Slipping quietly out from the streets, a troupe of abandoned, misfit toys gather under the cloak of night to form a secret circus.
Tonight, it’s showtime. The three-o’clock bell signals the end of the show; they’re off to the next town.
Today, we unveil our collaboration with Sentimental Circus; the dark-whimsical world of delicate oil-painted characters created in 2010 by character company, San-X Co., Ltd. Gothic yet charming, melancholic yet sweet. The pieces are crafted to feel like a vintage circus time capsule—items you might discover tucked away in an antique trunk but are somehow perfect for you right here, right now.
Sentimental Circus & Strawberry Western
Going deep into the character lore, we designed entirely new pieces tailored specifically for the Sentimental Circus world.
Our signature metal carabiner is reimagined as Toto—the acrobatic performer and ringmaster Shappo’s loyal partner.
A pair of large, rabbit head skeleton keys on a hinged jailer key ring are an original painting element brought to life. I love the idea of someone walking around with these hanging off their bag as if they live in a big old Queen Anne Victorian house.
We designed an antique-style pocket watch with ornate Louis XIV hands and a special watch face. In this digital era of AI and constantly checking the time on your phone, there’s something so grounding about going analog in even a small way. The lobster clasp lets you hook the pocket watch onto your bag or belt loop for easy checking.
A delicate and charming ditsy print of all the circus troupe crew decorates a sweet lounge bralette and tights. Every piece in this collection is intentional and designed to fully set the stage of the story of this collaboration.
The Sentimental Circus collection by Strawberry Western will be available exclusively online at strawberrywestern.com beginning Friday, October 02, 2026.
ABOUT SENTIMENTAL CIRCUS
Sentimental Circus (センチメンタルサーカス) is a melancholic, gothic-leaning character franchise created by San-X in September 2010. The lore of Sentimental Circus centers on abandoned, forgotten, or broken toys who gather at midnight to perform a secret circus ring-mastered by Shappo (a rabbit stitched together from mismatched fabric scraps). Fans are deeply drawn to themes of second chances, nostalgia, feeling cast aside, and finding beauty in being patched up or imperfect.
ABOUT STRAWBERRY WESTERN
Strawberry Western is the NYC-based lifestyle brand founded by Kisa Shiga and Eli Libman, known for blending cuteness with utility through playful, nostalgic pieces designed to be worn, used, and kept. Rooted in Japanese subcultures, the brand creates a world that feels equal parts fashion and collectible objects.
For founder and creative director Kisa, this collaboration is especially personal. Growing up between New York and Himeji, she was surrounded by kawaii culture, manga, and Japanese fashion, but also by Chibi Maruko-chan itself. Her mother first read the mangas to help learn Japanese, then read them to Kisa as a child, making Maruko a character deeply tied to memory, family, and nostalgia.
