The Complete Guide to Showa-Era Toys: From Showa retro to toys still loved today
In the Showa era, many toys appeared that captivated children of the time.
Some have since disappeared, while others became long-running series and are still loved across generations.
In this article, we’ll introduce a whole lineup of those nostalgic Showa-era toys!
For those who remember the era, it’ll be nostalgic; for those who don’t, it should feel fresh and new.
If any toy catches your interest, be sure to check auctions, flea market apps, or recycle shops to try and find it.
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- A roundup of nostalgic Showa-era home appliances, including rare ones you don’t see anymore!
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- Have fun with classic Showa-era games! Simple yet profoundly engaging traditional pastimes
- Nostalgic foods of the Showa era. Let’s trace the memorable flavors and the memories they evoke.
- Nostalgic ice cream from the Showa era. From today’s classic staples to old-time favorites.
- [Nostalgic Showa Fashion] The changing trends that feel both nostalgic and fresh
- A nostalgic feature on Showa-era magazines: looking back at the popular magazines of the time.
- Nostalgic cars from the Showa era: A special feature on memorable classic cars spotted on street corners
- [Nostalgic Memories] Popular Menu Items from Showa-Era School Lunches
- [For Seniors] Nostalgic! Showa-Era Quizzes Recommended for Reminiscence Therapy
Encyclopedia of Showa-era Toys: From Showa Retro to Toys Still Loved Today (1–10)
Roller-Through GOGO
The Roller-Suru GOGO, which also appears in episodes of the anime Chibi Maruko-chan, was built much like today’s kick scooters.
It went on sale in 1974 and became very popular.
While it couldn’t reach bicycle-level speeds, part of the fun was that it could still go fairly fast.
Around the same time it was released, a health boom hit Japan, and the Roller-Suru GOGO drew attention as an amusing piece of leisure-sport equipment.
It was expensive, and it seems to have been a coveted ride for children.
However, after traffic accidents occurred involving people riding the Roller-Suru GOGO, criticism mounted, and production was discontinued.
The Game of Life
The Game of Life, which was sold by an American company in 1960, went on sale in Japan in 1968.
It remains a popular board game around the world today.
One of its appeals is that you can experience various life events—such as getting a job, getting married, and investing—vicariously through the game.
In the end, the player who has the most money left wins.
However, the quality and richness of happiness differ from person to person.
The way the game prompts players to reflect on their own values is also part of what makes it interesting.
With a Nintendo Switch version released in 2023, it seems like the game will only continue to get more exciting.
Dakko-chan
It’s said that back then, you could often see women with black vinyl winking dolls hanging from their arms.
The Dakko-chan, released in 1960 (Showa 35), was initially marketed under names like “Tree-Climbing Winky” and “Blackie Bra-chan.” The name “Winky” came from its winking expression.
Dakko-chan has ring-shaped arms and legs so it can cling and hang onto an arm.
It became a boom especially among young women, but later faced criticism from the United States for being derogatory toward Black people, and production was halted.
However, in 2000, Dakko-chan was revived with a slightly altered form.
Complete Guide to Showa-Era Toys: From Showa Retro to Beloved Toys Still Popular Today (11–20)
Othello
Othello, released in Japan in 1973 (Showa 48), became explosively popular.
It’s a game in which players compete to increase the number of their own discs among 64 black and white ones.
A similar game existed under the name Reversi, which is said to have been devised in Britain around the 19th century.
Othello remains popular worldwide thanks to its easy-to-understand rules.
Despite the simple rules, part of its appeal may be how the situation can flip in an instant—white becomes black and black becomes white.
By the way, the name “Othello” is said to come from the title of a play written by Shakespeare.
Slinky
The Slinky is a spring-shaped toy that was born in the United States in 1945 (Showa 20).
In Japan, in 1960 (Showa 35), a metal version shaped like a spring was sold under the name “Tomboy” and became a big hit.
Later, plastic versions and products with different brand names were released by various manufacturers.
You can wear a Slinky on your arm or place it on a desk to hold pens and other items.
But the most enjoyable thing about a Slinky is, above all, how it walks down stairs on its own, isn’t it? Its unique, inchworm-like movement was also extremely popular at the time.
Recently, they’ve been sold in toy sections of 100-yen shops.
With product evolution, a variety of versions have appeared, including rainbow-colored springs, glow-in-the-dark types, and springs shaped like stars or hearts.
Super Ball
The Super Ball, developed in the United States in 1965 (Showa 40), went on sale in Japan the following year and became a huge craze.
Its popularity seemed to stem from how incredibly bouncy it was.
Even today, you can still spot colorful Super Balls in shops or as playthings.
For many people, the mention of Super Balls brings to mind “Super Ball scooping.” Much like goldfish scooping, the sight of people scooping up Super Balls is a common scene at festival stalls and temple fair booths.
Rubik’s Cube
The Rubik’s Cube, which remains popular even today, is said to have originated in Hungary.
It sparked a major boom in Japan in the 1980s.
It’s also popular as a puzzle that trains the mind by aligning the colored faces.
What’s more, there are even world championships.
By the way, at the world championships there are fun divisions beyond solving with both hands, such as solving one-handed, with feet, or blindfolded.
The rule of matching colors is simple, but it’s said there are more than 40 quintillion possible sequences to reach a solved state.
It would take a long time to master every pattern.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced a wide range of popular toys that debuted in the Showa era.
In addition to the nostalgic toys that captivated children back then, many of them went on to become series and are still being sold today! If any of the Showa-era toys featured in this article caught your eye, be sure to look for them on auction sites, flea market apps, or at thrift stores!