We’re here to give some of the more mundane and common items some of the limelight in the form of invention history! It might sound a little boring, but you’d be surprised how many of these items actually have a rather interesting story. After all, it’s not just about the invention of the item, but everything else that leads up to it — and perhaps the key events that occur after!
The subject we’re tackling today is none other than the stress-reducing sensation from Japan known as the squishies. The Kawaii (Japanese for cute) Squishy enjoys quite a bit of popularity among its fans, with kids and adults alike enjoying the pleasing qualities of the squishy. That said, what led to the invention of the squishy, and how did it grow to be so popular? Let’s answer all of that and more in this deep dive into the invention of the humble squishy!
Who invented squishies?
Without a doubt, the Japanese were the first to invent the squishy. The company Sanrio introduced the squishy to the masses, and they’re widely known as the business responsible for inventing the kawaii squishy brand.
Squishies’ key contributors (and evolution)
- Dr. Otto BayerThe renowned inventor of polyurethanes
Why are we talking about polyurethanes? The answer is simple: kawaii squishies are made of a form of polyurethane. Dr. Otto Bayer invented polyurethanes around the 1930s, and there were quite a few applications. It first started off as a replacement for rubber, but it was quite expensive, especially at the beginning!
- SanrioThe Japanese company responsible for the creation of the kawaii squishy brand
The Japanese company Sanrio released the first squishies sometime around the 1960s, which was also when Sanrio was founded. These cute little stress toys were well-loved by the masses, and the company produced all sorts of designs.
- Alex CarswellInvented and patented the stress ball
Around 1988, Alex Carswell invented and patented the stress ball in the States, which had similar materials to squishies. As an item meant to ease stress, it quickly took off, similar to the squishies.
- I-bloomOne of the most popular companies continuing the squishy craze
While Sanrio enjoyed the popularity of being the inventor of squishies, it didn’t mean they didn’t have competition. Eventually, I-bloom grew to be one of the most popular manufacturers of squishies around 1993.
- Various American Toy CompaniesUtilized the same Japanese design for squishies in the States
Around 2017, kawaii squishies exploded in America. Suddenly, it was a toy phenomenon as so many American toy companies decided to focus on creating unique, cute squishies. To this day, squishies continue to be extremely popular, but the American versions are often disputed for being copycats.
When were squishies invented?
It’s said that squishies were first invented around the 1960s, roughly the same time when Sanrio started its company. That said, there’s a chance it might have been made closer to the 1980s.
A brief history of squishies
Just because squishies seem like such a harmless set of novelty toys, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t an interesting history behind kawaii squishies! First off, let’s talk about the polyurethanes, which was invented by Dr. Otto Bayer. Why are we talking about polyurethanes? The answer is simple: kawaii squishies are made of a form of polyurethane. Dr. Otto Bayer invented polyurethanes around the 1930s, and there were quite a few applications. It first started off as a replacement for rubber, but it was quite expensive, especially at the beginning! It first started off being used for seats, but eventually polyurethanes branched off to various items.
The Japanese company Sanrio released the first squishies sometime around the 1960s, which was also when Sanrio was founded. These cute little stress toys were well-loved by the masses, and the company produced all sorts of designs. However, there’s also a chance it was invented later on, perhaps around the 80s. While Sanrio enjoyed the popularity of being the inventor of squishies, it didn’t mean they didn’t have competition. Eventually, I-bloom grew to be one of the most popular manufacturers of squishies around 1993. With the Japanese going nuts over squishies, there were many other companies that tried to capitalize on the squishy craze.
Around 2017, kawaii squishies exploded in America. Suddenly, it was a toy phenomenon as so many American toy companies decided to focus on creating unique, cute squishies. To this day, squishies continue to be extremely popular, but the American versions are often disputed for being copycats. Many collectors consider the Japanese squishies to be superior, but the truth is that the quality of both the Japanese and American versions are practically the same. The only differences lie in the design and the preference of the collector. It’s likely that squishies will continue to be popular for many more years to come.
The squishies timeline
- 1930sThe invention of polyurethanes
Why are we talking about polyurethanes? The answer is simple: kawaii squishies are made of a form of polyurethane. Dr. Otto Bayer invented polyurethanes around the 1930s, and there were quite a few applications.
- 1960s to the 1980sThe invention of the kawaii squishy brand by Sanrio
The Japanese company Sanrio released the first squishies. They would go on to create all sorts of designs!
