A ‘clinic’ for treating stuffed toys

The clinic carefully documents each stage of the treatment, posting images online so owners can keep tabs.

At a Tokyo clinic, a woman in a white coat carefully records the particulars of the newest patient: a sheep-shaped stuffed toy. The Natsumi Clinic specialises in restoring much-loved teddies and other cuddly toys to their original glory, delighting deeply attached owners like Yui Kato, who brought in the sheep, Yuki-chan.

“I thought I had no choice but to throw her away as she’s absolutely worn out, but then I heard there’s a hospital that deals with this sort of thing,” said the 24-year-old.

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“Maybe she won’t be exactly how she once was, but I came here hoping to see her healthy again.” The clinic offers treatments ranging from “eye surgery” and hair transplants to stitching up injuries, explained founder Natsumi Hakozaki.

She began treating stuffed toys four years ago in her hometown, northern Sendai city, after working at a clothes alteration shop where customers often asked if she could repair their treasured toys.

“Customers saw stuffed toys as family members, partners or best friends, not mere objects. After their stuffed toys were fixed, many of them hugged (the toys), or burst into tears,” Hakozaki said.

The experience inspired her to open a shop offering specialised treatment, and every animal is prescribed its own course. For Yuki-chan the sheep, Hakozaki first removed the stuffing then bathed her with a special soap, which she described as a “spa” treatment.

The clinic carefully documents each stage of the treatment, posting images online so owners can keep tabs.

Hakozaki sees it as a way of transferring the toy’s “soul” into the new body. Clients have sent toys from Hong Kong, Taiwan, France and Britain for treatment, and customers have had to wait up to a year for a spot.

There is only one other “clinic” for repairing stuffed toys in Japan, in Osaka, and the demand comes despite prices that range from 10,000 to 500,000 yen ($95-$4,800) depending on the injuries.