, double check with the Stores List or ask the community. Most collectors are happy to help newcomers avoid common pitfalls.

Final Thoughts

Starting with dakimakuras can seem overwhelming with all the options, terminology, and concerns about bootlegs. By following this guide, you should be able to make an informed decision for your first purchase.

Remember these key points:

Buy from reputable stores and circles
Invest in a quality inner for the best experience
Be patient with shipping, especially from overseas
Take proper care of your dakimakura to extend its life
Don't hesitate to ask the community if you need help

We hope this guide helps you find a dakimakura that brings you joy. Happy collecting!