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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…
· Brian Zhang
The clearance rack feels a little lonely tonight. I would mark myself down by 10% every day for you, never hitting zero — hoping that you would finally choose me and my melted crayons over your cheap champagne and Heineken. But you never do. Somewhere in downtown Brooklyn, my…
· William Yuk
In celebration of Children’s Day, KFCs in China introduced a set of three Pokémon toys to be paired with its kids’ meals. The Psyduck toy, which dances along to a catchy tune, has become the center of China’s latest social media craze. The Psyduck hashtag, #可达鸭, has climbed to…
· Ryan General
Jada Toys’ Transformers Optimus Prime Converting RC Toy is able to transform from a 12-inch-long truck into a 13-inch-tall robot via remote control. The action figure, which is set to launch in September, can perform different poses and even walk, albeit in a “separated leg-like…
· Celine Pun
To celebrate the upcoming Children’s Day, McDonald’s China has released nine new items: the Galaxy soda, sea salt coconut McFlurry, star-shaped hash browns, sour plum dip, green pepper dip, prawn and pineapple burger, blueberry cheese pie and chocolate mochi mini burger. These…
· Rebecca Moon
An unofficial Studio Ghibli cafe inspired by Ghibli characters and references caught the eyes of representatives from Studio Ghibli. The cafe, called Kodama, is located in the Osu neighborhood of Nagoya, Japan. Kodama’s interior design features memorabilia from Ghibli’s films,…
· Bryan Ke
Titus Low, one of Singapore’s most recognizable adult content creators, could potentially face a maximum of 21 months in jail for sharing images and videos of his "private parts." Low, a 22-year-old bisexual OnlyFans star based in Singapore, faces a total of five charges,…
· Rebecca Moon
My Ngoc Nguyen was diagnosed with stage 4 secondary breast cancer at the end of February and has since been in treatment at the University of Michigan Hospital. The local and online communities have stepped up to donate to the family’s GoFundMe, which the family has said made “a…
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.