Tokyo clinic mends stuffed toys and owners’ broken hearts
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The Natsumi Clinic in the Japanese capital Tokyo fixes about 100 stuffed toys every month. Owners who just cannot bring themselves to throw away their childhood companions turn to clinic founder Natsumi Hakozaki who is able to breathe new life into well-loved stuffed toys using needle and thread, as well as spas with a special soap. The clinic, with six “doctors” on staff, is one of only two stuffed toy repairers in Japan. Yui Kato, who recently went to the clinic with a plush sheep doll she has had for 18 years, said she paid about 100,000 yen (US$959) to fix her treasured toy, but insisted that keeping her childhood memories alive was more important than money.
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Owner: How was it? Toy: They skinned me, soaked me, and ripped out my insides. Relaxing.
How's your anxiety
Nature Owns its Constant
@@SweetNightmares_ watch more my videos
S Why 😭
Toy: But they also Sewed me back, put new stuffing (even put me a little soft heart inside) and returned me back to my Mom
Imagine a stuffed animal getting better health care than you
They deserve it
@@sk8terzane818 humans deserve more.
@@armyshope some do
@@sk8terzane818 yes I agree
@Drouked ?
"even if she looks a bit different , the memories are still inside , she is not an entirely a new girl" ...this hits hard-
Tears.
“to me, she is just the same baby I met 18 years ago.” those words made me shed a tear... :')
Ikr 😭😭😭
Man humans are so charming, we can get attached to the smallest of things and will go out of our way to take care of them. Be pessimistic all you want but I think that says a lot about us.
I totally agree with your statement it is such a nice change of mood compared to all the things that have happened this year also this video and your comment really made my day brighter. Thank you, may your day or night be just as joyful!
Most humans, I'd wager, are. But let's also acknowledge that some of us deserve to be tossed into a pit.
I love this comment
Yes especially murderers they are so charming come at me
Yes like I'm attached to all my teddy's n hello kitty teddy's too great thing no matter what age you are
- Are you here to fix your toy, sir? - No, i am here to save a friend
True story bro. I really wanna fix my pikachu frd...
I want to fox up some of my childhood studies
the price...
@@campkira they are literally recreating it by hand though.
*Meanwhile at Builder-bear* Worker: Sir we can’t put any more stuffing in this Pikachu Me: More Me: MMOOORRREEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My teddy bear is looking at me like: "After this pandemic, You and I are going for a little trip to Tokyo and while we're there, I'm going to go for a little spa, okay?"
Aww (๑•ᴗ•๑)♡
that’s adorable
There might already be a hospital in your country check out and then you and your teddy can travel fully recharged to Japan and make memories together.
Teddy: **at the spa** Me: **at the Manga store**
The most wholsome comment ever, thank you!
Stuffed animals have feelings! Nobody can tell me otherwise
You are 100000000000% correct there sister!
Absolutely
I couldn't agree more! I've believed that when I was little, and I honestly still do!💖💖💖
YESSS when they fall off my bed or whatever i make sure i give them extra care for the day
@@baleine Me too!
Honestly its a relieve that im not the only one who's still clingy to my stuffed toy. People in my place considering me not as an adult because of that.. Edit: wow I never got so many comment or like before. Thanks guys. Anyway lets take care our stuffed animals as they take care of us at night 😊
Exactly!
It’s ok, you’re not alone!
I keep a lot of stuffed animals from way back then A sheep who is at least 14 years old A dog on wheels to pull behind you who might be over 23 years old Stuffed animals are our dream guardians and our comfort buddy's
true...sometimes people just dont take me seriously
You re not alone! I myself cuddle my plushie parrot (who has his own name) every night When i get up i sit him upright in the bed so hes comfy throughout the day :3
I want an entire tv show where people come in with their stuffed friends and then we get to see the whole process of the restoration. I would love that.
That is just doc mc stuffins
Me too! I’d actually watch that.
Yeah same!!!! That will be interesting and cute!!
Plus all these stories of their owners
This is genius. I'd deffo watch that too
I am laughing , crying and feeling nostalgic at the same time
the price...
