The Coolest Japanese Imports, Toys and Gadgets
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There are a ton of cool items sold in Japan that can only be bought in the US by dealing with someone on Ebay, buying from a small import company online or buying directly from Japan and having it shipped to you. And we're not just talking electronics. In fact, I think the electronics availability is some of the least interesting stuff. Much more fun is the toys and personal items and small gadgets.
This is my collection of English language links for some of the cooler places to buy and browse Japanese goods and design.
Fads and Fashions in Japan
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The Image Factory: Fads and Fashions in Japan
Price: $14.99
List Price: $24.95 |
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Eastern Standard Time: A Guide to Asian Influence on American Culture from Astro Boy to Zen Buddhism
Price: $6.48
List Price: $18.00 |
Tokyo Style & Design
- Japan Trend Shop
Japan Trend Shop offers the latest gadgets, goods, and lifestyle products directly from Tokyo. Safe and reliable, with great prices and customer service. Get the latest trends and technology from Tokyo to your door within the week! - Tokyomade Online Shop: Tokyo style by Tokyo and Japan-based designers
Tokyomade is an online shop featuring work by Tokyo and Japan based designers. Popular styles and themes include Tokyo cool, kawaii and wa. - myplasticheart :: urban vinyl designer toys & culture
myplasticheart is the online source for all the latest urban vinyl and designer toys on the web. Not all of it is Japanese, but it does seem to me like most of this stuff is coming out of Japan. - Akinaiblog Japan Shop
Lots of different product categories and they carry a lot more everyday type stuff like make-up and snacks. If you have an item you are looking for, they also take requests. Prices are listed in Yen, Pounds and Dollars. - Japanese Gifts Toys Gadgets :: Goods From Japan
Gifts from Japan - buy traditional and modern japanese gifts and japanese products - traditional crafts plus hi-tech goods - including electronic Japanese-English dictionaries, arts, clothing, jewelry, lighting and toys. - HOLLYWOOD RANCH MARKET
I like to just look at this design site. I'm not sure you can do anything else but look either, so just go and have a looksy. Also, if you are at work, turn off your stereo speakers. Music plays the moment you open the site. - Rinkya - Japan Auction & Shopping Service - Japanese, Anime, Car Parts, Dolls, Robots, & Much More
Rinkya's deputy service allows you to buy direct from Japan websites and auctions. Bid and Buy through Rinkya, and they will ship directly to you. Very useful for bidding on Yahoo Japan auctions.
Tokyo Guide Books
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Time Out Guide to Tokyo, 5th Edition
Price: $11.53
List Price: $19.95 |
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Tokyo (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)
Price: $10.49
List Price: $20.00 |
Tokyo Shopping Links
- Tokyo Shopping :: Tokyo Essentials ::
This is a Tokyo Shopping Guide for tourists to Japan. So if you have a trip planned, you should bookmark Tokyo Essentials or print out a bunch of its shopping pages. - Tokyo shopping - Time Out Travel
A guide to shopping in Tokyo, Japan from Time Out Magazine
Videogames & Manga Imported from Japan
Japanese Toy Imports
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Comments
Back tissues.. Crazy! That'd be a neat item to have just as decorations and not to use.
What exactly is that third item?
Whitney, I love the black tissues. Their are cotton swabs that are black as well. I used to have a black and pink bathroom where they would have looked awesome.
The third thing is a toy creature. It's a designer vinyl toy. In the US a lot of comic book shops and the like import them.
Write On, you're thinking of China, not Japan. And nearly all of the recalled toys were made for American companies like Mattel and sold at places like Toys R Us.
The reason there are so many recalls of Chinese made products is because of their disproportionate numbers since most American firms outsource all manufacture to sweatshop labor in that country. If anyone is at fault it is Mattel and Hasbro, etc.
Also, xenophobia plays a major part in awareness of China related recalls as they get far more press than a recall of an item manufactured in the United States.
Japanese toys and Japanese imports in general are an entirely different matter. These toys are not made for American consumers. They are made for Japanese consumers. And most of the toys that people outside Japan would be importing directly or going through a specialist importer about would be stuff they are getting for their own collections, not for their children to play with.
The black tissues would look cool in that bathroom. Ha.
A toy. Hm. It looks weird. Like some odd happy meal toy.
I checked out the Japan Trend shop. They have some very cool items there like the brillo toothbrush. It's a little pricey but nice looking. Thanks for alll the resources.
Hi there,
I just happend to find your article.
Thanks for writing about tokyomade.
Write On! says:
2 years ago
Great resources Umbitca. Thanks. The only thing that I think we need to be watchful of purchasing, are toys. Many of the toys made in Japan and sent over here, end up needing to be recalled. At least this is my understanding.