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Takara

Takara Co., Ltd. (株式会社タカラ, Kabushiki gaisha Takara) was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955. In March 2006, the company merged with Tomy Company, Ltd. to form Takara Tomy. The Takara motto was「遊びは文化」("playing is culture").

Takara Co., Ltd.
Former headquarters in Tokyo
Native name
株式会社タカラ
Kabushiki gaisha Takara
Founded1955; 69 years ago (1955)
DefunctMarch 1, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-03-01)
FateMerged to Tomy
SuccessorTakara Tomy
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
ProductsBowLingual, Choro-Q, Microman, Transformers

Products edit

Toys edit

In 1967, Takara produced the first generation of the Licca-chan doll, which was 21 centimeters tall and had the last name of Kayama, inspired by the musician Yuzo Kayama and actress Yoshiko Kayama.[1]

In 1975, Takara produced the Diaclone and Microman Micro Change toys. In 1984, the toy line was rebranded by Hasbro as "Transformers", which made Takara waste no time joining in. Takara continued to sell Microman and used it as the basis for the Micronauts toy line. Micronauts were sold internationally by the Mego Corporation. Other transforming toys made by Takara include Brave, Dennō Bōkenki Webdiver, and Daigunder. Both Webdiver and Daigunder toys could interact with TV screens, which proved only but a fad in the early 2000s.

Takara also invented Battle Beasts, the E-kara karaoke microphone, B-Daman and Beyblade. These toys were sold or distributed internationally by Hasbro.

In 1978, Takara developed the Choro-Q, mini pullback cars. Internationally, they have been sold as "Penny Racers".

Software edit

Takara developed and published video games. In the 1990s, Takara published the Chibi Maruko-chan video games. The company ported (adapted) some of the SNK Neo Geo based arcade games for 8 and 16-bit consoles. These included the Fatal Fury and the Samurai Shodown series. They were sold for use with the Sega Genesis, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Game Boy, or the Famicom.

In 2003, Takara contributed to the production of the game, Seek-and-Destroy. Takara published the 3D computer graphics fighting game series Battle Arena Toshinden, developed by Tamsoft. Small games developers such as Tamsoft, BHE, E-game and KID corp, were sometimes omitted from the credits on a game's Takara packaging or title screens. Also that year, Takara purchased a controlling stake in the publicly traded software publisher Atlus. Some Takara properties were licensed to and published by Atlus.

In 2006, after the merger with Tomy, the controlling stake in Atlus was sold to Index Holdings, Takara Tomy's major shareholder. Takara-branded product licenses such as Licca-chan, Jinsei Game, The Game of Life and Choro-Q were returned to Takara Tomy's consumer software division. The merged company also produced the Zoids and the Naruto series.

Life entertainment products edit

Takara has manufactured several unusual gadgets marketed as "life entertainment products". An example is BowLingual which aimed to translate the sounds of dogs to human language. The BowLingual was named as one of the best inventions of 2002 by Time magazine.[2] See also Yumemi Kobo (dream generator).

Robots edit

In 2005, Takara produced Walkie bits, a colorful, multi-function miniature robotic turtle. it was named Time magazine's best invention in a robot category.[3]

Company mascot edit

In the 1980s, the company was criticized for using a mascot that was a golliwog-like character. The mascot was named "Dakko-Chan" (ダッコちゃん).[4] Takara replaced the mascot with "21st Century Colorful Dakko-Chan", which had enough features to connote the original mascot but divested the traits which brought criticism. For example, the new mascot was not always coloured black.

Merger edit

On 13 May 2005, Takara and Tomy announced their merger. It became effective on 1 March 2006. In English, the official name of the merged company is "TOMY Co. Ltd." while in Japan the legal company name is "K. K. Takara-Tomy" (株式会社タカラトミー; TYO: 7867).

In deciding upon the merged company's new name, "Takara" was used for its international brand recognition and "Tomy" was used because it was a trusted brand of infant and preschool products in Japan.

While Japanese commercial law allows wide latitude in translating Japanese corporate names into official English names, the merged company took the unusual step of adopting "TOMY Company, Ltd." as its official English, while using "K.K. Takara-Tomy" in Japan.

Both Takara and Tomy held licenses to localise and distribute Hasbro products in Japan. The products include The Game of Life, Blythe dolls, Magic: The Gathering, Duel Masters trading card games by Takara and Monopoly, Furby, Super Soaker and Play-Doh by Tomy.

References edit

  1. ^ Okazaki, Manami (2017-07-08). "Living doll: Licca-chan's legacy lives on". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  2. ^ . TIME. Archived from the original on November 12, 2002. Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  3. ^ Department (2005-11-13). "Best Inventions 2005: Bot Crazy - TIME". Content.time.com. Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  4. ^ . TIME. 1960-08-29. Archived from the original on October 15, 2009. Retrieved 2015-08-22.

