All About Japan All About Japan

Fresh start every Monday!

Tokyo Toy Show: A Toy Lover's Paradise

From adorable characters and video games to unique plushies and robots, Japan is a great place to visit for both the young and young at heart. The International Tokyo Toy Show may well be the ultimate embodiment of this youthful spirit.

Top 10 Coolest Toys at Tokyo Otaku Mode

There's lots of fun stuff over at Tokyo Otaku Mode that keeps us hovering over the 'add to cart' button. Here are 10 of our most tempting favorites!

Feed the Fish in Your Own Digital Aquarium!

Hook this digital aquarium up to your smartphone and you kids can scan in their own hand-drawn aquatic life!

March 3: Girls' Festival

March 3 is a special day in Japan: it's the day of the Hina Matsuri, or Girls' Festival. On this day, girls are celebrated and families pray for their health and prosperity.

The Nintendo Revolution in the Good Old Days

Most of us probably had at least one product from Nintendo, and it’s time to travel back in time and visit the most popular ones.

All About Gachapon

Get all the info you need to understand Japan's popular capsule toy machines.

Robot Ballerina or Cute Toy?

These adorable electronic floor-cleaning devices blur the line between cleaning products and toys—as your cat will surely demonstrate!

Top 10 Reasons to Buy Takara Tomy Transformers

Transformers collectors have long known the difference between the Japanese and U.S. versions of the toys. See the differences here and start your collection right!

7 Winners of the 2015 Japan Toy Awards

We chose entries across seven categories to bring you a stellar group of toys that were all winners at the 2015 Japan Toy Awards.

Tomy's Talking Sheep Robot is a Real Cutie!

OHaNAS is a cute, white, sheep-like talking robot that can play music and answer your questions. Think Siri, but adorable.

A Litter of Cute Cardboard Kitties!

What do you get when you cross a cardboard box with a cat? Why, only the most adorable feline figurine!

Ukiyo-e Inspired Cutely Gothic Charms

Part adorable, part gruesome, these charms embody the works of one of the most influential ukiyo-e artist of all time.

4 Traditional Japanese Toys

Nowadays Japan has digital toys like PS4 and 3DS, but what were the popular toys that were widely played generations ago?

The 5 Best Japanese Toys of All Time

Japan has long been synonymous with anime, computer games and every kind of tech imaginable—and of course when it comes to toys, Japan has created some of the best you can find!

Mix it Up with a Musical Kendama

Made in collaboration with DJ Koo, this musical kendama toy lights up and makes DJ sounds when you successfully catch the ball.

Anime Robots Evolved Hand-in-Hand with Toys

The history of Japanese robot anime is one reason for Japan’s global reputation for being “robot country.” Anime and film critic Ryusuke Hikawa explains.

Japan's 6 Weirdest RC Toys

Radio-controlled centipedes, anyone? No? How about a cockroach? Or a tissue box?

7 Toy Winners of the Good Design Award

Take a look at seven extraordinary award-winning toys that deserved design certification.

All About Kendama

Kendama are traditional Japanese toys that have reinvented themselves to bring hours of addictive fun to kids and adults around the world.

Catch Some Zs On Your Very Own Snorlax!

This sleeping Snorlax cushion is the best sleeping buddy/bed any Pokémon fan could ask for!

know-before-you-go