Purikura

Purikura is the shortened form of "Print Club" translated into Japanese.  Japanese has many less sounds than English so for example the only way to say "Print Club" in Japanese is "Purinto Kurabu".  The Japanese like to shorten words and so it's been shortened to "Purikura"

Purikura are machines you usually find in an arcade or game center that take your picture and then composite it in a graphic frame and print out a set of 16 to 20 of them as stickers about 1 inch by 1/2 inch big.

There are hundreds of different kinds.  Some are themed.  Some use licensed characters like Mickey Mouse or Star Wars.  They became a HUGE hit in Japan especially with girls.  Many girls carry a Purikura photo album with them and any time they are out they make new Purikura with their friends.  The often have hundreds of photos in their albums.  Purikura (a set of 16) usually cost about $3

Here is my album

 
All images not copyright me copyright their respective companies. Everything else copyright me.
Comments:

Wow [ e ]

He's cute!

posted by gmantestDecember 12, 2000 at 17:36

SOUL! 98.5.27 [ e ]

Second row, middle column.

That's my favorite picture.

posted by evilsnailDecember 12, 2000 at 18:22

title [ e ]

Where can I by Purikura

posted by anon_anonymousApril 1, 2002 at 20:50

Purikura [ e ]

What do you mean by buy Purikura?

Check out an arcade or mall if you want to use one or if there is an Asian section of town you might find some there. If you want to buy an actual Purikura machine contact an arcade supply company which you should be able to find in the yellow pages under "amusement machines".

Or, if you just want to make them yourself you can print your own on any ink jet printer with Epson Photo Sticker Paper.  It's more work but it's the same paper used in the Purikura machines.

posted by greggmanApril 3, 2002 at 3:33

GREAT WEBSITE! [ e ]

hi! I just wanted to say i think all your things on here about Japan are very nice! They are very good for people like me who love the Japanese things! I love to take puri-kura the bootjs a can find here in the US but i want to go meet my friends in Japan someday and take like a million! So keep up the good work on this site! Could you email me and tell me if people in the US can have Japanese cell phones? If so where do I buy them or get them? I am REALLY interested in it! Please email me at melissa4312@hotmail.com
Thanks alot!
Melissa

posted by anon_melissaJuly 15, 2002 at 0:18

Any Software for Windows? [ e ]

i want to know is there any software purikura for windows that i can make stickers photo ? please tell me..

posted by sirchangOctober 24, 2004 at 22:18

do you need special software? [ e ]

All you need are the stickers for your printer.  Then just make the pictures and line them up.

Unfortunately as far as I can tell no one in America sells pre-cut purikura size stickers for your printer so you'd either have to get full size sticker paper and cut them out yourself or go with some other size.

Once you have the paper you layout some rectangles in a program like photoshop or illustrator or even MS Word or MS powerpoint.  You could even use Open Office which is free.  Layout the rectangles on the page so they line up with the stickers and print a sample sheet to plain white regular paper.  Hold the regular paper up to a sheet of stickers and see if your rectangles match the stickers.  If not, move all the rectangles around until they do and print another test sheet.  When you have it all lined up.  Save the file.  Now fill in the rectangles with the graphics or photos of your choice.

posted by greggmanOctober 25, 2004 at 4:45

why [ e ]

Why do the pictures have to be so small?

posted by SexybabyNovember 17, 2005 at 18:56

hey need some info [ e ]

hey..erm..juz wonderin where i can buy those maachiine...plz reply me soon in my email..thankxx

posted by xindMarch 28, 2006 at 2:52

United States? [ e ]

Do they have Purikura in the United States? 

If they do, could you tell where and how much it costs?! Please and Thank-you!

Red

posted by BigRedMay 18, 2006 at 10:49

[ e ]

hi i desperately needed information about th epurikura machines for my entrepreneurship class. I decided to make a business presentation for it. Can you tell me how much is a purikur amachine and which number i could get any information for this machine. THanks so much. Can u email me for reply...cute_thet@hotmail.co
m

posted by thetSeptember 27, 2006 at 18:51

a new purikura site online [ e ]

Hey if you like purikura come check out http://www.phozi.com.  We just recently launched it and would like your feedback as a purikura fan.

posted by ChrisMay 10, 2007 at 1:10

I DID THAT [ e ]

wooaahh ive been to japan this year. they are crazy over it! and now i am too. they are very addicting. if only there were in canada.

posted by danikaMay 30, 2007 at 1:19

Windows purikura-like program [ e ]

In answer to the previous question:  Snap (http://snapstrip.com) is a purikura program for windows.

posted by snapteamJune 9, 2007 at 7:23

hi! [ e ]

im a Japanese college student and i research why Prikura is liked in foreign countries!

please tell me why you like Prikura and Japanese things!

posted by shokoJune 27, 2007 at 22:33

purikura [ e ]

im really really interested in purchasing a purikura machine. can anybody tell me where i can find one please??? is there a japanese software like this?? please let me know at grover143jessica@hotmail.com thanks so much! =D

posted by JessicaJune 29, 2007 at 1:00

[ e ]

Hey,....Ive found an purikular machine in Düsseldorf/ Germany in the Japanese Bookstore. i like it very much. Is there anybody who can tell me where i can buy a machine???Thanks you!

posted by DorlyKSeptember 29, 2007 at 3:59

[ e ]

hey! does anyone know where you can purchase a purikura machine =D
(its for my bus studies for school project!)
pls email me at astridtj@gmail.com
thanks :D

posted by astridMarch 2, 2008 at 3:15

:D [ e ]

does anyone know where i can find a purikura in rosemead or annywhere near there ?

posted by yummmMarch 3, 2008 at 19:43

Purikura Photo Sticker Place in Los Angeles [ e ]

There is a store at 2130 Sawtelle Blvd called Pixel Memory Studio.  It has like 10 machines so I think anyone visiting Los Angeles might like that place.  www.pixelms.com

posted by PixelMarch 14, 2008 at 22:21

dude [ e ]

I have to rebuild the computer inside of a namco sticker club booth.. any one know where to get the software to run the actual machine. Also any drivers for the multiple cards would be nice.. plz tanks fer all the help

posted by wowzerApril 11, 2008 at 2:34

dude [ e ]

as per drivers, software and stuff above, plz email crow_726@hotmail.com

posted by wowzerApril 11, 2008 at 2:35

[ e ]

That's not really purikura.

Purikura booths contain a screen and a stylus for choosing backgrounds, adding sparkles and changing the lighting. etc

In those you just change the border to a cartoon, they have them around in England and Ireland where I've been. o.0

posted by sanctyJune 23, 2008 at 3:54

[ e ]

actually, it's probably just changed by now.

 

I didn't realise how long ago this article was written. O.O

posted by sanctyJune 23, 2008 at 4:51

STICKi PICi Purikura for your iPhone! [ e ]

Hi all!

We just released a purikura app for the iPhone and are very excited! Come check it out ^__^

http://www.stickipici.com

posted by STICKiPICiMarch 23, 2009 at 17:57

;D [ e ]

I love these purikura machines, fortunately i was lucky enough to find one in a city nearby and they're so addictive! So england definately have some....

posted by ZzzzzApril 18, 2009 at 12:15

[ e ]

Do you know where to buy those photo albums for them? D: I've always wanted one but haven't a clue where to buy one. XD

posted by NeroAugust 4, 2009 at 20:49

[ e ]

Those aren't really purikura =/ Those are most just plain sticker Photo's which aren't anything special....

posted by AyakaOctober 13, 2009 at 20:42