Tokyo Toy Show reveals what's new
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From a pet bunny toy that runs around twitching its nose to a toy figure that bears a striking resemblance to Michael Jackson, the 49th annual International Tokyo Toy Show held last month showcased thousands of toys for little kids and big kids too.
More than 150,000 visitors got to check out more than 36,000 toys at Tokyo Big Site during the event’s four days. In all, 139 domestic and overseas toy companies were represented.
Many of the toys at this year’s show weren’t just for children but for parents to enjoy as well. One of the show’s themes, according to a Japan Toy Association news release, was “parents and children having fun together.”
True to form, boys and their fathers tried their hands at such toys as hyper Yo-Yo and radio-controlled cars. Meanwhile, cooking toys had mothers and daughters cooking and tasting together.
Besides toys, character shows also drew in big crowds at the event. Many fathers hoisted their children up onto their shoulders so they could watch the shows amidst the sea of people.
“My daughter really enjoyed the performances of the Sugarbunnies and Heart Catch Precure,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Tom Murphy from Yokosuka Naval Base, who came with his wife, Amanda, their 4-year-old daughter, Adelaide, and their 5-month-old baby. “The characters here are different, but I think the kids [here] enjoy toys just as much as they do in the States,” Murphy said.
Stars and Stripes reporter Grant Okubo contributed to this report.
Toys that caught our interest
Ripstik
company: Razor, Vitamin i Factory in Japan
target age: 8 and up
date available: In stores now
price: 15,800-18,880 yen ($180-$215)
description: It’s a cross between a snowboard and a skateboard. The Ripstik is perfect for kids looking for a new type of thrill or even older riders looking to join them. Instead of the conventional four wheels, the Ripstik has only two. It features a pivoting deck and 360-degree inclined caster trucks, which give it its signature maneuverability. — Grant Okubo
Gummi X
company: MegaHouse
target age: 8 and up
date available: Early August
price: 4,179 yen (about $48)
description: This first-ever cooking toy for boys. Makes edible bugs and dinosaurs. Combine juice and gelatin mix into a tray and cool it in a refrigerator for 15 minutes to make edible bugs and dinosaurs. — Hana Kusumoto
Crystal Puzzle
company: Beverly Enterprise
target age: 14 and up
date available: In stores now
price: 1,050-2,625 yen (about $12 to $30)
product description: These clear, three-dimensional puzzle blocks put together make a nice display for your living room. Easier puzzles use fewer pieces — an apple uses 44 — while more advanced puzzles use more — the castle uses 105. — Hana Kusumoto
Hex Bug Nano
company: Innovation First Lab, Takara Tomy A.R.T.S in Japan
target age: 6 and up
date available: In stores now
price: 924 yen ($11)
description: A micro-biotic creature that behaves and even looks like a real bug. They come in various colors and in larger numbers are quite a scary-looking swarm. This unpredictable robot uses vibration to propel itself in different directions. — Grant Okubo
High Grade Gundam Figures
company: Bandai price: 1,600-2,100 yen ($18-$24)
date available: September target age: 5 and up
description: The pieces for this High Grade Gundam model kit are pre-colored and easily snap together. The models are made by Ban Dai Japan so the instructions will be in Japanese, but they have very clear numbered photos that are easy to follow. There is no glue or paint required to build these models. These models come with movable parts and accessories. — Grant Okubo
Memory Tamago
manufacturer: Kumon
target age: 3 and up
date available: Early October
price: 2,940 yen (about $34)
description: This educational toy helps build children’s memories and concentration. It is played like the game “Concentration.” When tamago (eggs in Japanese) are placed on the green egg holders, pictures pop up. Players try to match up the pictures. — Hana Kusumoto
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
company: Sega Toys
target age: 5 and up
date available: In stores now
price: 650-2,650 yen ($8-$30)
description: A card- and toy-based game similar to other card-based games like Yu-Gi-Oh! From the Japanese words ‘baku’ meaning ‘to explode’ and ‘gan’ meaning ‘sphere,’ Bakugan are small spheres that pop open into powerful Bakugan monsters. In this game, the Bakugan pop open when rolled onto special metal gate cards. The objective of the game is to capture three gate cards. — Grant Okubo
Mindflex
company: Mattel, Sega Toys in Japan
target age: 15 and up
date available: In stores now
price: 12,600 yen ($142)
description: Mindflex is a device that allows you to move a ball with the power of your mind. Mindflex reads the intensity of your brainwaves via sensors positioned on your forehead and ears. Once the Mindflex headset recognizes your brainwaves, it transmits a signal to a fan within the console. This fan controls ball levitation. Your brainwaves, in turn, control the power of the fan. The more effectively you concentrate, the stronger the fan blows, and the higher the ball floats. — Grant Okubo
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