Giant robots, sounds, and light-emitting gimmicks......Tomica, the king of miniature cars, celebrates its 50th anniversary, and what has "changed" and what has "stayed the same. What are the "unchanged parts" and "unchanging parts" of the "Tomica"? Hobby Industry Inside No. 65

Tomica, synonymous with miniature cars for children, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Tomica is a simple metal miniature car that is large enough to be squeezed into the palm of a child's hand....... All boys have memories of playing with them, but few are aware of how the series has developed today ......?　In fact, the series has evolved in many directions, combining with giant robots and reproducing sound, light, and even vibration.
Tomica has expanded its vast variations over half a century, and now, in 2020, we wonder "for whom" and "how" Tomica is being planned and developed.　We interviewed Mr. Eiji Yasu, Chief of Tomy's Tomica Marketing Department.

The same tire shape on every car" is the identity of TOMICA.

─ I heard that Tomica was launched in August 1970. I heard that the first Tomica was a series of six Japanese passenger cars, including the "Nissan Bluebird SSS Coupe" and the "Toyota 2000GT".

Yasushi: Before Tomica was born, miniature cars made by overseas manufacturers were the mainstream. The size of the cars was mostly 1/43 scale (about 10 cm), and many of them were too large for children to play with. Other manufacturers also released miniature cars similar in size to today's Tomica, but there were almost no domestic cars in the lineup. Tomica was started with the idea of "bringing miniature Japanese cars to Japanese children. Currently, Tomica has a lineup of 140 types of cars at any given time, with about half of the lineup consisting of working cars. We also release two new products every month, refreshing the composition of the 140 varieties to ensure that the lineup is well-stocked with cars that children are familiar with from each era. The decision on which cars to add and which to remove is based on internal discussions, with input from various quarters. In some cases, we receive information from car manufacturers about model changes. Passenger cars are rapidly being replaced, but some products, such as the "No. 95 London Bus," have been on the market for more than 40 years since 1977. In other words, if the model has a strong impression on children, such as a garbage truck, mail truck, or truck, the Tomica may still be available at ...... even if the actual car has undergone a model change.
The first production run of Tomica has a sticker on the box that identifies it as a new car, and some customers buy it for that reason. Parents do not always know all the Tomica their children own, so we have received comments from parents that the sticker on the box indicates that the box with the sticker on it is a new product, so they probably haven't bought it yet, which is a good criterion to use when selecting a product on the sales floor.


─ ─ Aren't there many people who buy and collect them not only for children but also for maniacs?

Yasushi: We often hear from miniature car fans that it would be perfect if it had side mirrors. However, Tomica's target is always children, so we do not attach side mirrors that would hit their palms when they squeeze the car in their hands. Prioritizing safety, we have arranged the entire model in a rounded shape. In addition, although there are some differences in size and color, all tires are basically the same design for all cars. The tires, which have remained unchanged for 50 years, can be said to be part of Tomica's identity. Also, ST standards (safety standards for toys) are getting higher every year, and Tomica has its own safety standards. For example, the rear wing and other materials are now molded from softer materials. Therefore, it is not possible to reprint a 50-year-old Tomica with exactly the same specifications as it had then. This is because the safety standards are different today, and children would not be able to play with the Tomica with their hands. The standard for Tomica is only for children over 3 years old.

──Isn't there also a Tomica with a little more precision on the market for enthusiasts?

Yasushi: Yes, the first one is "Tomica Premium. This series is aimed at people who used to play with Tomica, and the target age range is 6 and up. The lineup includes models from the past that are no longer on the road. For those 14 years and older, there is also the "Tomica Premium RS" series, which is scaled at 1/43 and has detailed gimmicks such as a hood that can be opened. However, since both the "TOMICA PREMIUM" and "TOMICA PREMIUM RS" are "TOMICA," they do not have side mirrors, and their safety complies with ST standards. The price is kept low while sticking to zinc alloy as the material.



──As long as it bears the name "Tomica," it is a toy, not a hobby, right?

Yes . Unlike expensive miniature cars that are for ornamental purposes, "Tomica" can be played with by hand. The only exception is the "Tomica Limited Vintage" from Tomytec Corporation (a Takara Tomy group company). This one has a target age range of 15 years and older, and it also has side mirrors, and the thin parts are made of different materials for each part. Also, "TOMICA Limited Vintage" is standardized in 1/64 scale, so large vehicles are commercialized in a larger size. Conversely, for regular Tomica, all sizes are standardized to fit in the same box. In regular Tomica, all small cars and large buses are the same size. The palm of a child's hand is the standard for the size of a Tomica.