Tag Archives: Japanese toy

December 23

Top Ten Crazy Holiday Gifts From Japan 2018

posted by

These days, everyone wants “experiences,” not “stuff,” so how about digging into your Santa sack for presents that deliver #youllneverguesswhatwedids that could only come from (where else?)…Japan! This year, give the gift of… 1 …making your own Panda Face sushi and finding out who’s the fastest panda-grabber in the land Level up by slipping in a […]

»»
October 31

The Shiba Inu Vending Machine

posted by

  Finally! A series of shiba inu gachagacha toys made by an artist who understands that these devilish dogs are not just unbearably adorable, they come packed with a level of eccentric that makes eel-flavored ice cream look like vanilla. I found these in a gachapon machine on the 6th floor of the Akihabara Yodobashi […]

»»
September 12

The Fox Wedding Vending Machine

posted by

Move over Angry Ghost Cats and Drunken Pets! The Fox Wedding vending machine takes tiny collectible toy obsession to a whole new level. Take my coin purse, foxen! Take all of it! And by the way, if you don’t already have a name for that thing where it rains while the sun is shining, from […]

»»
September 28

Square Fruit Balloons

posted by

In the I-totally-don’t-need-this-but-am-strangely-compelled-to-buy-it-anyway category, these square fruit balloons are a quirky modern take on kami fusen, a cheap, Meiji-era toy. Of course, in true ultra-Japanese style, they’re made of paper! If you’ve become remotely infected with the burning desire to buy some square fruit balloons  for yourself, they’re sold at the Cibone store in the (otherwise […]

»»
June 22

The Host Club Vending Machine

posted by

When I first saw this gachapon machine filled with little plastic champagne towers, I thought WAT? Who needs a set of miniature, light-up, host club furniture? I mean, even though it’s pretty happenin’ how they change color and all… …I wasn’t instantly throwing all my money at the coin changer. Until… • Read a novel […]

»»
February 19

Inexplicable Toy Trends Of Japan

posted by

Strolling through the toy aisles of Yodobashi camera one rainy day (as one does), I was stopped in my tracks by this. Disney goes pocchari! Mocchi-mocchi Pooh! Not to be outdone by chublet Minnie & Mickey. At first I thought this must be some sort of knock-off malfunction, but no. It’s officially licensed merch! But WHY? Lately, an “adorable chubbiness” fad […]

»»
September 18

Uncuddly Stuffies

posted by

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that my sympathy runs deep for the poor toy designers who have to churn out new adorable stuffies when all the animals, vegetables, and foods that are even remotely cute have already been taken. I always gave them points for at least trying to make the wallflowers of the toy […]

»»