5 Things to Buy a Child Interested in Japan

Kids are interested in all kinds of things (as are adults), but there is a reason why so many of them gravitate towards Japan. Japan is one of the world’s leaders in pop culture media. Whether it’s anime, manga, film, game shows, and illustrations of characters like Hello Kitty that have become exceedingly famous, there is something for every kid in Japanese pop culture. While Japan may feel impenetrable with its ancient country, complicated history, and peaceful, prosperous present, you don’t need to know much about the country to find the right toys, gifts, and media for your child.

Anime

The most popular export from Japan is probably anime. These animated TV shows and movies are not bound by much beyond the overall style. Anime stories can be for adults or for kids. There is a wide variety of anime to choose from. Whether your child likes monsters, ghosts, and animals conjured from the imagination or stories about school kids or detectives, there is something for everyone.

It doesn’t end at the shows and movies anime has to offer. These franchises have created all kinds of merchandise. One great option is to look into buying an anime box for your child. A box of anime merchandise can be made up of items from different shows or your kid’s favorite. The best thing about anime boxes is that they surprise your child with all of the different toys, shirts, backpacks, socks, and other objects that are designed with anime in mind.

Manga

Overwhelmingly varied, manga was the precursor to anime. These books of illustrated stories are Japan’s answer to comics. They aren’t all sunshine and rainbows though. Manga books sometimes include lurid and profane images and text about all kinds of salacious subjects, but they can also be as innocent as cartoons. If your kid likes to read and is interested in comics or illustration, buying them the right manga that is both appropriate and entertaining will make all the difference. With so many options to choose from, do your research or ask your child what kind of manga they like. Not only will you get them to read more, they will be inspired by the art of manga.

J-Pop

Does your child like pop music? Then they might love J-Pop. Japanese pop music is known around the world for its playful style, shimmering production, and near-perfect stars. J-Pop puts an emphasis on being cute and silly. There is dancing, singing, and idolatry. J-Pop stars have become so famous that they are recognized abroad. Like manga and anime, J-Pop is one of the most famous exports from Japan. You can buy pop groups’ CDs and digital music, but you can also buy your child posters, T-shirts, and a wide array of other products based on all the different pop artists in Japan.

Video Games

You might not want to buy your kid’s video games, but if your child loves playing games, buying them some from Japan will make them very happy. They have games that aren’t released in the United States. Some won’t even be released in the West. So many kids like playing video games. Whether they play on a console or a PC, buying Japanese video games will satisfy any kind who likes Japan.

Film

If your child is old enough for the content, Japanese films have been famous for decades. They are known for their samurai movies, which just about anyone can watch, horror, ninja, and science fiction. It doesn’t matter what your child is interested in, there is a Japanese movie genre for everyone. When your kid has an interest in foreign film, movies from Japan will open up a whole new world.

Whatever your kid is interested in, Japan has it all. It has a unique pop culture that has become famous across the world. You can buy the media itself or products that are inspired by it. In Japan, just about everything is merchandised. When you are interested in Japan’s pop culture, there is nearly no end to it. Dive deep to find the perfect thing for your child who has become interested in Japanese culture. They will be inspired by a mystical, faraway country.