I want to cry it hurt my heart knowing -i can't find it in my country -not enough money to either go there. Maybe i can't afford the service payment as well
I'm saying! All my stuff toys died when my sister became a toddler. You all know what I mean...
I'm dying inside.
And? Whats funny?
Everybody gangsta till the fixed doll starts talking and ask you to become a magical girl
well, it kinda looks like kyubey
MaGiCaL mIrAcLe GiRl uSaMi, AkA, uSaMi!
@@notbeingusedanymore4932 thank you
In frieza's voice.. then he starts singing the magical girl site theme loudly
Im getting a kyubey plush...
The old stuffing as a heart was the most warming step :(
Is it just me? Or everyone has a little bit of tear.
No, me too. I think its normal, or maybe we're too emotionals heheh
For me, it's a tear of joy, joy that there are still people around that have such a kind heart that they would go thru this for a stuffed toy.
the price...
Nope
Not just you!
It's a relief to know that they keep some of the old stuffing inside, I think it's very sweet.
I was surprised they didn't wash the old cotton and reuse it maybe mixed with some new
@Brilliant Art I'm not a big fan of that video. I don't like the cruel treatment of the kitten, or puppy. I don't know because it was so badly burnt by the end. And the poor thing was still alive!
@Brilliant Art No
Well they change it cause the old stuffing got worn out. Some old ones won’t do any harm :P
@@SierraHarmony tf
This is beautiful. It touches me knowing there are people who don't see anything wrong with the fact that people have a child likeness in them and they treat it with respect. It doesn't make sense to disrespect it since we were all children once and being a child is one of those stages that shapes us as adults. I'm grateful my husband doesn't mind we have so many plushies. He even uses them as pillows. 😆
Yes so true. Also, I remember I hid my plushies from my boyfriends, but my husband doesn't mind. He even gifted me some to special occasions, so that they are linked to the memory.
When I first met my now boyfriend my first question to him was, whether he likes plushies. He said yes and then I knew he's the one 😌 it's been almost 8 years now and we have a lot of little friends.
My husband is the same way with our plushies
I think its also because as humans we know that there will always be that reminiscent feeling in us thats gonna be associated with the feeling of warmth and comfort everytime we remember that certain something we grew up with.
I feel like aliens are going to watch this and be like “Humans are such odd creatures” 😂
So what? 🤔 I feel glad we humans are capable to feel such emotions for an inanimated thing. I feel our way to express such emotions as humans... It's a bless and I'm sure other alien races vibe with the same principles of "love".
@@gdcompany nah aliens would think that they are weird.
Nope the aliens will think we are completely normal
Maybe Aliens would find it endearing?
Odd, but wholesome.
Japanese aren't just advanced... Not only do they work hard... Not ignoring the fact that they also suffer a lot.. they're still so loving, kind and caring, you just saw that in the video. ❤️
the price...
Yeah
@@campkira everything is pricy in Japan.
life's tough there imo
not all Japanese people are kind. but some are.
Stuffed animals are a key to kids, adults and elders because they are the only friend they have traveled with their whole life and made them happy #cure_for_stuffed_animals
Agreed!
Lol
Those are the truest words that I have ever heard.
Right? I unfortunately had to throw mine away since they were the main cause of my allergies and I felt so sad about it. I only had it for 3 years but it was still very meaningful to me
*•I A G R E E•*
This made me tear up ❤️😭 I'm 34 and I still sleep by my stuff dog. I wash him and had him fixed by some family members that knew how to sew. Some of them have passed away, so it's like a little piece of them are with me. But I would love to get my dog professionally cleaned and fixed a bit.
Im 12 and my stuffed elephant needed some patching up because it was a bit beat up so i sent her over to a professional place in Pennsylvania but i wont get her back until after Christmas and its made me really upset and worried not being able to sleep with her or even see her until practically the new year and im also worried how much they might change her but in the end ill get her back so im keeping my fingers crossed
Im 14 and i sleep with my frog and husky stuffed toy
You mean a plushie hospital ^^
Sorry but what do you mean by pass away? I know i couldnt keep my stuffed toy forever but can you guys tell me how to set a proper goodbye for them. I cant just trhow them away to the dumpster after all the years we've been together.
