Manufacturer: Tomy
Words and Photos by Joshua Bernard
Translation help courtesy of Feel So Yappy

"As their heads sway, you feel better, and your feelings relax. It hypnotizes. Nohohons are for stress relief!"

That's how the Nohohon-Zoku (Nohohon Family) are described on Tomy's website, and it's the truth. You can't help but get mesmerized by their insanely sweet catchy songs. As they do their little dance you will slip into a zen-like trance. They are a toy designed not to stimulate you, but to relax you.

Nohohon-Zoku come in several different varities, but the two main lines are Hidamari no Tami (Sunny People) and Hanauta no Tami (Humming people). Hidamari no Tami are solar powered with silent motors. Their heads move silently, de-stressing you. There is a place on the front to place small cards with messages on them.

Hanauta no Tami are battery Powered. Press a button on the base and they begin to sing one of 3 songs, their head gently bobbing side to side. Connect them to each other and they begin to sing different parts the same song, dancing to the beat. You can even re-arrange the order of the units to play different melodies.

There are 6 different Hanauta no Tami out right now, but I only have the original 3. They are:

Feel so Happy (green)

Songs:

• Hitachi on Jyu - Sunlight Forest
• Sanbo - Walking
• Gakuen Tengoku - Campus Heaven

Feel so Pep (pink)

Songs:

• Ashita ga arusa - Tomorrow is here
• Top of the world
• Ue o mukaite arukou - Let's walk facing up

Feel so Peace (blue)

Songs:

• Let it be
• Tsunami
• Yozora Nomukou - Let's drink the night sky

The Hanuata no Tami retail for about 1,977 yen ($16.60) and can be found only in Japan at places like Kiddieland in Harajuku or on-line at es!toys.