Meanings
plural dakimakuras · alternative clipping daki
- A body-length pillow, originating in Japan, which can be embraced or wrapped around one's body while sleeping.
These character-print dakimakura came into existence in the late '90s as a way for animé fans to get up close and personal with their cartoon sweethearts.
2004 February 6, Chris Kohler, “Getting in Bed With the Customer”, in Wired2 more examples
I would follow that up with: "And then they raided his room at his parents' house where they found a Sailor Moon dakimakura and posters of Morning Musume plastering the walls" ...
2003 December 9, Ryan Ginstrom, “Re: Enterprising interviewee...”, in fj.life.in-japan (Usenet)Jin has fallen head over heels for a Japanese 'dakimakura' - or hugging pillow - showing a life sized cartoon of his favourite sexy anime cartoon character Fate Testarossa.
2010 March 12, “Man Weds Cushion”, in Daily Star, UKSynonyms: body pillow, Dutch wife, love pillow
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA body-length pillow, originating in Japan, which can be embraced or wrapped around one's body while sleeping.
Origin
- Japanese抱き枕
- Englishdakimakura
From Japanese 抱き枕 (dakimakura), from 抱き (daki, “to embrace or cling”) + 枕 (makura, “pillow”).
More words from Japanese
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
dakimakura. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dakimakura
“dakimakura.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dakimakura. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dakimakura,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dakimakura.
Source: dakimakura on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.