@@aparewnduawng1619 He mean his family, some of them passed away and there a lot memories left in his stuffed dog , I hope I not to late, but if you can let them go, you can give it to children, a trust able one of course.
The stuffed animal looks so huggable.
Wow there is seriously shops for everything, you just gotta know where to find it
@@campkira You've gotta do what you gotta do to save a friend
Wait there's shops for everything...? *googles box of fingernails for sale*
@@omransaeed1988 I mean ,you already can buy fake fingernails..
😹😹my boyfriend bought me A teddy bear when we first started dating he is now my husband and I still have that bear he has traveled the world with me and around Australia as well as into every surgery I have gone through in the past 32 plus years he still sits on me bed and I still cuddle him every night I have been given many a new bear since Fred but Fred was the very first bear my soulmate bought me in the first week we first met and started dating. When I was in surgery they placed him where he could see what was happening to me and when I woke up they had placed Fred back in my arms in the recovery room. The staff at all the hospitals have been fantastic with me and my bear 😹😹😹 I am 57 and I am proud to say yes I still sleep with my teddy bear every night 🤗🤗🤗🤗
This made me tear up! What a sweet and wholesome story! I hope you and Fred are doing happy and healthy 😊💖
the price...
Aw that is so sweet I had a bear since I was born in 20 now and it’s still in one piece idk I feel like my bear has been with me for a long time from moving houses , to new schools, and now college !
@@sarahkate9060 thanks Sarah I am out in the Aussie bush as far away from this city as I can get 😹😹😹 what with this pandemic you could not pay me to live back in the city now😹😹😹
@@Memes-oe2si hi Aj yep he’s been with every house move we have done over the years he has his own spot that he sits when we are in the car 😹😹
This makes me really happy, I’ve been dealing with anxiety and depression most of my life and find comfort in my stuffed animals. Glad they keep a bit of the soul in a heart.
So like, i'd like to have an appointment with Doc McStuffins.
Lol 🥲 me too!
Disney Junior Doc Mcstuffins Toy Hospital in reality , wow ....
And in Japan of all places!
@@p1zz492 actually if there’s a toy hospital in only one place, I would expect it to be in Japan
Or St. Bears Doll's Hospital! I loved that show growing up
The nostalgiaa
Theres also anime cafes there
*I’m not sure why, but I had a little bit of tears in my eyes seeing this。I have a stuff doggy, that means the whole world to me and he has been there through my roughest and most joyful times, even though I didn’t really have much friends, if only my toy was alive, he would see how much I went through and how much I suffered through life and my doggy has always been there for me waiting in bed。Sorry if I sound weird ma’am/sir I just wanted to mention this 🥺🤍*
No, you just pulled the words out of my mouth seriously, thank you
This is so sweet, I have a stuff dog too that i chose when i was 2 years old, I still sleep with it now even after all these years
Aw ❤️.I’m 25,I’ve got a 24yr old Cuddly Frog (somehow missing a toe 😂) that accompanied me throughout the foster care system until i was 7 and still stays firmly by my side. My little girl has a cuddly llama now I encourage her to take it every where we go ☺️.
Dont worry, I actually legit teared up reading this 😭
@KOKO, not weird, thanks for your story :)
this is so cute, im so glad there are people who understand how important soft toys are for people :D
I lost my very special polar bear toy at the airport when I came to Australia :c it meant the world to me, I got it when I was 3 and lost it when I was 7. I am currently 12. I still think about her. I use to wish for her on every Christmas when I was younger. I just wish she is not lonely and that a caring owner has taken her in c:
Penny P, oh wow that's so hard
That is really really sad I hope a miracle happens and you find them
@@sk8terzane818 c:
@@fishy2850 I love plushies more than anything
oh no, i wouldn't be able to stomach losing my precious plushies at a public place 🥺🥺😭😭
This is the perfect prompt for a children's book!
