SHIBANBAN × Rakuten Kobo LINE WhatsApp Sticker GIF PNG
SHIBANBAN × Rakuten Kobo: Your New Favorite Shiba Stickers Are Here (But Not Forever!)
Have you ever found yourself scrolling through an e-book store and thought, “This is great, but it could really use more cute dogs”? Well, it seems like someone at Rakuten Kobo had the exact same thought! They’ve just dropped an amazing collaboration sticker set featuring the unbelievably adorable SHIBANBAN characters. If you’re not familiar, Rakuten Kobo is a huge name in the digital reading world, offering everything from bestsellers to indie gems on their e-readers and apps. For a limited time, they’re giving away this fantastic sticker pack to anyone who adds their official account as a friend. It’s a super clever way to get us hooked, and honestly, with stickers this cute, it’s working. Just remember, these little pups won’t be around forever—you’ve got until November 3, 2025, to grab them!
A limited-time collaboration sticker set from Shibanban and Rakuten Kobo is here! Add the official Rakuten Kobo account as a friend to get the stickers! Available until: November 3, 2025
- Title : SHIBANBAN × Rakuten Kobo
- Price : Free
- Type : Static
- Region : Japan
- Link : line://shop/detail/35710
- Publisher : Rakuten Kobo
- Copyright : MIND WAVE Inc. / Illustrated by Yasuteru Ogoshi
So, Who Are These Adorable Pups?
Meet SHIBANBAN!
Okay, let’s talk about the stars of the show: SHIBANBAN! These aren’t just any Shiba Inu characters. The name itself is a fun little mashup of “Shiba” and “banban,” which hints at something flat like a board. That’s their signature look! They have these unique, almost rectangular bodies that are just so charming and simple. Created by illustrator Yasuteru Ogoshi, these dogs are all about expressive faces on minimalist bodies. They’ve totally taken Japan by storm and are now winning hearts all over the world through everything from sticky notes to, you guessed it, digital stickers.
And What’s Rakuten Kobo?
If you’re a bookworm, you’ve probably heard of Rakuten Kobo. They’re a massive global e-book service, kind of like Japan’s answer to Amazon Kindle. Owned by the e-commerce giant Rakuten, they offer millions of e-books, magazines, and audiobooks. You can read on their own dedicated Kobo e-readers or just use their app on your phone or tablet. They’re a big deal in the digital reading space, so seeing them team up with a cute character like SHIBANBAN is a really fun move that blends the world of tech and Japanese kawaii culture.
The Creative Minds Behind the Cuteness
This adorable collaboration is brought to life by MIND WAVE Inc., a Japanese company that’s all about creating cute, character-focused stationery and lifestyle goods. They’re the experts in making things you just have to own. The artist behind the magic is Yasuteru Ogoshi, the creator who first dreamed up the SHIBANBAN series. His art style is the heart of what makes these characters so special—it’s simple, friendly, and just radiates cuteness. This partnership is a perfect example of combining a digital service with top-tier character design to create something new and exciting.
A Sticker for Every Shiba Mood
Let’s dive into the sticker pack itself, because it’s packed with personality. This set gives you 16 different ways to express yourself with the help of these delightful Shibas.
The top row kicks things off with some classic reactions. You have a cheerful yellow Shiba giving a big thumbs-up, perfect for when you totally agree with someone. Next to him, a grumpy gray Shiba is having a total meltdown, with Japanese onomatopoeia for “NO!” or “STOP!” exploding behind him. Then, a sweet yellow Shiba bows politely to a little white pup, a great way to say sorry. The row finishes with the yellow and gray Shibas in a friendly embrace under a speech bubble that reads “ありがとう!” (Arigatou!), which is a heartwarming “Thank you!”.
The second row is all about high energy and big emotions. A yellow Shiba is seen dashing with pure joy, surrounded by sparkles. Beside that, a super-cute, blushing Shiba puts its paws together in a classic “please” or “I’m begging you” pose, labeled with “おねがい♡” (Onegai). Then we have a Shiba that looks incredibly nervous, sweating buckets and looking totally overwhelmed. And for those moments of pure rage, there’s a yellow Shiba with spiky hair and gritted teeth, looking like it’s about to go Super Saiyan.
Things get even more playful in the third row. A chubby, light-colored Shiba is dancing happily with musical notes floating around. Next to it, a gray Shiba has a smug, knowing look on its face, probably up to no good. Then there’s a touching scene where the yellow Shiba is lovingly hugging the gray one. The last sticker in the row is a hilarious, squished view of three Shibas crammed together, looking right at you from a low angle.
The final row captures some very relatable modern-day moments. One Shiba sits with three green question marks floating above its head, the perfect picture of confusion. Another is lying on its stomach, completely absorbed in a tablet. For pure drama, a gray-and-white Shiba looks to the heavens with a single tear streaming down its face. The set concludes with a squished-faced Shiba looking utterly stressed out, with the word “ピンチ” (Pinchi), meaning “I’m in a pinch!” or “I’m in trouble!”.
The Smart Strategy Behind Cute Stickers
Ever wonder why a huge company like Rakuten Kobo would create a sticker pack? It’s actually a brilliant marketing strategy. In today’s digital world, stickers are a fun and personal way for brands to connect with people. When you send a SHIBANBAN sticker to a friend, you’re not just sharing a cute dog; you’re also subtly putting the Rakuten Kobo brand into your everyday conversations. It’s a much friendlier form of advertising than a pop-up ad. By making the stickers available for a limited time and requiring users to add their official account, Rakuten Kobo creates a sense of urgency and gets a direct channel to a huge new audience for their announcements and promotions.
This collaboration is also a massive win for the creators, MIND WAVE Inc., and the illustrator, Yasuteru Ogoshi. While SHIBANBAN was already popular through physical merchandise like notebooks and plushies, digital stickers launch the characters into a global arena. Messaging apps like LINE and WhatsApp are used by billions of people, and each sticker shared acts like a mini-advertisement for the character. It helps build a bigger fanbase, which in turn drives sales of other merchandise. For independent artists and smaller design companies, these kinds of partnerships are invaluable. They provide exposure that would be incredibly difficult to achieve otherwise. It shows how a simple, charming drawing of a dog can become a powerful tool for connection and commerce in our interconnected world.
