It¡¯s that time of year again. Children erupt with joy as they see their favorite anime characters come to life, and tech-savvy young adults scramble to figure out the latest cutting-edge gadgets. It¡¯s not Christmas, but the International Tokyo Toy Show runs a close second.
The toy show will take place at the capital¡¯s Big Sight convention center in Koto Ward through the weekend. Organizers say this year a record 153 toy makers and companies are scheduled to present the latest collections of toys, robots, gadgets and other forms of family entertainment.
¡°Just come to the event and take a stroll ¡ª you¡¯ll get a quick look at what the upcoming trends in Japan¡¯s toy market are going to be,¡± says Fumiaki Ibuki of the Japan Toy Association, which hosts the event. This year, the JTA hopes to pack the venue to capacity and has set a target of luring 140,000 attendees. The four-day event kicks off Thursday, with a two-day showing aimed at corporate visitors. The doors open to the public on Saturday and Sunday.
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