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!
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A flood of things we wanted as kids! A special feature on nostalgic toys and trendy toys (21–30)
Transformer
When it comes to irresistible robot toys for boys, isn’t “Transformers” the first that comes to mind? In Japan, the anime began airing in 1985.
Later, the live-action film series that debuted in 2007 became a huge hit! Many people may have discovered Transformers through those movies.
As depicted in both the anime and the films, the greatest appeal of these toys is their ability to transform.
Just the thought of a car turning into a robot is enough to get you excited, right?
troll doll
Troll dolls became an explosive craze, especially among high school girls who grew up in the Heisei era.
They weren’t exactly the kind of cute look that girls typically adore, but it was said that stroking a troll’s hair would grant wishes, so many people carried them as lucky charms.
There are countless variations, but their hallmark features are the big, round eyes and vividly colored, straight-up hair in primary hues.
Even in the Reiwa era, they’re known as one of the iconic items of Heisei retro culture.
A flood of things we wanted as kids! Feature on nostalgic toys and popular toys (31–40)
Pachin Gum
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.
Butaminton
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!
Monchhichi
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 game
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.
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.
