What Are Acrylic Keychains (Akkii) and Rubber Straps (Rabusuto)? Differences, Uses and Storage Tips
Akkii / Rabusuto アクキー・ラバスト · Keychains & straps
You want to keep your oshi’s keychain on your bag for a long time without scratching it. Here is how akkii and rabusuto differ, how to choose where to attach them, and how to store them so both the hardware and the item itself last.
What Akkii and Rabusuto Mean
Akkii (アクキー) is short for “acrylic keychain.” It is a keychain with a character or person printed on a clear acrylic plate, essentially the keychain version of the acrylic stand.
Rabusuto (ラバスト) is short for “rubber strap.” It is a strap made of a soft rubber-like material (mainly PVC), prized for its squishy texture and three-dimensional look.
| Akkii | Rabusuto | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Hard acrylic | Soft rubber-like material (mainly PVC) |
| Look | Fine printing, glossy | Matte and dimensional; shows off deformed (chibi) art |
| Strength | Faithful reproduction of photos and illustrations | Resistant to scratches and cracks, made for daily use |
| Weakness | Risk of cracking or chipping if dropped | Can get sticky with age |
Which one to pick comes down to what you’ll attach it to. Akkii for display and photos, rabusuto for rough everyday carry: keep that in mind and choosing gets easier.
Akkii
- Fine, glossy printing
- Best for photos and detailed art
- Can crack or chip if dropped
Rabusuto
- Matte, squishy and dimensional
- Best for chibi art and rough daily use
- Can get sticky with age
Display and photos favor akkii; everyday carry favors rabusuto.
Origins and History
“Akkii” shortens “acrylic keychain” and “rabusuto” shortens “rubber strap.” Product names pairing a material with a hardware shape became shared fan vocabulary as character goods got smaller and easier to carry around. Both are often sold as blind (random) goods where you can’t choose the design, so trading took root early for both.
Telling Similar Words Apart
An akkii is a hard, clear acrylic plate, a rabusuto is made of a soft rubber-like material (mainly PVC), and an acrylic stand is a product you stand on a base to display. Even when they have hardware, the names follow the main use and material. Can badges are a different line, with a printed face fixed to a metal base, and they are mostly pinned side by side.
Examples
- “New akkii: pulled my oshi out of five random ones. Today is a win.”
- “I’m a rabusuto person for my commute bag. They’re tough, so I don’t worry.”
- “The rule for akkii is buy two: one to keep, one to use.”
- “The hardware got loose, so I swapped it for a carabiner clasp with a cover.”
- “My rabusuto started getting sticky, so I washed it, dried it and moved it into non-woven fabric.”
3 Steps to Decide Before You Buy
- Decide where you’ll use it. Your everyday bag, or a shelf in your room? If it might get dropped, a rabusuto, which resists cracking, is the better fit
- Check how the design will look. Photos and thin illustration lines are reproduced better on acrylic. Deformed, chibi-style designs still look good on rubber
- Think about trading first. If you plan to send non-oshi pulls to a goods trade, decide how to open them and where to store them before you buy, and they’ll stay in good condition
- 01Pick the placeDaily bag or display shelf
- 02Check the artFine lines suit acrylic
- 03Plan for tradesDecide how to open and store
Settling all three first keeps the goods in good condition.
Ideas for Where to Attach Them
- Bag and backpack handles (the classic)
- As parts of an ita-bag
- Pouches, key cases and staff ID straps (a subtle everyday oshi)
- Car keys and house keys (the place where you’re guaranteed to see your oshi every day)
Your keychainA small piece of your oshi
- Bag handlesThe classic spot
- Ita-bagOne part of a larger display
- Pouches and key casesA subtle everyday oshi
- Staff ID strapsQuiet, at work
- Car and house keysSeen every single day
A Little Hardware Knowledge
- Carabiner clasp (nasukan): the standard, easy to attach and remove. A swivel type lets you fix the orientation
- Ball chain: light and cheap, but easy to pop off if snagged. Be careful in crowds
- Double ring: harder to detach, which makes it good for “I absolutely cannot lose this”
- If you swap items on and off often, changing to a clasp with a cover also protects the area around the hole in the item
Storage Tips to Prevent Deterioration
- Akkii: Watch for drops and pressure. Store the ones you aren’t using flat in refill sleeves with pockets. Direct sunlight fades the print
- Rabusuto: Heat and humidity make them sticky. Keep them in their individual packaging, or wrapped in non-woven fabric, in a cool, dark place
- Hardware (ball chains, clasps) is a consumable. When it loosens, replacement parts from a 100-yen shop can extend its life
- Buying two, one to keep and one to use, is also a realistic hedge against the weak point of each: cracking for akkii, stickiness for rabusuto
- For the ones you’re saving for trades, put them in a hard case so they don’t rub against other goods. It also makes it easier to describe their condition when you hand them over
For storage in general, see storage ideas for oshi merch.
Notes From The Oshi Lab: Casualness Is What Lets Goods Seep Into Daily Life
The reason akkii and rabusuto remain staples is a golden balance of price, weight and ease of attachment. They cost a few hundred yen and up, go anywhere, and can be bought again if they break. From a merchandise-design point of view, that casualness is exactly what lets them seep into daily life, and it creates a purchase frequency that high-priced goods do not.
Akkii and rabusuto are also a good example of how the same design gives a different experience depending on the material. Acrylic for detail, rubber-like material (mainly PVC) for ease: sell both side by side and fans buy each for its purpose. For low-priced goods in particular, the feel of the material and the durability of the hardware decide satisfaction and repeat purchases. Another point that is easy to overlook is that these are items used in places where other people see them. A small piece hanging from a commute bag or a key is an everyday pleasure for its owner, but to the people around them it is a chance for the work to come into view. Their low price makes them easy to dismiss, yet you could argue they are the touchpoint seen for the longest time by the most people.
Related Terms
FAQ
What is an akkii (acrylic keychain)?
Akkii is short for acrylic keychain: a keychain with a character or person printed on a clear acrylic plate. A staple of fan merch that's easy to carry around, it's often sold as a blind (random) item.
What is the difference between an akkii and a rabusuto?
The material. An akkii is made of hard, clear acrylic with fine printing, while a rabusuto is made of a soft rubber-like material (mainly PVC), which gives it a three-dimensional feel and durability. Both are staples for hanging on bags and ita-bags.
What can I do if a rubber strap gets sticky?
Stickiness is usually caused by the material seeping as it ages. Wash it gently with mild detergent, dry it thoroughly and dust on a thin layer of baby powder, which usually helps. To prevent it, store rubber straps away from high heat and humidity.
Can I fix a cracked acrylic keychain?
A full repair is difficult, though some fans patch small chips with clear resin. In practice, prevention comes first: avoid attaching it where it catches in crowds, and put a protective plastic cover on it.
Should I open an akkii I plan to trade?
An unopened one tends to be easier to describe and more reassuring to the other person. If you trade an opened one, mention up front whether the film is still on and any small scratches to avoid misunderstandings.
