F'd Gaijin: The Next Generation?

[Kuang_Grade]

In yet another example of Japan

[tetsujin gaijin]

If you check out their web site it's pretty funny. From the revolving sushi bar toy to the line "Anything goes in Tokyo!"

[Taro Toporific]

[Kuang_Grade]

Without hopefully sounding like Waylon Smithers on the Simpsons (with his Mailbu Stacy obsession...I am merely a part time toy pimp on Ebay, and thus pay attention to new toy lines in order to exploit market inefficiencies), I'd point out that Jade was not special for the Tokyo A Go-Go set, but that she's a regular Bratz character. So she's supposed to represent an Asian American who went to Tokyo, not a Japanese national. Although I would concede that Jade is a pretty stereotypical Asian name no one uses nowadays (if they did ever)...I've never met a Jade either...

Although interestingly enough, they did do a limited edition doll for the Tokyo A Go-Go line with a doll in Japanese Kimono attire...However, her name is May Lin, not exactly a "japanesy" as Utada would say.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000296DUA/qid=1096718637/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/103-4829557-7547835?v=glance&s=toys&n=507846

[Mulboyne]

Without hopefully sounding like Waylon Smithers on the Simpsons (with his Mailbu Stacy obsession...)

We are with you.

Jade was not special for the Tokyo A Go-Go set, but that she's a regular Bratz character. So she's supposed to represent an Asian American who went to Tokyo, not a Japanese national. Although I would concede that Jade is a pretty stereotypical Asian name no one uses nowadays (if they did ever)...I've never met a Jade either...

We want to still be with you but this image just won't go away...

[Kuang_Grade]

Ah, well fielded Mulboyne.....Yeah, I'm actually in Tokyo on sabbatical working on "Bratz: The Musical" ...... :P

Episode:Homer vs. Dignity


Smithers: Sir, I have a small personal request.

Burns: Oh, of course, Smithers. Anything.
[repeatedly pushes a button marked, "Trap Door"]

Smithers: I disabled the button, sir.
[Burns keeps pushing it]

Anyway, I need some time off. As you know, I've been writing a musical about the Malibu Stacy doll--

Burns:[gives up on the button] A show about a doll?
[laughs] Why not write a musical about the common cat? Or the King of Siam? Give it up, Smithers.

Smithers: Actually, sir, we're booked into a small theater in New Mexico.

Burns:Whoa, slow down there, maestro. There's a *New* Mexico?

I'm using the Tokyo Damage Report's review of Purloand's Hello Kitty stage show as a touchstone for the treatment :P

http://www.harmful.org/homedespot/newtdr/NEWtdrARCHIVE/stores/puroland.htm

[Taro Toporific]

To provide "Closure" of sorts to all you Bratz-otaku, here's the rest-of-the-story on Bratz dolls in Japan. Think of it as a textbook case for f'ed gaijin marketing.

The Japanese toy company Takara quit their license to market Bratz in Japan at great loss since the Japanese HATED the whole product concept. Ok, fine, not every product is hit...move on.

However, th otally-clueless, f'ed gaijin marketing folks posted in Wal-mart Japan demanded that Seiyu-walmart pick up the Japanese licence rights. The f'ed Arkansas marketing morons did not understand that failed product lines never sell in Japan...the products have Baaaaad Ju-ju (it's a Shinto thing). Anyway, former Toy-r-Us executives gave the Arkansas hicks* a dope stap and there will be no Japanese Bratz A Go Go in Japan.

Bratz Tokyo A Go Go Cloe


$19.97
IN STOCK, 97-Cent Shipping

Anything goes in Tokyo as the Bratz mix 'n' match the craziest and coolest looks in an up-to-the minute fashion flash of color and style! Part of the 'Bratz World' Collection, Tokyo A Go Go Cloe is all set to travel with her super-stylin' suitcase and exclusive and collectible robo pet

*Severely uneducated for MBAs, cannot speak Japanese, have less than any cultural knowlege of asia... hell they didn't know what feng shui was.

[Charles]

Hmm.. it's interesting what topics resurface here. On a vaguely related note, here's a FujiTV news video I posted on my blog over a year ago, with the history of Rika-chan, how she began as a rejection of Barbie's caucasian image, and how it's now evolving into Bratz.

http://ceicher.homeunix.com/archives/000325.html

[Taro Toporific]

Yeap, it's damn strange the amount of HELLO KITTY and J-toilet info I have posted here.
In this case, I actually had a fly-on-the-wall source for the death of Bratz A GOGO in Japan, so I couldn't help but share the info on the FG Forum.

[Charles]

well, I'm glad you shared because nothing makes me happier than hearing about WalMart getting stomped.

[jingai]

This is bizarre! What kid plays in a sushi lounge?

Bratz Tokyo A Go Go Sushi Lounge includes:
Karaoke stage
Mic stand
Table
2 chairs
Make-up counter
4 white plates
4 green plates
Ginger boat
4 cups
2 wooden plates
4 pairs of chopsticks
4 soy sauce dishes
2 blue dishes
2 blue bowls
Wood tray
S-shaped plates
2 soup bowls with covers
Ice tray

[Taro Toporific]

[Kuang_Grade]

I really don't know what the story was on these cats and what made them "Tokyo" cats. They seem pretty unpopular in my neck of the woods and are not moving very fast off the clearance shelves at Target even at half price.

I have always been mystified by the line in Spinal Tap when the manager has had it with David St. Hubbins girlfriend and he says "I am not managing it with you or any other woman, especially one that dresses like an Australian's nightmare!". I'm not aussie bashin', but I think these cats fit that bill.

On Amazon, they are allowing customers to post their own photos of their toys into the product listings and some bratz fans have posted some
like this...soooooooo sad.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/cm/customer-images/-/AOSR78YMJPHHK/ref=cm_ciu_pdpimg_custgallery/103-5110527-3813421


On an related note, Bratz have recently launched a "Pretty and Punk" collection with UK fixation. Because after all, Punk was nothing but another way to look pretty.



http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp?cat=183398&path=0%3A4171%3A4187%3A115998%3A183398

Oddly enough, no men in the pretty and punk collection. No chance for a Cameron with a pre-gobbed leather jacket and padlock necklace. Even worse, no chance for Charles to weigh in what they got right and wrong.

[goldenboy_ge]

I think I gonna buy of these puppets

[Charles]

On an related note, Bratz have recently launched a "Pretty and Punk" collection with UK fixation. Because after all, Punk was nothing but another way to look pretty.