Doc McStuffins has this concept
perfect prompt for a _book_
This is actually so cool i wish in my country had a clinic like that and i will go there and fix mah octopus plushie 🥰. Edit: This is so heart warming.
lel just pack and order operation OVER SEAS(TOOO JAPANNNNNN)
:/
@@richiealfredo1421 Reason of visit: medical treatment
I want to fix my cat plushie too...! I cant sleep without him :< my parents give me him when i was only a baby thats why i hope i can fix it :
Lemme help u fix ur sotong
My Friend: Why do you want to move to Japan so bad? Me:
...and curry ..and their cars ❤️
And for me: Nintendo
And for me: *CENSORED*
And sushi and also vending machines.
This medical care, and ambience is so much better than the hospitals on my third world country.
Fully understood....I sleep with my plushie pig for around 17years. I won’t feel secure if I lost it.
From my very first allowance I bought a big teddy bear. I was 10 years old. I still sleep with it today and have difficulties to fall asleep when it's not around (like in hotels or friend's houses etc). I am 36 years today. Had to repair it several times already.
I have a couple Disney plushies that I take everywhere like on vacations to different countries, hotels I can’t go anywhere without them with the exception of places I go to regularly like stores I’ve even created a universe where when I’m asleep they protect me from evil things and even have a storyline I like to continue every night like have a war against other house plushies i know it’s childish but I’ve been doing it for almost 6 years
I remember when I was 7 or 8 I got a box of Missmach kittens plushies and they never left my life or I would've been mentally empty.
I keep my cuddly frog under my bed,I sneak it in the bed when my partner is asleep on the other side of the bed 😂
Fellow soft piggy friend!!!
When Coronas over, imma go to Japan and take my childhood plushies to this place, they need to be fixed up :)
is that jenchulichaeng on your profile pic-
@@charlottewong823 yep
I was thinking the same thing!
Me to :3
Hospitals around the world packed with patients, running out of beds, doctors etc Japan- Doctors treating stuffed toys
I don’t have a stuffed animal, I just have a blanket. Definitely not the same, but none the less both are still security objects people of all ages use to feel safe. This video really cheered me up, and made me super nostalgic and happy.
Welp, looks like me and Toad are going to Tokyo!
Same! I’ll meet ya there with all my stuffed/not so stuffed anymore, animals!
@@Noodlemonkey7 me2
if you live in the us, i think you can find some restoring operations on esty that can do the same thing but its just an independent person not a whole team
Every country needs a toy clinic! ❤️
@Brilliant Art Stop it. Get some help.
Hear, hear!
@Brilliant Art -_-
@@secondaccount9930 They deleted their comment, what did they say?
Yeahhhh i need my plushie fixed his handdd
I have a giant stuffed dolphin that I have been hugging for the past 8 years, and it saddens me to see her all worn out! I would love to “treat” her at this clinic someday ☺️
smolcactus :D , hope to come true for you.
A toy you have grown attached to is not just a toy, it's all the loving parts of you and your memories in a physical form
But then you realize you need to pay almost a thousand bucks to repair the toy
A needle and some thread are better than spending more money by going to Japan and paying a thousand bucks for this useless "operation"
@@rowenaraganit661 well i cant say ive ever been so i have no clue how much it costs... are you sure it's that expensive...? and i never said anything about going all the way to japan :( no need to be upset
At first, I thought it was going to talk about living stuffed toys
It is
@@campkira ..?
@@campkira are you going to keep on spamming 'the price...' on almost every comment? ._.
Me too
That plush must be so happy to finally get treated like a real person
This is exactly doc micstuffins This is what the world needs
Yes we need them :)))
Oh 😭 sweet
Im so glad there are others that love their plush babies as much as me, even when you're older. My dad always tells me that I'll never get a boyfriend because of it and every one will think im weird. I dont mind some one not liking me for my plushies. Its me and my babies or nothing at all
Pro tip: when I went to Build-A-Bear a few years ago to build another one to celebrate something important, I bought my old Build-A-Bear,a leopard, with me. I've had him since I was 7. I ran into a salesperson he seemed genuinely excited oh, and was talking about how great it is when people bring their all stuffed animals into the store. They told me that if somebody bought their old Build-A-Bear into one of their stores, they would do cleaning and repairs for free. I'm not sure if this is still the case that you should definitely check it out.
