View source for Takara

{{Short description|Japanese toy company}}
{{hatnote group|
{{distinguish|Takara Holdings}}
{{other uses}}
}}
{{pp-pc}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Takara Co., Ltd.
| native_name = {{lang|ja|株式会社タカラ}}
| romanized_name = Kabushiki gaisha Takara
| logo = Takara_logo.svg
| image = Takara tomy aoto office katsushika 2014.jpg
| image_caption = Former headquarters in Katsushika, Tokyo
| foundation = {{start date and age|1955}}
| defunct = {{start date and age|2006|3|1}}
| successor = [[Tomy|Takara Tomy]]
| fate = Merged with [[Tomy]] to form [[Takara Tomy]]
| genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies -->
| products = {{ubl|[[BowLingual]]|[[Choro-Q]]|[[Microman]]|[[Transformers]] (within Japan)}}
| aum = <!-- Only used with financial services companies -->
| location = Aoto
| location_city = [[Katsushika]], [[Tokyo]]
| location_country = Japan
| subsid = {{ubl|[[Tatsunoko Production]] (88%)|[[Atlus]]}}
| owner = [[iXIT Corporation|Index Corporation]] (34.5%)
| homepage = <!-- {{URL|www.takaratomy.co.jp/english/globalsite}} -->
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Takara Co., Ltd.'''|株式会社タカラ|Kabushiki gaisha Takara}} was a Japanese [[toy]] [[company]] founded in 1955. In March 2006, the company merged with [[Tomy|Tomy Company, Ltd.]] to form [[Tomy|Takara Tomy]]. The Takara motto was{{lang|ja|「遊びは文化」}}("playing is culture").

The company focused on traditional toys and [[board game]]s. They created the [[Licca-chan]] dolls, which has been referred to as "Japan's [[Barbie]]" in Western press.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=NEWS |first=KYODO |title=&quot;King of Toys&quot; and creator of the Japanese Barbie dies |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/03/1a41b4076556-king-of-toys-and-creator-of-the-japanese-barbie-dies.html |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Kyodo News+ |date=2 March 2019 }}</ref> Some of the globally known toys and franchises that Takara invented include [[Transformers]] and [[Beyblade]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donohoo |first=Timothy Blake |date=2024-07-17 |title=Takara Celebrates 40 Years of Transformers With Nostalgic 'Our Origin' Anniversary Release |url=https://www.cbr.com/transformers-our-origin-takara-videor-release/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Takara Acquires Atlus |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/takara-acquires-atlus |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}}</ref> Takara also held the license to localise and distribute [[Hasbro]] products in Japan including [[The Game of Life]], [[Blythe (doll)|Blythe dolls]], ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'', ''[[Duel Masters]]'' trading card games. Takara was also involved in software, publishing video games based on its toys like [[List of Transformers video games|''Transformers'']] and [[List of Choro Q video games|''Choro Q / Penny Racers'']], porting [[SNK]] [[Neo Geo]] games to consoles, and the ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'' series.

== Products ==

===Toys===
[[File:Nieuwe rage na de hoela hoep , winkydoll, de winkydolllanding, Bestanddeelnr 911-7501.jpg|thumb|[[KLM Royal Dutch Airlines]] staff with inflatable Winky Dolls in 1960]]
In 1960,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web| title=２１世紀の新生「だっこちゃん２１」誕生に関するお知らせ | language=ja | trans-title=Announcement of the birth of the new 21st century "Dakkochan 21" | url=https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/product_release/pdf_takara/01/p010315_1.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105125738/http://takaratomy.co.jp/product_release/pdf_takara/01/p010315_1.pdf | archive-date=2011-11-05}}</ref> Takara released the Dakko-Chan ([[w:ja:ダッコちゃん|ダッコちゃん]])<ref>{{cite news |date=1960-08-29 |title=Japan: Dakkochan Delirium |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,939182,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015071338/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,939182,00.html |archive-date=October 15, 2009 |access-date=2015-08-22 |publisher=TIME}}</ref> doll which would become a hit in Japan's during that era.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Digital Journal |date=2001-01-25 |title=Japanese Toymaker Comes Under Fire For A "Racist" Doll |url=https://www.digitaljournal.com/life/japanese-toymaker-comes-under-fire-for-a-racist-doll/article/32149 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Digital Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> The nickname was given because of how it "embraces" a person.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=TIME |date=1960-08-29 |title=JAPAN: Dakkochan Delirium |url=https://time.com/archive/6872262/japan-dakkochan-delirium/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref> Also referred to as Winky Dolls in English, in the 1980s the company was criticized overseas for using it as a mascot due to its [[golliwog]]-like character and racial undertones.<ref name=":3" /> By the end of production in 1988, six million of these dolls were sold.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-30 |title=昭和に大ブームした｢ダッコちゃん」、実は正式名称ではない |url=https://www.jprime.jp/articles/-/5843?display=b |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=週刊女性PRIME |language=ja}}</ref>

