Toy connects young hearts across cultures

Hirono is one of the blind-box celebrity characters from the Chinese toy company Pop Mart. This rebellious little boy has become an emotional outlet for many young people, offering a way to express the "true selves" they often hesitate to show. Earlier this year, Hirono's first global flagship store opened in Shanghai.

When I first came across Hirono, he didn't really stand out to me. He was among several figurines tucked away in a corner of Pop Mart's studio. They seemed subtle, almost unassuming, and I didn't give them much thought at the time.

Little did I know, that was the beginning of a connection I had yet to realize.

It wasn't until I joined Pop Mart as a livestream host last July — part of my job was to familiarize myself with every IP in the company — that my true journey with Hirono began. I still remember the very first set of figures I sold during my first livestream session: Hirono's "Shelter" series.

What had once felt like a distant, unnoticed figure suddenly became the centerpiece of my work. As I introduced Hirono to others, I began to appreciate the quiet charm hidden in his world. His expression is always sullen — drooping eyes, slouched posture, an almost "untouchable" aura. Not the cutest or most eye-catching look, I would say, but I came to realize that it's all a protective shell.

In him, I saw a reflection of myself: the loneliness and confusion that surface under life's pressure, and the indifferent masks we sometimes put on to cope with reality.

Though I am usually an extrovert, cheerful and bubbly on the outside, the truth is that every story carries untold chapters.

Through Hirono, I allow myself to feel the vast wilderness I rarely reach in my heart, and often I see my own emotions projected onto his figure.

One of my favorite series is definitely "Echo".As a foreign student in China, homesickness quietly lingers in the background of my life. This series reminds me that these echoes of the past are not just fleeting shadows, but silent companions that resurface when I need them most, giving me strength and allowing me to break free from the weight of reality, even just for a moment.

To me, Hirono is a friend who teaches me to embrace both the loneliness and the light within.

Working at Pop Mart has shown me that these toys are not merely figurines, but little "happy pills" that lift spirits and brighten days.

Perhaps that is why Hirono continues to live in the hearts of so many young people — not only as a collectible, but as a gentle reminder that we are never truly alone.

Written by Tan Chau En, a 23-year-old Malaysian student majoring in bilingual broadcasting at the Communication University of China. She is also a livestream host for Pop Mart, bridging Malaysian and Chinese cultures.