Thanks for this tip! I know your comment is older but I'm taking my girls to BAB soon for birthdays, and I still have all my old ones from when I was a kid. I'll be taking them to see!
The rabbit is so cute, something so precious yet so adorable this "toy rabbit" will always be on your side
The clinic even keeps a bit of the toy's original soul:') Shut up and take my money
THIS IS SOOOOOOO WHOLESOME 😭😭😭😭😭
Imagine after 10 years there will be more surgeries to plushie toys like severe limb disorder, eye transplant,and more...
I have a deep respect for this and I wish it was in my country too.
I love this. Our childhood toys can be like family. My old teddy is 58 and I rug hooked all his wool fur back in. My husbands teddy used to belong to his father and is about 97. Just love how the menders are so respectful of the owners feelings.
"so, what do you wanna be when u grow up?" me: "doll doctor." 😀
this is so wholesome aaaaa
This so wholesome I'm crying help
Macke
A stuffed toy has a better health care aid than me I can't-
Thank you. I just lost my cat and am heartbroken. This cheered me up. I always thought stuffies have souls. I would walk through the stuffy section and talk to the stuffies, wishing them well on their journey and each a warm loving home. I'm happy there are other kind hearted people in the world that recognize the sacred bond between owner a beloved stuffy.
Next you’ll see a guy bring in his wifu body pillow for surgery
just replace the pillow it is cheaper.. i had alot in my video...
Lolol
They would refuse
why does this bring me tears…?
😭😭😭😭💕💕 I have a 36 year old Snoopy that could 100% benefit from this!!! Japan gets it man, they think of everything!
*I hate how plush toys always look sad, they make you feel guilty for not reason*
Man, my heart had just been warmed to the point of crying happily....
make me cry while im supposed to be writing an essay, huh?
If you're Not crying when writting your essays, you're obviously not doing them correctly
Strange when I was a kid I never got any plushie toy or bear to hug. Hmmm, no wonder I'm terrible at opening up to people
Don’t worry it be okay :)
You can still get* one now, some adults are shamed and told this is childish but it has been proven that having a plush is very therapeutic
my mom never had one either so she started collecting some. You’re never too old for a plushie :)
I would advise you to get one! I am 26 and I recently got a huge bear, it's so big and comforting! We like to cuddle all the time 😊
OKAYY IM TRAVELLING TO JAPAN WITH MY 56 STUFFED TOYS THAT IVE HAD SINCE BIRTH AS SOON AS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL IT ALLOWED
😭 I need someone to fix my stuffed cat plushie too, she's in severe condition to the point I'm afraid to hug her
Sounds like someone now has an excuse for a trip to Tokyo!
It's a business opportunity tho
There has to be a reddit thread for repairing stuffed toys! 😭
Look up Doctor Beth! She does similar work!
That's why I love Japan so much so heartwarming 💕 In my country we have doll hospitals 🏥
i swear my device is listening- i talked to my mom about fixing my plush toy-
You don't have to swear, it's been proven our phones eavesdrop on us
How can plushies be sick, I feel so sad for that cute sheep plush, I love sheeps.
Aww this just melted my heart 😭❤️❤️
@Brilliant Art do they need a medical license?
I'm crying, I've been thinking a lot about my lion family of 3 and they're all getting old 😭 I'd love to send them here!
I've never seen anything so pure in my life
I've had my plush dog for a bit over 14 years now. She's purple and from Las Vegas (I live in Cali, she doesn't exist anymore, she's from the early 2000s) she's very old and her stuffing from her neck is gone, I wish we had a clinic like this here, my plushie needs it a lot. she means so much to me, because I'd always hug her during meltdowns or when my stress is bad, i've grown an emotional connection to it
I swear I’m not crying!! I’m drowning in a waterfall!!!! 😭😭 This is so nice and heart warming ❤️
Welp They did surgery on a stuffed sheep now
t h e y d i d s u r g e r y o n a g r a p e
@@Nick07900 *dabs*
@Brilliant Art No
They did surgery on a stuffed sheep
Plushies mean the world to me! They're always here for me when I need to lay in bed and cry, or when I'm upset. I've been going through a really rough patch in my life... Battling a 3 and a half year long depression, and unfortunately... Now turning to self harm... And whenever I feel that way, I get in bed, and hug my plushies, and I cry... Letting out all that sadness, while the softness of the plushie calms me down and comforts me.
