San-X is definitely not a "strange" name for Japanese people since 1932.  It is perhaps the only Japanese company who is comparable to the well-known stationery giant-Sanrio, who also specializes in the creation, production and marketing of goods featuring anime-style anthropomorphic characters such as Kogepan, Nyan Nyan Nyanko and Afro-Ken. Characters usually relate to some aspect of Japanese culture: Tissue-san was a character developed to encourage Japanese schoolchildren to use tissues when they have a cold or flu.

The characters' personalities are well-developed, with each character having its own quirky traits. For instance, Momobuta is a pig with a head shaped like a peach, who enjoys karaoke and painting her nails. Mikanbouya is an orange who likes candy and dislikes cold weather.

 Characters:

• Afro Ken - a dog with an afro
• Buru Buru Dog - an extremely tiny, constantly trembling and weeping dog, radiating pure love
• Kyoo Usa - a rabbit
• Kerori - a frog that changes color according to its mood
• Mamegoma - little seals that enjoy eating soybeans
• Momobuta - a pig with a head shaped like a peach, who enjoys karaoke and painting her nails
• Monokuro Boo - a black pig and a white pig. There is usually a beebuzzing around them, and the phrase "Simple is Best"
• Nakayoshi Net - a collection of happy animals
• Nemui Neko - a sleepy cat
• Nijinomukou - another collection of happy animals, drawn in a more sketchy style
• Nyan Nyan Nyanko - little cats that transmogrify into, most commonly, food, and school supplies
• Rilakkuma - a brown bear who lives the house of an office lady (OL) named Kaoru
• Tarepanda (or Tare Panda) - a lazy panda
• Tohoho na Dog (or Tire Dog)- a dog with a tire on his head
• Wan Wan Wanco - a collection of dogs, real dog photos with drawn backgrounds