Irresistable Objects...

... so tiny and impractical, yet so cute—

Japanese stationery store item, mid-1980s: Puchikko kurippu.

The second word, kurippu (クリップ), is simply Japanese pronunciation and written rendering of "clip."

Puchikko (ぷちっ子) isn't as easy. The basic meaning of 子 (ko) is "child," but it's also the most common ending of feminine names. (Here, the っ that comes before it doubles the "k" sound).

My dictionary shows puchi (プチ) as a Japanese version of the French word petit; used as in, puchi furo (petit fours), and, puchi buro (petit burgeois).

Despite the difference in writing puchi as プチ in katakana, normally used for words derived from other languages, vs. ぷち in hiragana, which usually renders syllables of Japanese meaning origin, it sure seems "puchi" should mean, "awfully small." In that case, puchikko kurippu might suggest something like, "junior peewee clip."

Though it also could be a proper name for the rabbit character, whose ears are adorably configured to echo the clip prongs.

As pervasive as miniaturization (and cuteness) are in Japan, this product may have been inspired by a particular one that was a big deal around the same time. Too bad I can't remember the name, but it was a miniaturized desk accessory set: a bento-inspired plastic box containing a stapler, scissors, plus a couple of other items, made in interlocking shapes to all fit inside. As I remember, it was designed by women office workers, which contributed to the novelty and amount of publicity.

That product was useable, as well as decorative, but these clips are not so practical: really too tiny to hold much of anything together.

Now, these are effective clips—

Even if "F. Cats" fit best on the surface space, it's mere shorthand for the true identity of these characters.

They are: Flying Cats, who had many amusing adventures on a mid-80s line of school supplies.