Kodansha Sets October 20 Pre-Order Deadline for Yuzuru Hanyu and Winnie the Pooh Memory Book

Kodansha released production stories on October 16 from the editor in charge of a memory book featuring Yuzuru Hanyu and Winnie the Pooh, and announced that pre-orders close on October 20. The book is titled 'To Pooh: Yuzuru Hanyu and Winnie the Pooh Memory Book with Changeable Outfit Pooh Plush'.

The product is made entirely to order, with pre-orders accepted at bookstores and online bookstores. The all-color 40-page hardcover includes an exclusive long interview with Hanyu and photos taken at Ice Rink Sendai and outdoors. It measures 26.2 cm tall by 18.8 cm wide, and the attached Winnie the Pooh plush is about 20.5 cm tall.

The plush comes with two changeable outfits based on Hanyu's free skate 'SEIMEI' and short program 'Ballade No. 1' worn at the PyeongChang Olympics. The outfits were supervised by Hanyu and the actual costume designer. Bonus items include a replica letter handwritten by Hanyu about his feelings for Pooh and a B2-size poster of Hanyu surrounded by his personal Pooh plushies.

The price is 22,000 yen including tax, with arrival at bookstores planned for May 27, 2027 or later.

The project began when Winnie the Pooh marked its 100th anniversary of original debut in 2026. According to the editor, during planning discussions with Disney, Hanyu's name came up as a known Pooh fan, and Kodansha proposed making a memory book. During the shoot, there were scenes of Hanyu talking to Pooh and speaking about memories with his own plushies.