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Working with Nintendo to make video game themed Haramaki, a resurgence of a Japanese tradition was setting sail! Some notable Nintendo designs are based on Super Mario, Animal Crossing, and, of course, MOTHER! If you’d like to buy your own Haramaki, here’s a link to learn more! Unpredictably though, Shigesato Itoi and Hobonichi have made it a unique and hip thing to wear in Japan! Despite being ‘kitsch’ and ‘old-fashioned,’ Itoi was well known for wearing Haramaki and made them a more fashionable and more popular accessory.

Well, hang on! Nowadays in Japan, Haramaki are sort of seen as a ‘granny’ sort of thing. Now you might be asking, “Hey, what the heck does all this gotta do with the MOTHER series?!” When a Japanese soldier was often headed to war, their family would often give them a Haramaki as a sort of good-luck charm and to keep the soldier warm and improve blood circulation. Historically, the Haramaki (literally translated as “belly band”) was used during feudal era Japan as armor that fastened on the front of a soldier via cords in the back. Wouldn’t you get tired just by walking around in the armor instead of actual battles? I never understood running around in such heavy armor.

Download hobonichi mother project website