100 ways to amuse yourself at the Tokyo Toy Show

Pop-up pirates, swaying mushrooms, robotic butterflies and many others all compete with golfer Ryo Ishikawa for your attention at the Tokyo Toy Show

By Robert Michael Poole 16 July, 2010

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Eyeing up the gizmos, thingamajigs and whatchamacallits

Eyeing up the gizmos, thingamajigs and whatchamacallits.

An employee of Japanese toy company Tomy displays a mushroom shaped toy 'Kinopuyo', which reacts to slight vibrations

An employee of Japanese toy company Tomy displays a mushroom-shaped toy Kinopuyo, which reacts to slight vibrations.

A booth assistant demonstrates Epoch Co., Ltd's virtual game 'Ryo Ishikawa Excite Golf'

A booth assistant demonstrates Epoch Co., Ltd's virtual game Ryo Ishikawa Excite Golf.

A booth assistant looks at a prototype of Takara Tomy Co., Ltd's Mickey Mouse-shaped projector

A booth assistant looks at a prototype of Takara Tomy Co., Ltd's Mickey Mouse-shaped projector.

Takara Tomy Co., Ltd's solar-powered toy plant 'Flip Flap

Takara Tomy Co., Ltd's solar-powered toy plant Flip Flap.

Bandai Co., Ltd's plastic bottle diving toy 'Magic Pet' is displayed during the International Tokyo Toy Show 2010 at Tokyo Big Sight on July 15, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan.

Bandai Co., Ltd's plastic bottle diving toy Magic Pet is displayed during the International Tokyo Toy Show 2010 at Tokyo Big Sight on July 15, 2010.

Visitors look at a full-scale figure of golfer Ryo Ishikawa, which is not for sale, displayed at Bandai Co., Ltd's booth

Visitors look at a full-scale figure of golfer Ryo Ishikawa, which is not for sale, displayed at Bandai Co., Ltd's booth.

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The buyer's day opened on July 15 at the International Tokyo Toy Show 2010, revealing an array of new gadgets, games and gizmos from 120 Japanese and foreign companies. Organized by the Japan Toy Association (JTA) in association with the Tokyo Metropolitan government, the event takes place at Tokyo Big Sight and will be open to the public for free, on Saturday July 17 and Sunday 18 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively.

Click 'View Gallery' above for more images.

Pop-up Pirate makes it to 35.

Toys new and old

Highlights of this year's festival include the 35th anniversary of Pop-up Pirate, familiar to generations of Japanese children. To mark the occasion Takara Tomy displays a crystal covered version along side Pop-up Samurai and an adult version, Pop-up Love Hige -- which features swords and challenge you to reveal something about your life.

Meanwhile, Tomy have this year developed a mesmerizing mushroom toy that reacts to movements by lighting up and swaying from side to side. Other highlights at the show include an incredibly realistic robotic butterfly trapped in a jar that flutters when the jar is tapped, and Choenbako, a monkey that kindly puts your coins into a safety bank for you.

Finally, the popularity of golfer Ryo Ishikawa, who recently featured in our Tokyo Hot List 2010, is honoured with life-like models at 1/6 scale. If only it could replicate his swing...

To read about the best places to buy toys in Tokyo, read 'A Tokyo Toy Story'.

For more from one of Japan's top collectors, check out 'Talking Toys'.

Robert Michael Poole is a specialist on the Japanese music and entertainment scene.

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