Japan's Toys for the Elderly

Date: 2006 May 02 18:23

Posted by Joe

In a rather interesting story, following on from their earlier story about declining birth rates in Japan, BBC News have posted an interesting story about Japan's toys for the elderly. It covers Tomy's new product, a doll for the over sixties designed to be similar to a small child, the doll will welcome the owner back home and even weights the same as a small infant.

The article states that due to the falling birthrate Japans population could decrease by as much as 28 million people by 2050. As a result Tomy is keen on developing toys not just for children.

'"We go for teenagers, we go for people in their twenties and thirties, we go for housewives, families and for older people too. It's a strange culture but we are very lucky," Mr Tomiyama says'

The article goes to mention Nintendo's success with it's Brain Training Game. It ends with a the suggestion that games for adults are nothing new in Japan highlighting pachinko as an example, although it doesn't mention that games for adults are played in other countries too, such as pool, snooker, darts, lawn bowls etc..., it just seems odd that they highlight the Japanese adults love of games when almost every country in the world has games enjoyed by grown-ups. ^_^