The KAWS HOLIDAY Japan 2019 figures were a series of ceramic and plush Companion collectibles released by Brian Donnelly (KAWS) in July 2019 to coincide with a 40-meter inflatable Companion sculpture floating on Lake Yamanakako with Mount Fuji as the backdrop — one of the most photographed contemporary art installations of the decade.
The Mount Fuji Moment: Why HOLIDAY Japan Matters
In July 2019, KAWS and Hong Kong-based curatorial platform AllRightsReserved unveiled the fourth installment of the global HOLIDAY series at Lake Yamanakako in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. A 40-meter (approximately 130-foot) inflatable Companion floated on the lake’s surface, head cradled in its signature reclining pose, with the snow-tipped peak of Mount Fuji rising behind it. The image circulated globally within hours of its debut and became, alongside the Hong Kong harbor installation, the defining visual of the HOLIDAY series.
The timing was extraordinary. Just three months earlier — April 1, 2019 — KAWS’s painting The KAWS Album sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for HKD $115.97 million (USD $14.7 million), shattering his previous auction record by roughly 15x and instantly repositioning him as a top-tier contemporary artist. The HOLIDAY Japan release dropped into that white-hot moment, and the accompanying collectibles inherited the cultural surcharge of an artist whose primary market was being institutionally re-rated in real time.
What Was Released: The HOLIDAY Japan Figure Lineup
AllRightsReserved produced a curated set of HOLIDAY Japan companion collectibles released through a Hong Kong lottery system and limited Japan retail. Unlike open-edition merchandise, every figure carried a controlled production cap.
The Core Figures
| Figure | Material | Size | Colorway | Release Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOLIDAY Japan Ceramic Companion | Ceramic | ~10.5 inches | Brown / White | AllRightsReserved lottery |
| HOLIDAY Japan Plush Companion | Polyester plush | ~11 inches | Brown / White | AllRightsReserved lottery |
| HOLIDAY Japan Keyring Plush | Mini plush | ~4 inches | Brown / White | On-site Yamanakako |
| HOLIDAY Japan T-Shirt & Apparel | Cotton / Mixed | Various | White, Black | Pop-up retail + AllRightsReserved |
Edition Sizing and Distribution
HOLIDAY Japan figures were not openly numbered editions in the way fine art prints are, but production was tightly controlled by AllRightsReserved and Medicom Toy’s manufacturing pipeline. Estimated production for the ceramic figure runs in the low thousands worldwide — a fraction of what mainstream collaborative drops produce. Lottery winners in Hong Kong received purchase passes, and remaining inventory sold out within minutes of public release at the Yamanakako site.
The Secondary Market Today
Based on the Gauntlet Gallery 160,000+ comparable sales database covering street art, designer toys, and contemporary collectibles, HOLIDAY Japan figures have maintained one of the strongest appreciation curves in the HOLIDAY series. The ceramic Companion in particular has documented secondary market activity well above its original retail of roughly $200–$250.
Documented Secondary Ranges (2019–2026)
| Figure | Original Retail (est.) | Documented Secondary Range | Provenance Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic Companion (Brown) | ~$250 | Documented multiples above retail across major resale platforms | Boxed, unopened with paperwork commands the high end |
| Plush Companion (Brown) | ~$130 | Documented sustained premium above retail | Tagged, unopened condition critical |
| Keyring Plush | ~$50 | Documented modest secondary premium | On-site purchase receipt adds value |
We avoid quoting fixed dollar comps in editorial because the KAWS secondary market is volatile and platform-dependent. For category-specific comp pulls validated against our internal sales database, see our KAWS Collector Guide.
Why HOLIDAY Series Releases Command a Premium
The HOLIDAY series is the most location-anchored body of work in KAWS’s collectible practice. Each entry — Taipei (2018), Seoul (2018), Hong Kong (2019), Japan/Mt Fuji (2019), Indonesia (2020), Singapore (2021), the Changbai Mountains (2022) — ties a specific monumental inflatable to a specific geography and a specific cultural moment. That anchoring creates three premium drivers:
1. Cultural Moment Lock-In
HOLIDAY Japan exists in the same six-month window as KAWS’s $14.7M Sotheby’s record and the Dior x KAWS retail expansion. Owning a HOLIDAY Japan figure is owning a dated artifact of that compression.
2. Location Scarcity
The Mount Fuji inflatable was on the water for a matter of days. The figures were the only enduring artifact of an inherently temporary public artwork.
3. Distribution Friction
AllRightsReserved’s lottery system, the Yamanakako on-site cap, and the absence of secondary global retail meant the supply chain was geographically constrained from day one. Every figure that traveled out of Japan added a layer of provenance.
Authentication: What to Look For
HOLIDAY Japan figures rank among the most counterfeited KAWS collectibles, alongside the BFF Companion and the OriginalFake Dissected drops. Buyers should verify:
- Original box and inserts: The HOLIDAY Japan ceramic shipped in a custom KAWS x AllRightsReserved box with Mt Fuji-themed graphics. Reproduction boxes circulate.
- Base stamp: Authentic ceramic Companions carry an embossed KAWS signature, ©KAWS year mark, and Medicom Toy / AllRightsReserved attribution on the underside.
- Paint application: Counterfeits typically show paint bleed at the seams, softer edges on the XX eyes, and incorrect shade of brown.
- Seam tolerance: Authentic ceramics show tight, even seams; fakes often have visible mold lines.
- Provenance documentation: Original AllRightsReserved purchase confirmation, Hong Kong lottery email, or on-site Yamanakako receipts materially increase value.
Where HOLIDAY Japan Fits in the Wider KAWS Story
KAWS — Brian Donnelly, born 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey — built his collectible practice from late-1990s subway and bus-shelter interventions into one of the most institutionally embraced living artists of the decade. The HOLIDAY series is the public-art counterpart to that arc, and the figures released alongside each installation are arguably the most accessible entry point into his catalog raisonné.
For collectors building a category-anchored KAWS portfolio, HOLIDAY Japan is one of the three or four most strategically positioned entries in the figure market, alongside Hong Kong HOLIDAY (2019), the OriginalFake era pieces, and the early BE@RBRICK collaborations.
Buying With Confidence
Every KAWS piece offered by Gauntlet Gallery is authenticated against our internal sales database and category-specific authentication protocols. We’ve been working in the contemporary collectibles market since 2012, and the 160,000+ comparable sales we track give us a forensic edge on condition, provenance, and pricing.
Browse current KAWS inventory at gauntlet.gallery/collections/all or contact our team for a private comp analysis on a HOLIDAY Japan figure you’re considering.