Yeah… I’ve been wondering why no one’s posted anything about toys in this thread since you know; it’s called the Japanese Toy and Video Games thread.
So yeah, I’ve decided to be one of the first amongst the JF members to post something like that up (forgive me if there’s already a thread on this ^_^)
Here goes then:
Although modern toys are immensely popular in Japan, traditional toys still play a significant role in the lives of most Japanese children. Often these toys are folk toys that reflect the customs, history, and legends of Japan (or a particular region of Japan).Traditional toys are particularly popular among both children and adults during the holiday of the Japanese New Year. These toys reflect the spirit and history of Japan throughout the age.
As is the case in many other countries, handcrafted playthings have amused children for centuries in Japan. Images of common toys such as tops, balls, kites, dolls, and miniature models of various real-life figures and objects illustrate the beautiful skill and artistry of Japanese toy-makers. Many toys can be traced to a religious or supernatural origin, reflecting the beliefs and stories associated with Buddhism and Shintoism ^_^
Below are just a few of the many traditional Japanese toys =P
Most people living in the U.S. can remember the mania surrounding The Power Rangers action figures, Tamagotchi virtual pet, Pokemon trading cards, and Playstation 2 video game console. Before every making their way across the ocean, these toys were also huge hits in Japan. However, there are many more toys in Japan that never see the light of day in the U.S. By taking a glimpse at any of the various Japanese toy retailers online, one quickly realizes that the country is flooded with different types of action figures, electronic toy gizmos, collectibles, and video games. Hopefully the examples provided further on will not only remind you of popular Japan-to-U.S. import toys from the past, but also open your eyes to this inner world of Japanese toys, beyond the Power Rangers and Pokemon
The most popular action figures in Japan are based on anime (Japanese animation) shows and/or movies. Shows like
Dragonball Z and
Gundam Seed have spawned a slew of collectible figures XD~! From mechanical robots or cyborgs to mystical creatures and mere mortals, the range of Japanese action figures is quite broad. The most popular figures are often those depicting characters from well-known television shows (e.g., Sailor Moon, Pokemon, Digimon), video games (e.g., Final Fantasy), and movies (e.g., The Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story, Godzilla). The history of "modern" Japanese action figures extends well back to the 1960's when the immensely recognizable (in Japan, that is) super hero Ultraman appeared on television screens on a show of the same name. Glancing over collector's sites on the web, one can clearly trace the lineage of action figures in Japan throughout the various decades since. There appears to also be a large market for importing these action figures into the United States, as many fans of the various anime shows are also avid collectors of their respective figures.
Japan is without a doubt the world leader in video game production. Anyone familiar with the world of video games knows that almost every technology, every piece of equipment, and every game is built and released in Japan first. Japan is home to video game mega-companies.
And that's what Japan gaming's all about, rock on!!
