Rody on my radar!

I have written two separate posts about Rody so far this year. "Rody" is the horse shaped children's ride on / balance toy, pictured in this post. Rody seems to be enjoying a boom thanks to it being the year of the horse. But even when it's not the year of the horse, February 14th is his day every year! Because it is Rody Day ロディの日! 

Rody Day is celebrated on February 14 to mark the birthday of Rody. The day was established by JAMMY, the company in Tokyo that manages Rody’s product licensing in Japan. Rody was born in the village of Osoppo (Italy) on February 14, 1984, and the anniversary is used to help more people discover the charm of this well‑known toy and character. 

Originally, Rody was only available in red, but the lineup later expanded to include yellow, blue, and other colors, with about ten variations today. Beyond being a ride‑on toy, Rody is also popular as interior décor, and many character goods have been created around it. In Japan you can even get mini Rody in the 100-yen store and in capsule machines!