So Crazy Japanese Toys
Authored by: Jimbo Matison
Photography by: Michael Garlington
Published Domestically by: Chronicle Books
Year: 2003
Number of Pages: 132
by Jeffrey Couto

Introduction

Love tokusatsu TV shows? Yes? Like toys based on these shows? Then you might be interested in picking up a copy of “So Crazy Japanese Toys”, a book by Jimbo Matison that explores the world of tokusatsu toys through photography and color. From vintage Booska toys to action figures from more recent programs like Ultraman Tiga, this books cover a lot of territory within its pages.

Review

Books on tokusatsu toys abound in Japan, from monthly hobby publications to specialized trade magazines that cover the Japanese toy industry in great detail, you would be hard pressed not to find information on any particular toy line or series. Unfortunately the same is not true in the U.S. where such coverage is limited to a handful of publications such as Super 7 Magazine, which specializes in this particular niche of collectibles. This is why I was very pleased to discover a copy of “So Crazy Japanese Toys” in the art section of a local bookstore.

This book is essentially a professional photography collection of many different types of Japanese toys. It covers everything from Robocon to Kamen Rider and Rockbat; it would be difficult to find anything domestically produced that could match the variety of toys covered in this book.

As a photography book this one succeeds on many levels. Michael Garlington’s photos of the little plastic monsters and heroes infuse an amazing level of energy ,texture, and color to each piece.

In addition to the photographs there are also a couple of small written pieces that Jimbo uses to explain to some degree the shows and pop-culture behind the toys. These make for an interesting read and inject some fun information to what was already a great package.

Conclusion

If you have even a slight interest in tokusatsu toys, you should check out this book. It makes a great addition to any library, especially if you enjoy the shows that the toys are based on. Hope there will be a follow up to it.

Jeffrey Couto