quirky // a guide to San-X and their characters

Koyainu

小屋犬

Cottage Dog

April 2001

In the world, there are various kinds of dogs, but until now it's probably not possible that you had the experience to see such a unique dog!? Koyainu's everyday is roofed with tons of fun.

世の中にいろいろな犬はいますが、ここまでユニークな犬はみたことがないはず！？小屋犬の毎日は屋根付きならではの楽しさでいっぱいです。

Characters

Koyainu
Cottage Dog

This mysterious dog has a roof attached to its head. Therefore, it has no concern about rainy days!! He protects everyone from hot summer days by being in the middle!

あたまに屋根が付いた不思議な犬。だから雨の日はへっちゃら！！夏の暑い日差しからもみんなを守るよ！


Sausage Inu Sausage Dog Being similar to a sausage, Sausage Inu is a friend of Koyainu. He is envious of Koyainu's roof. ソーセージに似ている小屋犬のお友達。小屋犬の屋根をうらやましく思っている。	Kininaruanoko That one on one's mind Koyainu gives his heart to this fair skinned cutie. 小屋犬が想いを寄せている色白のかわいこちゃん。	Torisan Mr. Bird They take shelter from the rain under Koyainu's roof and make a nest and do various other things. They also help with cleaning the roof. 小屋犬で雨宿りしたり屋根に巣をつくったりいろいろしている。屋根掃除を手伝ってくれることも。	Teruteru Bouzu¹ Shiny-shiny Buddhist Priest The bird hangs teruteru bouzu. He wishes with all his heart that the weather will clear up. 鳥が下げていくてるてる坊主。晴れますようにの願いをこめて。	Nekosan Mr. Cat He receives much shelter from the rain from Koyainu. Someday, he wants to bask in the sun on the roof. 小屋犬によく雨宿りさせてもらう。いつか屋根の上でひなたぼっこしたい、とおもっている。	Sonota Koyainu Other Cottage Dogs Somehow, it appears that there are many cottage dogs. There exists various types of colors. どうやら小屋犬はいっぱいいるらしい。いろいろな色のタイプが存在する。

Images

Translation Notes

Teru teru bōzu (てるてる坊主), literally meaning "shiny-shiny Buddhist priest," is a little traditional hand-made doll made of white paper or cloth that Japanese farmers began hanging outside of their window by a string. This amulet is supposed to have magical powers to bring good weather and to stop or prevent a rainy day. "Teru" is a Japanese verb which describes sunshine, and a "bōzu" is a Buddhist monk (compare the word bonze), or in modern slang, "bald-headed." Today, children make teru-teru-bōzu out of tissue paper or cotton and string and hang them from a window to wish for sunny weather, often before a school picnic day. Hanging it upside down - with its head pointing downside - acts like a prayer for rain. They are still a very common sight in Japan. Wikipedia: Teru teru bozu.