- 1988The invention of the stress ball
Around 1988, Alex Carswell invented and patented the stress ball in the States, which had similar materials to squishies. As an item meant to ease stress, it quickly took off, similar to the squishies.
- 1993I-bloom enters the fray during the Japanese squishy craze
While Sanrio enjoyed the popularity of being the inventor of squishies, it didn’t mean they didn’t have competition. Eventually, I-bloom grew to be one of the most popular manufacturers of squishies around 1993.
- 2017The US squishy explosion
Kawaii squishies exploded in America. Suddenly, it was a toy phenomenon as so many American toy companies decided to focus on creating unique, cute squishies. To this day, squishies continue to be extremely popular, but the American versions are often disputed for being copycats.
Where were squishies invented?
Squishies were invented by Sanrio in Japan.
Why everyone loves squishies
- A stress toy with plenty of history
While the creation of the stress ball was in 1988, stress toys were already a known invention even during the 1300s. While the squishy doesn’t go that far back in time, it’s still a stress toy with plenty of history. Before heading to the US shores, it enjoyed plenty of popularity in Japan.
- A surprisingly popular toy
While kawaii squishies are known to be very popular toys, they weren’t necessarily seen as stress toys. Many people collected them because they were cute, especially kids. Adults, however, grew to enjoy the stress-relieving qualities of squishies.
- Loved all around the world
It isn’t just a popular toy in the US and Japan. Squishies have grown to be extremely popular all over the world due to their cute designs. It’s something that many people love to collect simply due to the designs, and it’s quite addicting to collect them all.
- A toy that’s yet to hit its ceiling
While there’s no doubt that the kawaii squishy craze has come and gone, it’s still in the experimental phase. It’s likely that the squishy still has quite a few popularity ceilings to break, especially as more and more collectors seek out vintage squishies.
Squishies by the numbers
- 20132013 was the year when American interest in squishies got its start. While it would eventually be introduced to store shelves in 2017, squishies appeared in many YouTube videos around 2013, building hype for the Japanese product.
- 12The Danish market tested 12 different squishies and found all of them to release unacceptable levels of potentially toxic substances.
- 6-12Norway also took squishies off the market due to their potential as a choking hazard for kids ages 6-12. While it’s a great toy for kids, when the squishies are too small, there’s potential for a choking hazard.
- 100To put things into perspective, there are a hundred items that can easily be used as a design for squishies. The Japanese have probably used thousands upon thousands of item designs for their squishies!
Five facts about squishies
- American collectors calling out Japanese squishies
Did you know that the American squishy wave was so strong that some collectors believed the Japanese versions were copycats? These days it’s the other way around, some of the newer collectors actually believed the Americans started squishies!
- A squishy can be anything you like
One of the coolest things about a squishy is they can basically be any design you want. A cool anime character? A food product? An everyday item? A house? A pet? Just about anything can be a squishy design, and they’ll all be pretty cute and popular.
- The reasoning behind the sticky squishies
The reason why some kawaii squishies end up getting sticky is due to the collection of oils as people play and squeeze them. Eventually, they get so sticky that it’s a good idea to wash them.
- An interesting toy for all ages
While you might imagine kids buying squishies because they’re cute and can be squashed, you might be surprised to note that even adults buy squishies. It’s mainly due to the design, but also because there’s something about squishies that help with stress relief.
- The perfect texture
One of the reasons why squishies are so popular is due to the sublime combination of textures. For example, the squishy is just soft enough that you can squeeze it with all your might, but hard enough that you can’t squish it entirely flat. Eventually, the squishy will return to its original shape, making it a fun stress toy.
FAQ about squishies
- Why are squishies so popular everywhere?
There are plenty of reasons why squishies are so very popular. The kawaii squishy craze in Japan served as only the tip of the iceberg, as the Americans undoubtedly went crazy over squishies. They’re fun and novel stress toys, and they’re cute to boot!
- Is it possible to wash a squishy?
Yes, it’s possible, though you have to be gentle. It’s often better to let the squishy soak while inside a tied pillowcase. That way, it’s protected. Make sure not to expose squishies to hot water!
- Are squishies built to last?
They’re absolutely built to last. They’re also built to withstand quite a bit of punishment, but they can collect quite a bit of oil and dirt even after just a week or two. Such is why washing squishies is a good idea.
- How are squishies so durable?
Well, it’s because they aren’t made with your run-of-the-mill foam. They’re made of top quality polyurethanes and thermoplastic rubbers.