Aki Hayakawa’s MAPPA Keychain and the World of Chainsaw Man

Aki Hayakawa Chainsaw Man PU Leather Keychain by MAPPA

A Different Kind of Anime Keychain

This is a PU keychain — polyurethane synthetic leather — a category of official anime goods that has been standard in Japan for roughly a decade but remains less common in Western markets. Rather than rigid acrylic or a metal badge, it’s die-cut from a flexible synthetic leather sheet into the outline of Aki Hayakawa’s figure, with stitching finishing the perimeter. The surface carries a printed illustration of Aki holding a sword and sheath — likely a reference to his in-story contract with the Sword Devil. A metal rivet secures the key ring and strap.

The hang tag identifies this as an official product: it carries the Chainsaw Man logo in Japanese and English alongside the MAPPA logo. In Japan, that distinction — officially licensed goods versus fan-produced merchandise — matters to collectors. The PU soft leather format became mainstream in the late 2010s as production costs fell, and it now sits alongside acrylic keychains as one of the standard forms official anime merchandise takes. Its softness and stitched border give it a different feel and visual texture from the flat acrylic version.

Chainsaw Man and the MAPPA Adaptation

Chainsaw Man is a manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from December 2018 to December 2020 for Part 1, with Part 2 continuing on Jump+ from July 2022. The story follows Devil Hunters — humans who contract with supernatural entities called Devils — and is known for its dark tone, graphic action, and willingness to undermine shonen conventions. Characters face consequences that most genre titles avoid, and the narrative structure is deliberately unpredictable.

MAPPA produced the TV anime, which ran from October to December 2022 across 12 episodes. The production drew attention for its animation quality and for commissioning a distinct ending theme for each episode. By the time the season ended, Chainsaw Man was among the most discussed anime releases of 2022 and had built a substantial audience across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia — extending well beyond its existing manga readership.

Aki Hayakawa and the Weight of Part One

Aki Hayakawa is a Public Safety Devil Hunter in Special Division 4 and one of Part 1’s principal characters. His appearance — dark suit, black hair tied back, often depicted with a sword — reflects a reserved, disciplined personality. He contracts with the Fox Devil and, as the story develops, becomes linked to the Sword Devil as well.

In English-language fan communities, Aki’s arc in the latter half of Part 1 is consistently cited as one of the series’ emotional high points. His story generates the kind of attachment that keeps interest in the character alive well after a reader finishes the part. That sustained engagement is part of why merchandise featuring him — including pieces produced around the time of the 2022 anime broadcast — continues to find an audience internationally.