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· Carl Samson
Local authorities in Indonesia burned hundreds of sex toys last week, remaining steadfast in the belief that such products corrupt public morals. A total of 442 products, mostly imported from China, were destroyed in Bandung, the capital city of West Java province on Nov. 25.
· Carl Samson
A 63-year-old man from eastern China has found fame on YouTube for videos that showcase his exemplary skills in traditional carpentry. Wang Dewen, known to his followers as Grandpa Amu, has created intricate wooden toys for his grandson using nothing but wood — no glue, nails or…
· Carl Samson
A 21-year-old Japanese man was left speechless after learning that his innocent grandmother had mistaken his silicone sex toys for a pair of thermal socks. The incident was documented in photos and videos via Twitter on July 5.
· Bryan Ke
McDonald’s in Japan are using trays recycled from plastic toys as part of the fast food chain’s attempt to reduce plastic waste.
· Heather Johnson Yu
Christmas is just around the corner, and while everyone is busy hanging up their stockings and chugging hot cocoa, Santa is busy making his list and checking it twice. If you’ve been good this year, you’re bound to get that … ohh, what is it that kids are playing with these…
· Ryan General
A 7-year-old Asian American boy has been raking in millions by reviewing toy cars, action figures, Play-Doh, and other toys on YouTube. Ryan, the fun-loving son of Vietnamese mom Loann and Japanese dad Sean, is the adorable “host” of “Ryan ToysReview” a popular toy-review…
· Ryan General
Netizens are not a bit happy about a claw machine which uses live cats instead of plush toys at an arcade in an unidentified city in China. The mechanism of the controversial machine lets customers pick up cats and drop them into a funnel like a normal claw machine.
· Carl Samson
If you happen to visit any McDonald’s branch between April 26 and May 22, chances are you’ll find yourself traveling back in time. That’s literally the case when you ask for a Happy Meal, which features eight Nintendo toys that strike a chord among nostalgic fans.
· Carl Samson
A looming trade war between the United States and China has been speculated since Donald Trump claimed that the east Asian giant is “stealing” American jobs. That comment, among other remarks, pushed many to contemplate consequences for both countries, whether favorable or not.…
· Ryan General
A 14-year-old Australian teenager has made thousands of dollars re-selling Chinese toys in Australia. Will Deeth, a Toowoomba Christian College student, buys toys in China during trips with his parents and then sells them online and through his pop up shops back at home.…
· Editorial Staff
Identical twin sisters who are “sleeping” with children’s superhero figurines are posting suggestive photos on Instagram and selling each one for $333 a pop. The Kaplan Twins are young artists based in Los Angeles who are currently working on a project called Boy Toys. The work…
· Ryan General
The claw machine, while looking deceptively easy, is arguably one of the most challenging games in any arcade. If you are the competitive type who does not like losing, it is best to stay away — unless, of course, you are as skillful as Chen Zhitong from China who is considered…
· Riley Schatzle
A “national solutions architect” for a St. Louis-based company was indicted last week by federal authorities for using nearly half a million dollars in company funds to pay for online strippers. John David Berrett, 40, is accused of falsifying expense reports from September 2013…
· Daniel Anderson
Amazon has listed an official Pokémon T-shirt subscription box collaboration on their site, offering subscribers different Pokémon-themed cotton shirts delivered each month. The subscription, which, according to Amazon, is “created and curated by Pokémon,” is being offered at…
· Michelle De Pacina
McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce, which was first released over 20 years ago as a part of its promotion for the 1998 Disney animated film “Mulan,” will be back beginning March 31 for only the fourth time ever, with limited availability. The sauce will be available exclusively on the…
· Rebecca Moon
The National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, Japan, opened a special exhibit on Tuesday that displays Pokémon skeletons and fossils. A promotional video of the Pokémon Fossil Museum was uploaded to the official Japanese Pokémon Twitter page, giving viewers a glimpse into…
· Ryan General
Polk County, Florida, authorities are looking to extradite 39-year-old Jianchai Chen from China, where he is currently living with his wife and children. Chen, who has a house in Winter Haven, works at the Lucky Wok restaurant in Lake Wales when he is in the U.S. Investigators…
· Bryan Ke
Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of Disney’s popular “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, has been tapped to produce a live-action “Beyblade” movie for Paramount. While not much is known yet about the project, screenwriters Neil Widener and Gavin James are reportedly attached to the…
· Michelle De Pacina
The Chinese New Year has prompted a TikTok trend wherein some Singaporeans are advertising themselves as dates for rent. The trend highlights the pressures many feel from relatives’ questions about their relationship status during Lunar New Year family celebrations. The Chinese…
· Sarah Yukiko
Following a successful meal toy promotion with the Chinese toy company Pop Mart, KFC is facing backlash and calls for a boycott in China. Reports suggested some consumers bought hundreds of dollars’ worth of the meals to acquire the limited-edition collectibles but threw away…
Anime connects to Sony, Toei Animation, and Bandai Namco through streaming, studios, licensing, merch, and games.
If anime for you means Crunchyroll, soundtracks, figures, games, or theater releases, these are some of the companies sitting behind it.
Company · Japan · TYO:7832
Bandai Namco sits behind toys, anime IP, games, and licensing that turn fandom into everyday consumer products.
Company · China · HKEX:9992
Pop Mart turned blind-box designer toys into a global craze — Labubu queues, resale markups, and sold-out drops from Bangkok to Los Angeles.
Company · Japan · TYO:4816
Toei Animation is tied to some of the biggest anime franchises and the global licensing machine around them.