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! Special feature on nostalgic toys and popular toys (41–50)
Athletic Land
A toy athletic land with a nostalgic Showa-era vibe.
It’s a toy where you guide a ball to the goal by skillfully operating a stage filled with various tricks.
The way to play is very simple, but many of you probably remember not quite making it to the end, right? Toys like this are sure to be fun even when you play them as an adult!
Licca-chan doll
When it comes to nostalgic toys, many people probably think of Licca-chan dolls.
Their wide range of outfits for dress-up play was so appealing and really sparked our childhood creativity.
Perhaps the reason they’ve been loved across generations lies in the diversity of their fashion and lifestyles.
Even now as adults, just picking one up gives us a warm, comforting feeling and a sense of fond attachment.
Licca-chan, dressed in her many varied outfits, has continued to capture children’s hearts in every era.
With their playful charm, Licca-chan dolls are sure to make a delightful gift!
Yu-Gi-Oh! card
Perhaps the quintessential trading cards that had elementary and middle schoolers going wild were Yu-Gi-Oh! cards.
They were hugely popular thanks to the manga and anime, too! In particular, the early Yu-Gi-Oh! cards with the reddish backs have become quite rare these days…
I’m sure many people would rather not remember how much money they spent collecting them back then (lol).
Nintendo DS
A handheld game console that sold explosively not only in Japan but also across the United States and Asia.
It’s astonishing that the series sold a total of 150 million units.
Perhaps it was the Nintendo DS that helped further boost the popularity of Pokémon and Mario.
Thanks to its communication features and the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, this system laid the groundwork for the now-common idea of games that everyone can enjoy together.
The communication features in titles like Monster Hunter and Yo-kai Watch were especially exciting!
Beigoma (spinning top)
Beygoma were a popular children’s game from around the Taisho era through the period of rapid economic growth.
Unlike regular spinning tops, they don’t have a notch in the center to catch the string, so you use a distinctive wrapping method.
Just remember to skip every other corner as you wind it.
Once you get used to it, it’s easy to wrap.
The trick when spinning is to apply force as you pull.
If you still have one, why not give it a try again for the first time in a while?
Mushiking
The very first Mushi King was “Mushiking: The King of Beetles.” Before we knew it, everyone just called it “Mushiking.” The second generation was “Mushiking Battle: Gatch of Fusion!!,” and the third was “Shin Mushiking: The King of Beetles,” so the battles of Mushi Battlers will never truly end! Even people who didn’t play the card game got hyped through the anime and manga, so long before the term “media mix” was commonly used, “Mushiking” was already spreading across generations in many forms.
If you still have cards like the Giraffa or the Alkides, treasure them as lifelong keepsakes!
kick scooter
Speaking of kick scooters, it brings back memories of going outside to play with everyone.
They’re so easy to operate, yet gliding along smoothly was so fun that I got totally absorbed.
They’re still popular as something both kids and adults can enjoy.
There are all sorts of sizes and designs, so you’re likely to find one that fits you now.
While feeling a sense of nostalgia, you might also discover new ways to enjoy them.
If you use them with safety in mind, your everyday getting around might become a bit more fun.
How about reminiscing about the past while finding a way to play that suits who you are today?
Kids Computer PICO
A screen you touch with a pen, and a cartridge that flips like a picture book.
Didn’t the Kids Computer PICO feel like a toy from the future and make your heart race? Learning while playing—how amazing is that! It might have been like an early predecessor to the tablets kids use today.
Do you have memories of playing with the PICO too? Do you still remember how absorbed you were back then? It was a groundbreaking toy that mixed education and entertainment.
The PICO had that curious charm where nostalgia and novelty lived side by side, didn’t it?
Kinnikuman eraser
The toys nicknamed “Kinkeshi” were so wildly popular that there are still avid collectors today.
Along with the anime’s huge success, these Kinkeshi figures became incredibly popular too! Many of you probably collected a lot of them back then.
And who knows—some of you might still have a stash of Kinkeshi sleeping in a closet at your parents’ house.
Sylvanian Families
Speaking of Sylvanian Families, they’re full of tiny furniture and accessories! Don’t you also have memories of playing house with family and friends? Each playset comes with its own storyline, so you can let your imagination run wild while you play.
They’re fun to collect, too, and many people still find them charming even as adults.
There was also a TV anime, which probably made the world of Sylvanian feel even more familiar.
Why not dive back into the nostalgic world of Sylvanian Families yourself?