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Sofubi (ソフビ) is short for "soft vinyl" — a term commonly used to describe a specific style of Japanese soft vinyl toys. These toys are typically made using a traditional rotocasting process and are prized for their nostalgic, handmade quality. Originally developed in Japan in the mid-20th century, sofubi became especially popular in the 1960s and 70s with figures based on kaiju (giant monsters like Godzilla), anime, and tokusatsu shows.
Unlike mass-produced plastic toys, sofubi figures are often made in small batches, hand-painted, and designed by independent artists or boutique studios. This has helped turn sofubi into a vibrant subculture within the designer toy and art toy scenes.