On June 10, 2026, a post appeared on China's SNS Xiaohongshu (RED) saying, "I can't believe the Chiikawa scene has come to this... I'm starting to want to quit being a fan," and it has gathered both pros and cons from Chinese netizens. The background seems to be the falling second-hand market price of Chiikawa merchandise, which once saw an abnormal surge.

In response to this post, many Chinese netizens expressed positive acceptance of the current situation, with comments such as: "I bought many popular items at premium prices, but now I can get the characters I like for much less, so I'm quite satisfied." "I don't really care about the market price. I didn't buy them to sell them in the first place. But I'm happy that I can buy more of what I like now that they're cheaper." "Isn't it better now? I used to rush to buy things before they soared in price, but now I can choose and buy only what I truly want."

Additionally, voices praising the increased ease of purchase were raised, with comments like: "The price drop is really a blessing for students. Back then, even one keychain could easily cost hundreds of yuan." "The current prices are truly a blessing for those who genuinely love them. They've become quite affordable. However, for those who stubbornly bought them during the peak price period, it must be honestly tough." "It's really easy to buy now. If you use a coupon, you can get an additional 20% off, you can choose only what you like, and you don't have to participate in bidding wars like before. In fact, I feel like I'm able to buy plush toys more rationally than before."

Furthermore, calm opinions were also gathered, such as: "If you buy early, you enjoy early, and if you buy late, you buy cheaply. If you didn't force yourself to buy premium-priced items, I don't think there's much damage." "I feel like it's okay now. I still can't let go of my favorite characters, and it's fine because I bought them early and enjoyed them." "I don't really care. I still buy them if I see them now. Chiikawa has completely satisfied my collecting habit, and thanks to that, my other bad spending habits have significantly decreased." "If you like them, that's all that matters. Sometimes I think about selling a few because I run out of space to display them, but once I pick up a plush toy and look at it, I can't let go. So I end up buying another shelf (lol)."

On the other hand, comments expressing complex feelings were also received, such as: "I recently put some merchandise up for auction during a decluttering, and they sold for about 20-30 yuan (approximately 470-700 yen). They've really gotten cheap (lol)." "I completely understand that feeling. But at the same time, I'm grateful. I finally bought something I'd wanted for a long time. However, seeing the market price drop this much also gives me mixed feelings." "Can you believe I bought Usagi for 2000 yuan (approximately 47,000 yen) when it was most expensive, but now you can buy it for 90 yuan (approximately 2,100 yen)? But there's also the benefit of being in the community for a long time; items that were too expensive due to premium prices back then are now being re-released and can be bought normally."

Additionally, while there were cynical comments like: "I guess the ones truly bothered are the resellers and speculators, and those who stubbornly bought at high prices." "I think it's a good thing that re-releases hurt resellers and hoarders, allowing people who genuinely love the products to buy them." On the other hand, critical comments were also seen: "Actually, it's not bad. It's tough when you're selling unwanted items, but it's great when you're buying. If there's any dissatisfaction, it's that the atmosphere of the community (kaiwai) has gotten worse than before. And it's a bit unfair that fans who have supported it financially from the beginning are mocked by people who spend little to no money, saying things like 'buying at high prices is your own responsibility.'" (Translation/Editing by Iwata)