ISU Gifts Labubu Toy to Kaori Sakamoto, Fans Adore Surprised Reaction

The International Skating Union presented a popular collectible Labubu toy to Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto at an event, and a video of her cute surprised reaction circulated widely. The ISU’s post of the clip amassed over 3,600 likes and 250 reposts on X, drawing fans from both figure skating and collectible-toy circles.

The video, captured at the event on February 25, 2026, shows Sakamoto visibly surprised when handed the Labubu figure. The reaction is small and quick but distinctly warm, and that moment is what viewers on X have latched onto as the clip spread. Fans across X laughed and praised her response, turning a brief exchange into the post’s defining moment.

The ISU’s decision to film and post the exchange made the gesture public beyond the rink. The post’s engagement totals - over 3,600 likes and 250 reposts - were visible on the platform as the clip circulated, and those metrics helped the moment move from a private gift to a shareable cultural moment for Labubu collectors and Kaori Sakamoto supporters alike.

Social reaction on X clustered around playful responses to Sakamoto’s expression and praise for the ISU’s choice of gift. The combination of a well-known skater, Kaori Sakamoto, and a recognizable collectible, Labubu, produced immediate pickup on X: the post’s like count and repost count provided a measurable signal of interest from the community that reacted to the short video.

This exchange on February 25, 2026, illustrates how small off-ice moments can amplify a collectible’s profile and spotlight a skater’s personality. With the ISU’s post reaching more than 3,600 likes and 250 reposts on X, the Labubu clip stands as a tidy example of cross-over appeal between sports and pop-collectible culture and will likely be one of the memorable off-ice images tied to Kaori Sakamoto from this event.