In 1967, Takara produced the first generation of the [[Licca-chan]] doll, which would become very popular in Japan to this day, and which was 21 centimeters tall and had the last name of Kayama, inspired by the musician Yuzo Kayama and actress Yoshiko Kayama.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2017/07/08/lifestyle/living-doll-licca-chans-legacy-lives/|title=Living doll: Licca-chan's legacy lives on|last=Okazaki|first=Manami|date=2017-07-08|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2019-09-11|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763}}</ref> They released the [[Jenny (doll)|Jenny]] doll in the 1980s.
[[File:P1020004-4.jpg|thumb|Licca-chan dolls]]
In 1975, Takara produced the [[Diaclone]] and [[Microman]] [[Micro Change]] toys. In 1984, the toy line was rebranded by [[Hasbro]] as "[[Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jovanovic |first=Marko |date=2024-08-29 |title=Transformers Gets Animated Video Project by Studio TRIGGER |url=https://animecorner.me/transformers-gets-animated-video-project-by-studio-trigger/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Anime Corner |language=en-us}}</ref> Takara continued to sell Microman and used it as the basis for the [[Micronauts]] toy line. Micronauts were sold internationally by the [[Mego Corporation]]. Other transforming toys made by Takara include [[Brave series|Brave]], [[Dennō Bōkenki Webdiver]], and [[Daigunder]]. Both Webdiver and Daigunder toys could interact with TV screens, which proved only but a fad in the early 2000s.
[[File:Beyblade tournament.JPG|thumb|Two Beyblades in a 'Beyblade tournament']]
In 1978, Takara developed the [[Choro-Q]], mini pullback cars. Internationally, they have been sold as "Penny Racers". Takara also invented [[Battle Beasts]], the E-kara karaoke microphone, [[B-Daman]], and [[Beyblade]], a product that has achieved high popularity globally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Samantha |date=2024-04-12 |title=Beyblade's 25th Anniversary: How a Japanese Top Is Still Popular Today |url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainment/beyblade-25th-anniversary/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Tokyo Weekender |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Beyblades - What's Cool in Japan - Archives - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan | url=https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/cool/01-04-06/beyblades.html }}</ref> These toys were sold or distributed internationally by Hasbro.
[[File:Panther tank (WORLD TANK MUSEUM).jpg|thumb|A model from Takara's ''World Tank Museum'' line]]
The Dakko-Chan doll was revived in 2001 in a new colorful form.<ref name=":3" /> This one had enough features to connote the original product,<ref name=":2" /> but divested the traits which brought criticism (for example, the new doll was not always coloured black).

===Software===
{{see also|Category:Takara video games}}
Takara developed and published [[video game]]s, the first being ''[[Transformers: Mystery of Convoy]]'' based on their own Transformers toys. They also licensed their other properties into video games for example the Famicom title ''[[Lost Word of Jenny]]'' based on their [[Jenny (doll)|Jenny]] doll, and [[List of Choro Q video games|''Choro Q'' games]]. Other games published by Takara include ''[[Banana Prince]]'' and ''[[Arabian Nights: Sabaku no Seirei-ō]]''.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Takara published video games for franchises and manga such as ''[[Chibi Maruko-chan]]'', ''[[Armored Trooper Votoms]]'', ''[[Duel Masters]]'' and ''[[Tokyo Mew Mew]]''. The company ported (adapted) some of the [[SNK]] [[Neo Geo (console)|Neo Geo]] based arcade games including the ''[[Fatal Fury]]'' and the ''[[Samurai Shodown]]'' series for the 8 and 16-bit consoles, [[Sega Genesis]], the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], or the [[Famicom]].

