Why are Barbie dolls unknown in Japan?

The question is based on an incorrect premise. They are not unknown in Japan. In fact, they're quite popular, although rather expensive. I have seen them in toy stores many times, and my (Japanese) wife used to collect them when she was younger. read more

The question is based on an incorrect premise. They are not unknown in Japan. In fact, they’re quite popular, although rather expensive. I have seen them in toy stores many times, and my (Japanese) wife used to collect them when she was younger. read more

Barbie was born in Japan, in that Japan was the original manufacturing site for the doll in 1959. But when Mattel tried to sell Barbie here, it flopped. In the 1960's, as Japan was still rebuilding from the devastation of World War II, Japanese rarely saw foreigners and considered blond hair strange, said Soichi Masabuchi, who teaches doll esthetics at Japan Women's University. read more

Mattel’s Barbie is the most famous doll in the world that children love to play with. Even adults love to purchase this iconic collectible. The Barbie doll has been around since the 1950s, and there are many fascinating facts about the most recognizable doll that is unknown. read more