Hong Kong men turn to plush ‘bag charms’ for self-expression, comfort

In Hong Kong, men of all ages and backgrounds are increasingly embracing plush toys as accessories to express their personal style and find comfort. For 31-year-old architect Bryan Hui, his Chiikawa plush toy keychain serves as a source of solace and represents a conflicted character with a strong moral code. Hui's collection of nearly 50 Chiikawa plushies at home reflects this growing trend, with individuals from young women to adult men sporting "bag charms" in public.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Amos Cheung Chuen-yih notes that the once-taboo association of plush toys with women or children has evolved into a mainstream lifestyle trend in Hong Kong. Men proudly display plush toys on their bags as a form of personal expression, rather than a negative label. The soft toys provide comfort and emotional regulation for people of all genders, helping to alleviate anxiety and improve mood.

While some hesitation initially arose, Hui now sees no issue in attaching his charm to his backpack during work meetings. Fellow fan Wayne Chiu Tsz-wai, a property manager, also started sporting various charms on his bag two years ago, receiving mostly positive reactions despite encountering some negative comments. Building surveyor William Yu Shing-wai, a lifelong Pokemon fan, boasts over 1,000 trading cards and dozens of plush toys, proudly attaching smaller character charms to his work bag.

As society becomes more open and inclusive, these gender limitations on choosing specific character charms are expected to loosen further.