Rare Japanese-style Neko Dango (Cat Dumpling) Cat Plushie Doll Toy

This soft, squishy, palm (or dumpling) sized, pink-eared black cat plushie features one eye closed as if winking. We were unable to find anything with the same expression online but learned all about the Neko Dando Japanese kawaii (cute) collections. 
 
Ours was not made by Sanei Boeki as the Neko Dango series under the brand name San-Ei or Sanei Boeki have limp tails instead of high tails like ours. They are also usually filled with beans whereas ours feels more sponge-like.
 
This cat can be used as a child’s toy or an adult stress ball. It comes with a little loop between the ears enabling it to also be used as a key chain or, say, a backpack bauble. It is in good condition. We are not sure how old it is or how it came into our family.
 
H 2 1/2” x L 3” x D 2 1/4”
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.