When you think about vibrators, one that springs to mind for almost everybody is the Rabbit sex toy.
Let’s take a look at the Rabbit vibrator's origin, and why it’s so popular.

The Rabbit Vibrator's Origins (and Future)

What Are Rabbit Sex Toys?

The rabbit vibrator is a type of sex toy that consists of two parts:

• A shaft for vaginal penetration.
• An external set of “rabbit ears” that stimulate the clitoris.

The original Rabbits even had rotating beads for added vaginal stimulation.
Now that we know what the rabbit vibrator is, let’s take a look at its story.

The Beginning

The original rabbit sex toy design comes from Japan, courtest of the sex toy company Vibratex in the 1980s. 
The company’s owner, Martin Shay, can be credited with the idea behind the toy we all know and love.
Japan had very strict laws against adult toys.
So, in order to get around this, the company had a look at animals as inspirations for designs.
They decision to go with a rabbit is because of two reasons:
- Rabbits are lucky charms in Japan
- In honour of Martin, who was born in the year of the Rabbit.
As a result of this decision, the rabbit sex toy was given its iconic “rabbit ears” and bright colours.
This meant it couldn’t be outright classified as a sex toy.
While it was joined by the Beaver, the Kangaroo, and the Turtle, the Rabbit was the only one that took off - literally.

Coming To America

The Seattle-based sex toy shop, Babeland, was the first to introduce the U.S. to the Rabbit.
In fact, the toy was so popular that they opened another store in New York, around 1997.
Also in New York was the adult boutique, The Pleasure Chest.

The Big Break

In 1998, The Pleasure Chest was visited by representatives at HBO - the company behind the world-famous show, Sex and the City.
They asked about the Rabbit sex toy, and eventually got into contact with Vibratex, who gave them permission to use the toy in an episode of SATC.

The Turtle And The Hare

Shortly after the episode (called “The Turtle And The Hare”) aired, the Rabbit began to see massive success.
Competitor products began to spring up all over the place, but the original product was still the most popular.
While part of the sales can be credited to Charlotte’s not wanting to leave the house, part of the popularity was also a result of the beginning of online shopping.
While sales soared overall, UK-based adult toy store Ann Summers reported a sale of over 1 million rabbits within 12 months of launching their site.

So - Why The Buzz?

While we’ve seen many iterations of the Rabbit sex toy since its inception, the original design always stands out because of its game changer: the clitoral stimulator. 
The other thing that makes the Rabbit vibrator an interesting sex toy is how many waves of success it’s seen.

Hopping Along

Whenever it seems to reach a low, something would happen to bring it back into the limelight.
For instance, both Eva Longoria and Oprah have publicly endorse the Rabbit as a must-have for women.

Conclusion - What’s On The Horizon?

Since the ushering in of the 2000s, the Rabbit sex toy has been the basis for a 124-page guide, and a mockumentary - as well as the go-to for women around the world.
Currently, there are dozens of varieties of vibrators out there, due in large part to the Rabbit’s success. 
What the future holds for sex toys is uncertain - but there’s no doubt that the Rabbit vibrator's origins are an indicator of its future, and that it will keep going for many years to come.