A special feature on nostalgic toys and the trends we craved as kids—loads of the things we wanted back then are here!
Do you ever find yourself suddenly remembering those nostalgic toys you were obsessed with as a kid? The gadgets you used to compete with your friends over, or that one item you begged to have no matter what.
Trends in toys may change from era to era, but that thrilling excitement that stays deep in your heart never fades, does it? Some of them are still popular even today.
In this article, we’ll look back at the things we wanted as children and the toys that were all the rage back then, and introduce plenty of items that will make you blurt out, “I remember that!” Let’s open the door to those nostalgic memories!
- A roundup of nostalgic toys for people born in the ’90s [Trends]
- A roundup of nostalgic toys for people born in the 2000s [Trends]
- Nostalgic games that were popular when we were kids
- [Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Toy Ideas You Can Create Yourself
- [List] A roundup of games and recreational activities kids love
- It's fun to spin! A collection of DIY toy ideas
- DIY ideas for a den-den daiko (Japanese pellet drum). Let’s make and play with this nostalgic toy!
- [Make with Kids] Handmade Outdoor Play Toy Special
- [For Kids] Today's Recommended Recreation Idea Collection
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
- [For Kids] Today’s Handmade Craft Ideas
- [DIY] A Collection of Handmade Moving Toy Craft Ideas
- [For Elementary School Kids] Handmade Toy Craft Ideas
A flood of things we wanted as kids! Feature on nostalgic toys and popular toys (31–40)
Pachin GumNEW!
If you reach out your hand, tempted by the kind offer of “Here, have some gum,” your fingers will get snapped with a sharp “snap!” This is a prank toy that was popular from the Showa era into the early Heisei period.
It looks like a stick of chewing gum, but you can’t eat what’s inside.
It’s an easy-to-understand prank, yet it has a certain charm that makes you want to try it over and over.
If you really want to catch someone off guard, surprising them out of the blue might work best.
ButamintonNEW!
The badminton-style competitive sports game “Butaminton” is a nostalgic toy for those who spent their childhood from the Showa into the Heisei era.
In badminton you use a racket to hit the shuttlecock, but in Butaminton you use a pig toy! You squeeze the pig to puff out air from its snout, and that force launches the shuttlecock.
Revived in the Reiwa era, it won the Grand Prize at the Japan Toy Awards 2025.
Truly a wildly popular toy that transcends generations!
MonchhichiNEW!
It was a toy that felt a bit strange even back then: a plush body with a doll-like face.
It was born in 1974, starting with Monchhichi in the form of a baby wearing a bib.
Later, Monchhichi’s friends and the twin siblings Mychhichi appeared, and the character grew into a long-loved favorite.
In 2024 it celebrates its 50th anniversary, and it’s still so popular that new merchandise is being released today.
It’s a heavyweight you can’t ignore when talking about Showa-era retro!
baseball board gameNEW!
The tabletop “Baseball Board” game you can easily enjoy indoors is something just about everyone has played at least once.
The rules are just like real baseball, so split into pitcher and batter and take turns on offense and defense.
As the batter, aim to land the ball in the “1BH,” “2BH,” “3BH,” or “HR” slots on the board.
Hitting into a fielder or an “OUT” slot won’t score any runs.
As the pitcher, vary your pitches from the available types to get the batter out.
You might want to limit the number of times a magic pitch can be used.
New releases are here too! Love & Berry
https://www.tiktok.com/@yokopii/video/7474866054859099400In arcades and in corners of big malls, the game Oshare Majo Love and Berry stood out, drawing crowds of girls.
Of course, it wasn’t just girls—boys and adults lined up too, cheering and groaning over the cards that came out and how the game unfolded.
In fact, Love and Berry was developed as the girls’ counterpart to Mushi King: The King of Beetles, which was enjoying explosive popularity at the time.
There was even a Nintendo DS version that came with a card reader, so you could play Love and Berry on it.
Who knows—maybe there are still some Love and Berry cards sleeping in the back of your big sister’s desk!
Angel Blue
Angel Blue is a fashion brand by Narumiya International that debuted in 1989.
It exploded in popularity in the 2000s, so even if you don’t know the brand, you’ve probably seen its main character, Nakamu‑ra-kun, at least once.
Its popularity hasn’t waned, and in 2025 a new character, Mimily-chan, joined the lineup! The flagship store, NARUMIYA HAPPY PARK, also opened.
A wide variety of items are available, from accessories to clothing.
Reprint editions are popular too! Tamagotchi
Tamagotchi, released by Bandai in 1996, sparked a massive boom that became a social phenomenon—many people at the time found it hard to get their hands on one! Tamagotchi remains popular today, and unlike in the past, it now has a color screen, zoom, and communication features, continuing to evolve.
When it first launched, the ways to raise your Tamagotchi were limited and the game was something you played on your own, but once communication features were added, you could interact with other people’s Tamagotchi, expanding the ways to play.
There are also many character collaboration editions, making it a product you can’t help wanting more of.
Timeless! Mini 4WD
Mini 4WD has been a popular pastime for over 40 years.
Some say the fourth boom has arrived—no, it’s the fifth!—and everyone seems to have their own favorite car tied to personal memories.
I’ve even seen news about fathers of today’s generation enjoying Mini 4WD together with their kids.
One of the charms of Mini 4WD is that you don’t just run what you bought out of the box; you can combine parts, sometimes make your own, and there’s plenty of room for creativity and ingenuity.
There are even videos that showcase every Mini 4WD machine ever made.
I hope people who were obsessed with it back in the Heisei era will give them a watch.
My Little Pony
My Little Pony is the franchise that won the hearts of girls with its colorful and adorable characters.
Created by Hasbro Studios in the United States in 1981, it features ponies, unicorns, pegasi, and more.
It was adapted into an animated series in the U.S.
starting in 1982, and by 2021 the fifth generation had aired, making it a long-loved property.
In Japan, it became popular around 2013 when merchandise sales were launched in tandem with the TV anime broadcast.
Mama Range
Mama Range, a toy for girls released in 1969 (Showa 44).
It was a pretty dangerous toy in retrospect, with a real electric stove that produced heat built into the toy kitchen.
In the video, Seikin takes on the challenge of cooking a real steak on the Mama Range, and the meat sizzles on the frying pan as it cooks.
It made me think that many kids back then probably got burned.