Cute animal-themed decorations are starting to take over living rooms and office desks in Japan, bringing joy to anyone who looks at them. Most of the ornaments by Nagoya-based Decole Co. are tiny and made of plastic, and give off different vibes than that of stuffed animals.

A vibrant selection of animals including cats, bear cubs and parakeets are featured, but what truly makes them unique is their posture. Some strike a taiiku-suwari pose, meaning hunkering down, or sit having coffee or are shown exercising.

Small enough to sit in your palm, they come with a reasonable price tag — from 300 yen (about $2.85 dollars) per animal, excluding tax.

“As they don’t take much space when decorating a room, they sell particularly well among women living alone,” said Yuto Komori, in charge of Decole marketing in eastern Japan. “They’re popular not only because they’re cute but because of their somewhat satirical nature.”

The animal characters have become widely used as decorations at beauty shops, restaurants and flower shops, in addition to private use, he said.

Komori introduced a set of animal-shaped goods and other small items as part of a “picnic in the forest” theme. He created a scene where the animals are enjoying a picnic using a real stump and a pine cone, with some of them lounging near a basket. There are many other fun animal-themed goods for you to consider.

For instance, silicon rubber bands known as Animal Rubber Bands are a big hit with both kids and adults. Featuring a colorful mix of animals including elephants and kangaroos, the rubber bands can be used to fasten snack bags and bento. Resistant to hot and cold temperatures, they retain their original shape even when stretched out.

In July, the company launched a new type which is thicker than the original model. Able to stand on its own, the new rubber bands are priced at 700 yen for a set of six, excluding tax. You can arrange your favorite animal-shaped bands and play with them like toys.