A real, small gecko found in the parking lot — and a daughter who wanted to keep it as a pet. That's how Marimo Koubo's signature piece, the "Japanese House Gecko," came to be. True to the real thing, its tail is shortened, echoing a gecko's habit of shedding its tail to escape predators.
Geckos have long been considered good-luck charms in Japan, believed to protect the home. Each one hides a magnet in its belly, ready to stick to a fridge or a doorframe.
Her other signature character, "Mukatsuku Onigiri" (Grumpy Rice Ball), started as a drawing her daughter made in early elementary school. She knitted it into a plush, brought it to class, and it quickly became a hit — still loved more than a decade later. With just three lines for eyes and mouth, its expression shifts depending on how tightly it's knit.
She works mainly in 100% cotton lace yarn, switching to organic cotton for baby-safe pieces.
Guest: Marimo Koubo, amigurumi (knitted plush) artist