Takara with its contract developer [[Tamsoft]] also produced the influential [[3D computer graphics|3D]] fighting series ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', and other original games such as ''[[SteamGear Mash]]''. Takara from 1994–1998 also brought many SNK fighters to the [[Game Boy]] in the form of simplified "demakes" called ''Nettou'', starting with ''[[Fatal Fury 2]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-24 |title=How Takara Brought SNK's Arcade Fighters To The Humble Game Boy |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/features/how-takara-brought-snks-arcade-fighters-to-the-humble-game-boy |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nettou (Franchise) |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/nettou/3025-3531/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Giant Bomb |language=en}}</ref>

''[[DreamMix TV World Fighters]]'' was released in 2003 as a crossover between Takara, [[Hudson Soft]] and [[Konami]]. From 2003 Takara also owned the video game developer and publisher [[Atlus]].<ref name=":1" /> Some Takara properties were licensed to and published by Atlus. In 2006, after the merger with [[Tomy]], Takara's former controlling stake in Atlus was sold to Index Holdings, [[Takara Tomy]]'s major shareholder. Takara-branded product licenses were returned to Takara Tomy's consumer software division; the merged company thereafter also produced the games in the [[Zoids]] and [[Naruto]] series.

===Life entertainment products===
Takara has manufactured several unusual [[gadgets]] marketed as "life entertainment products". An example is [[BowLingual]] which aimed to translate the sounds of dogs to human language. The BowLingual was named as one of the best inventions of 2002 by [[Time Magazine|''Time'']] magazine.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/2002/inventions/tra_bow.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021112145950/http://www.time.com/time/2002/inventions/tra_bow.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 12, 2002 |title=Best Inventions of 2002 |publisher=TIME |access-date=2015-08-22}}</ref> See also [[Yumemi Kobo]] (dream generator).

===Robots===
In 2005, Takara produced Walkie Bits, a colorful, multi-function miniature robotic turtle. it was named ''Time'' magazine's best invention in a robot category.<ref>{{cite web|author=Department |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129593,00.html |title=Best Inventions 2005: Bot Crazy - TIME |publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=2005-11-13 |access-date=2015-08-22}}</ref>

=== Miscellaneous ===
[[File:Japanese electrical car0451.JPG|thumb|Q-Car Qi]]
In the 1980s, Takara as an OEM also sold [[Sord M5]] home computers.

In 2002, Takara developed and released a real-life, road legal small electric car based on its [[Choro-Q]] toys through its new motor subsidiary.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-03-25 |title=Japanese Toy Manufacturer Takara Releases Single-Seat Electric Car... |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/japanese-toy-manufacturer-takara-releases-single-seat-news-photo/110835364 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Getty Images |language=en-gb}}</ref> However due to low sales these cars were soon axed.

==Company history==
Founded in 1955 by Yasuta Sato,<ref name=":0" /> the company adopted the name Takara in 1960. The company was [[Initial public offering|listed]] on the [[Tokyo Stock Exchange]] in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web| title=A part of children’s lives, all through the ages | url=https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/ir/financial/pdf/annual/11_annual_06.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015212806/https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/ir/financial/pdf/annual/11_annual_06.pdf | archive-date=2021-10-15}}</ref>

Despite the big success of [[Beyblade]] in 1999, Takara was struggling financially. In July 2000, [[Konami]] bought a 22.2% [[controlling stake]] in the company.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2005 |title=Konami Sells Stake In Takara |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/konami-sells-stake-in-takara |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2003, Takara purchased [[Atlus]] and transferred all its video gaming properties to it.<ref name=":4" /> Konami sold its share to Index Corporation in April 2005 and Takara became a [[subsidiary]] of Index.<ref name=":4" />

On 13 May 2005, Takara and [[Tomy]] announced their merger, with Tomy being the surviving company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-05-14 |title=Takara, Tomy agree to merge in 2006 |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2005/05/14/business/takara-tomy-agree-to-merge-in-2006/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> It became effective on 1 March 2006. In English, the official name of the merged company is "TOMY Co. Ltd." while in Japan the legal company name is "K. K. Takara-Tomy" ({{lang|ja|株式会社タカラトミー}}; {{tyo|7867}}). In deciding upon the merged company's new name, "Takara" was used for its international [[brand recognition]] and "Tomy" was used because it was a trusted brand of infant and preschool products in Japan. While Japanese commercial law allows wide latitude in translating Japanese corporate names into official English names, the merged company took the unusual step of adopting "TOMY Company, Ltd." as its official English, while using "K.K. Takara-Tomy" in Japan.

==See also==

*[[Beyblade (franchise)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links ==
* [https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/ TAKARATOMY official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050615005253/http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/ TAKARA - Wayback Machine (June 15 archive min, 2005)]

{{Atlus}}

[[Category:Takara| ]]
[[Category:Japanese companies disestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:Toy companies established in 1955]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:2006 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Doll manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:Defunct companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Takara Tomy| ]]
[[Category:Toy companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1955]]
[[Category:Video game companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange]]