External links edit

  • TAKARATOMY official website

takara, confused, with, holdings, other, uses, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news,. Not to be confused with Takara Holdings For other uses see Takara disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Takara news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message Takara Co Ltd 株式会社タカラ Kabushiki gaisha Takara was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955 In March 2006 the company merged with Tomy Company Ltd to form Takara Tomy The Takara motto was 遊びは文化 playing is culture Takara Co Ltd Former headquarters in TokyoNative name株式会社タカラRomanized nameKabushiki gaisha TakaraFounded1955 69 years ago 1955 DefunctMarch 1 2006 18 years ago 2006 03 01 FateMerged to TomySuccessorTakara TomyHeadquartersTokyo JapanProductsBowLingual Choro Q Microman Transformers Contents 1 Products 1 1 Toys 1 2 Software 1 3 Life entertainment products 1 4 Robots 2 Company mascot 3 Merger 4 References 5 External linksProducts editToys edit In 1967 Takara produced the first generation of the Licca chan doll which was 21 centimeters tall and had the last name of Kayama inspired by the musician Yuzo Kayama and actress Yoshiko Kayama 1 In 1975 Takara produced the Diaclone and Microman Micro Change toys In 1984 the toy line was rebranded by Hasbro as Transformers which made Takara waste no time joining in Takara continued to sell Microman and used it as the basis for the Micronauts toy line Micronauts were sold internationally by the Mego Corporation Other transforming toys made by Takara include Brave Dennō Bōkenki Webdiver and Daigunder Both Webdiver and Daigunder toys could interact with TV screens which proved only but a fad in the early 2000s Takara also invented Battle Beasts the E kara karaoke microphone B Daman and Beyblade These toys were sold or distributed internationally by Hasbro In 1978 Takara developed the Choro Q mini pullback cars Internationally they have been sold as Penny Racers Software edit See also Category Takara video games Takara developed and published video games In the 1990s Takara published the Chibi Maruko chan video games The company ported adapted some of the SNK Neo Geo based arcade games for 8 and 16 bit consoles These included the Fatal Fury and the Samurai Shodown series They were sold for use with the Sega Genesis the Super Nintendo Entertainment System the Game Boy or the Famicom In 2003 Takara contributed to the production of the game Seek and Destroy Takara published the 3D computer graphics fighting game series Battle Arena Toshinden developed by Tamsoft Small games developers such as Tamsoft BHE E game and KID corp were sometimes omitted from the credits on a game s Takara packaging or title screens Also that year Takara purchased a controlling stake in the publicly traded software publisher Atlus Some Takara properties were licensed to and published by Atlus In 2006 after the merger with Tomy the controlling stake in Atlus was sold to Index Holdings Takara Tomy s major shareholder Takara branded product licenses such as Licca chan Jinsei Game The Game of Life and Choro Q were returned to Takara Tomy s consumer software division The merged company also produced the Zoids and the Naruto series Life entertainment products edit Takara has manufactured several unusual gadgets marketed as life entertainment products An example is BowLingual which aimed to translate the sounds of dogs to human language The BowLingual was named as one of the best inventions of 2002 by Time magazine 2 See also Yumemi Kobo dream generator Robots edit In 2005 Takara produced Walkie bits a colorful multi function miniature robotic turtle it was named Time magazine s best invention in a robot category 3 Company mascot editIn the 1980s the company was criticized for using a mascot that was a golliwog like character The mascot was named Dakko Chan ダッコちゃん 4 Takara replaced the mascot with 21st Century Colorful Dakko Chan which had enough features to connote the original mascot but divested the traits which brought criticism For example the new mascot was not always coloured black Merger editOn 13 May 2005 Takara and Tomy announced their merger It became effective on 1 March 2006 In English the official name of the merged company is TOMY Co Ltd while in Japan the legal company name is K K Takara Tomy 株式会社タカラトミー TYO 7867 In deciding upon the merged company s new name Takara was used for its international brand recognition and Tomy was used because it was a trusted brand of infant and preschool products in Japan While Japanese commercial law allows wide latitude in translating Japanese corporate names into official English names the merged company took the unusual step of adopting TOMY Company Ltd as its official English while using K K Takara Tomy in Japan Both Takara and Tomy held licenses to localise and distribute Hasbro products in Japan The products include The Game of Life Blythe dolls Magic The Gathering Duel Masters trading card games by Takara and Monopoly Furby Super Soaker and Play Doh by Tomy References edit Okazaki Manami 2017 07 08 Living doll Licca chan s legacy lives on The Japan Times Online ISSN 0447 5763 Retrieved 2019 09 11 Best Inventions of 2002 TIME Archived from the original on November 12 2002 Retrieved 2015 08 22 Department 2005 11 13 Best Inventions 2005 Bot Crazy TIME Content time com Retrieved 2015 08 22 Japan Dakkochan Delirium TIME 1960 08 29 Archived from the original on October 15 2009 Retrieved 2015 08 22 External links editTAKARATOMY official website TAKARA Wayback Machine June 15 archive min 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Takara amp oldid 1204858386, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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