What Is a Dakimakura? A Plain-English Guide to Custom Body Pillows
If you just heard the word dakimakura and had no idea what it meant, you are in the right place. This is the plain-English version, no jargon and no assumptions about how much you already know.
What the word actually means
Dakimakura is Japanese. It breaks down into two parts: daki, from a verb meaning to hug or embrace, and makura, meaning pillow. So literally, it is a hugging pillow. Long body pillows have been used in Japan for comfort and better sleep posture for a long time, the same reason people everywhere reach for one.
The version most people mean today came later. Fans started putting printed covers featuring anime and game characters on these long pillows, and over the years that turned into a real staple of the hobby. That is usually what people picture now when they say the word.
What a dakimakura is today
In practical terms, a dakimakura is two things working together. There is the insert, which is the actual long pillow, and there is the cover, a fabric case with artwork printed on it that slips over the insert and usually zips shut. The cover is the part with the character on it, and it is the part you can swap, wash, and customize.
Common sizes
Sizes are given in centimeters, width by length. They range from smaller pillows up to full-body dimensions:
- 34x100 cm on the compact end
- 50x150 cm, the classic and by far the most common size
- 60x180 cm at the largest, close to a full adult height
If you are not sure which to pick, 50x150 is the safe default that most artwork is designed around. The dakimakura size guide shows all six sizes next to a person for scale.
Peachskin vs 2way
You will usually choose between two fabrics. Peachskin is a soft, smooth polyester with a slightly matte feel and strong, accurate color printing, and it is the budget-friendly pick. 2way is a stretchy knit that is softer to the touch and hugs the insert more snugly, with a bit of give when you squeeze it. Both print well. It mostly comes down to feel and budget.
How a custom one works
A custom dakimakura simply means the artwork is yours instead of a stock design. You upload art you own or commissioned, you pick the size and the fabric, and I print that cover and ship it. That is the whole idea behind a custom body pillow: the character, the pose, and the details are up to you rather than off a shelf.
I keep full guides on the blog covering sizes, fabric differences, washing and care, and how to prep your art file so it prints cleanly. Those go deeper than this overview if you want the specifics.
Ready to see your own art on one? Try the customizer over at customdakimakura.net and build it step by step.