Stuffed animals are often very important to neurodivergent children and adults. I'm glad we have places like these that will help.
Yuki Chan was never the same after the operation, she would just pop up in random places.
I don't like this
Imagine if this clinic has actually been bringing the toys to life.
I couldn’t imagine my life without my bear I still have him and he is very special to me
I was so sure it was gonna be a little kid bringing in their stuffed animal, but it's such a breath of fresh air to see it was an adult !
They really get it. Sometimes I get teased for having a huge collection of stuffed animals but they’re not childish in my opinion. Sometimes they’re like mementos, physical memories that I could never lose, and sometimes they’re like friends that I can turn to. This clinic sounds really awesome and I hope one day I can get to it to have my broken stuffed animals fixed!
This is the cutest clinic I've seen for the first time. This is so cute
They might looked crazy or weird but this stuffed toys is their family, i know this cause i also have one and i have her for more than 8 years now and sometimes its hard especially when you’re working in a typical Japanese company for about 10 hours or more including the “Nightly drinking outings” then going home tired and alone and no one is going to greet you “Welcome back” or going to ask you “How’s your day” but we have these little friends waiting for us to come home every day. I’m sorry for my english
the price...
I'm 23 years old and I'll be 24 years old next month and I still sleep with a Stuffed Animal Simba Toy! Stuffed Animal Toys are so cute and soft and fun and no one is ever too old for stuffed animal toys! Even Teenagers, Adults, and Elderlies love Stuffed Animal Toys as well!
I wasn't allowed to keep stuff animals as a child so, I don't quite understand the attachment others have with their stuffed friends. But still, seeing these wonderful people do their best caring for their "patients", well, that warms my heart.
I don’t know if I should laugh, cry, or be confused.
the price...
@@campkira how much?
@@campkira why do you keep spamming that on all the comments?
@@campkira what
The 'soul' ... What the heck am i tearing up for 😭😅
I love my teddy bear since childhood he may be just a pillow with a head and arms but he's my special boy we all treat our plushies like our own kid.
The bit with the little heart containing the original soul made me cry.
my teddy bear is like staring at me and if he could speak he'd be saying: "We are going there, or they're coming to us" And I'm like: "Uhhh maybe I could just wash you clean?" My teddy bear: "No exceptions"
This is the cutest thing I've ever seen.
We just lost our 16 year old Pug a week ago. He had a special stuffed lion that went home with him from the animal shelter we adopted him from. It was his absolute favorite stuffie and he carried it everywhere he went. It's definitely careworn and has seen better days but I treasure it because it was our boy's. I would love to do something like this for Snickers special Friend 💙🐶🐾
this is so cute and it's heartwarming to see people caring for older stuffed toys like this 🥺 I think my only real issue is that charging $1000 to restore a stuffed toy seems a bit much given their procedures...but if people think it's worth it I'm not going to belittle them for it!
We need this in America.
This is just adorable and I wish there was something like this around here! Man where is my stuffed animal, I need to hug them!
Not me crying when she said "its still the same baby she met 18 years ago" i-
They're so respectful to the stuffed animals!
Seriously am I the one who is feeling sad after seeing this and remembering my small brown teddy bear.😢😢😢
Wish we had this when I messed up and spilled ink on my niece's baabaa. I had to replace a very difficult one to replace
This is the cutest thing ever, i love that they show an adult bringing their favorite stuffie. Theres just so much stigma around adults who keep their childhood toys so this is very refreshing to see her not getting judged for still having her favorite toy.
As someone who deals with my trauma by having plushies, i really appreciate others taking care with them and adknowding it's a self soothing coping mechanism