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Meet Monchhichi at Toys Terao Shop in Asakusa
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Monchhichi is a well-known character in Japan, charming people around the globe ever since 1974. You can meet Monchhichi in Asakusa! Introducing a must-visit shop for anyone who wants to revive discover Japan's 'cute' side.
Introducing Monchhichi!
To begin the tale of Monchhichi, first we have to say it was born in 1974 in Japan, and it got its name combining two French words – “mon”, which translates to “my”, and “petit”, meaning “cute little thing”. But, did you know? Apparently, it is not a monkey, but a fairy!
Why Is It So Popular All Around the Globe?
The truth is, Monchhichi became a star the moment it first came out, and even made it to the overseas market the following year. From that moment on, it started its journey around Europe, South America and even South Africa. That seems to be the reason why adults from other countries as well have tender feelings toward this character.
Toys Terao Toy Shop in Asakusa, Where Monchhichi Goods Assemble!
Toys Terao is a veteran toy shop that has two stores in Asakusa – the Nakamise Shopping Street Store, and the Toys Terao Second Store. The Second Store is a Monchhichi-only store, so we headed over there to ask them everything there is to know about Monchhichi. And since there still aren’t many shops which specialize in Monchhichi toys, we are very grateful for having one there.
The Nakamise Shopping Street Store is situated at the corner of two famous streets – Nakamise-dori (Nakamise Street) near Asakusa Temple, and Denpoin-dori (Denpoin Street). If you ever paid a visit to Asakusa Temple, it ought to have caught your eye at least once.
Meet the Three Most Popular Monchhichi Dolls!
Probably the most fascinating feature of Monchhichi, which made it famous worldwide, is the variety of characters available. Now, can you take a guess which ones are loved by customers the most? Let us solve that mystery for you: three of the most beloved Monchhichi characters are down below.
Monchhichi No.3: Monchhichi in Kimono
It seems that this little cutie is very popular overseas! There are so many colorful kimono versions; it gives a great pleasure just to look at them. One of these toy friends would make a great souvenir or a gift, don’t you think?
Monchhichi No.2: Asakusa-Only Monchhichi
Behold the one Monchhichi you can’t find just anywhere: Asakusa Monchhichi, a limited edition toy you can buy only at the Toys Terao stores. It is a product created exclusively for the Sanja Festival in Asakusa, and it sure portrays the mood and the spirit of Japanese festivals, doesn’t it? And finally, the magnificent No.1 is…
Monchhichi No.1: Classic Monchhichi
Yes, without question, nothing can outshine the king – Classic Monchhichi is our steady No.1 on this popularity list. It has fans both in Japan and elsewhere. And why wouldn’t it? Just look at that lovable face!
By the way, did you perhaps notice that one crying Monchhichi, mingling with the others? Actually, it is said that initially every girl Monchhichi was portrayed crying, although nowadays the crying Monchhichi girl toys can rarely be found anywhere, and represent true collector's gems for the fans.
Monchhichi Comforting People
Lastly, let's hear from Ms. Terao of Toys Terao Shop.
As we have previously mentioned, Monchhichi toys are known and loved all around the world. So, when we asked Ms. Terao about the kind of future she’d like for Monchhichi to have, she answered, “I would like for it to become a part of people’s everyday life, to give them solace and comfort.”
Japan has its own character culture rooted deeply in its everyday life. Just take the train and look around – you will see that everyone has character key chains attached to their stuff or uses character-based smartphone cases. And Monchhichi is one representative character, a part of that character culture, which soothes us and makes us happy. If you find yourself intrigued by these charming dolls, how about paying them a visit on your next trip to Asakusa?
Toys Terao Second Store
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昭和時代とサブカルをこよなく愛す大学生。 そんなディープでポップな日本をお伝えしていきたいです。
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