Toy Story

Smiley-faced dwarves are making people smile and feel better at the same time

Story by Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photographs by Paniti Boonma

Everybody knows that toys are supposed to be fun. But the latest Japanese toy to make its way to Thailand also seems to be like a medicine for stress. No-Ho-Hon is a cute, smiley-faced toy dwarf that is making people across Asia forget about their troubles.

"Just by looking at it, it will provide a sense of relaxation and reduce tension," said Weerarat Kijlertphairoj, marketing director of K. Charoen Toys Co., Ltd, the company that imports the little toy.

During the war in Iraq and the SARS scare, the toy market was very slow, Weerarat said. But while other toys stayed on store shelves, the No-Ho-Hon was a hit with shoppers. That's because not only is it fun to play with physically, it also helps people psychologically, Weerarat said.

No-Ho-Hon is a Japanese word meaning cheerful and fun. These dwarves come in many colours, such as pink, blue, green and orange.

There are two types of No-Ho-Hon. The first is the No-Ho-Hon Swing Dwarf. This one swings its head in rhythm to music. You can choose between a dwarf that holds a flower or one that is fishing. And both flower-boy and fisherman can also hold a greeting card.

In Japan, the dwarf holding the flower has become a popular gift for guys to give to their sweetheart.

The other popular style is the No-Ho-Hon Humming Dwarf. This one can hum a song and dance along to the tune. Each dwarf can sing eight different songs, including the Beatles hit "Let It Be."

The best part about the humming dwarves is that when you put three of them together, they can sing as a band. One acts as the lead, while the other two sing baritone and base.

But be warned, Japanese-style happiness doesn't come cheap. A No-Ho-Hon Humming Dwarf will set you back 699 baht, while the No-Ho-Hon Swinging Dwarves can be had for 599 and 499 baht.

While it may seem a bit pricey, Weerarat said that it is impossible to put a price on living a stress-free life.

Vocabulary

stress (n): a feeling of anxiety and worry
dwarf (n): small creature
cheerful (n): a feeling of happiness
humming (v): to sing a tune with your lips closed
baritone (n): a man�s singing voice with a range between tenor and bass
bass (n): the lowest sound on the singing scale