Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

You might have never heard of Yokai Watch. Maybe you have. It’s a 3DS game and anime with hard-to-get toys. In Japan, it’s extremely popular at the moment. But sales numbers aside, what is a good way to tell? Merchandise, that’s how. Endless merchandise.

Picture: LOFT_NISHINOMIY

For years now, Pokémon has appeared all over kiddy merch in Japan. Ditto for the latest Super Sentai (aka Power Rangers series) and the latest Kamen Rider. Of course, anime like One Piece have been popular too. But recently, there’s a new entry in this popularity contest: Yokai Watch.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: Rakuten

Like this Yokai Watch thermos. (Note that the picture shows the front and the back of the thermos. It’s also worth noting that this thermos, like many products aimed at children, is made in Japan, as parents might be concerned about plastics made abroad.)

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: Toys R Us

And a chopstick set to use at school. My middle son has this set.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: Rakuten

This is an oshibori set so kids can wipe off their hands while eating at school.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: shop3piecejp

A bento box.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: JoyLifeStore

Which means lunch time at school might look like this for some little kids.

Then, there are the plush toys, pencils, erasers, folders, files, clothes, PJs, bedsheets, towels, toothbrushes, and whatnot.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: HMV_Ohta

But this isn’t all. Truly popular games and anime carpet bomb Japanese retail with even more stuff.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: Mok

Like band-aids.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: musashi249sakai

And bicycles.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: Erikuma27

Tissues.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: shikatsu114

This is Yokai Watch shampoo.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: kikuyamegane

Glasses cases.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: mijinko91392751

Cereal. Well, slapped on cereal boxes.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: kzeyutaR

Everybody wants a piece of this, no?

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: 123o_kn

Then, there’s the Yokai Watch bread. This is actually a very good barometer of popularity.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: Ayota_Poke

Because it can sell out by the end of the day at the supermarket.

Why is this a good barometer? My oldest son, who is eleven, grew up eating Pokémon bread. For years, Pocket Monsters had the kiddy bread market cornered.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: zeppekikobito

Things are different now.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: ayaminlove48

You can eat Yokai Watch curry, if you like. The old favourites, of course, were Pokémon curry or Kamen Rider curry.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: Youkaidaijiten

Just serve it in a Yokai Watch bowl with Whisper-shaped rice.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: bgah

Yokai Watch furikake. My middle son, who is five, used to eat his rice with Pokémon furikake. Now, he’s trying to finish all the packets of Pokémon furikake, so he can eat the Yokai Watch furikake and get the sticker that comes with it.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: kudukimii

If you’ve never had furikake, you can see how it’s sprinkled on the rice in this photo. This is “salmon” furikake.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: jinsei_omatsuri

Fried noodles with “Nyapolitan sauce.” (GEDDIT?)

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: macchan1003

This is Yokai Watch kamaboko. Kamaboko is a type of processed seafood.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: nikotori731

There is already Pikachu kamaboko, so even in the processed seafood market, Yokai Watch is giving Pokémon a run for its… processed seafood? Or something.

Marvel At How Yokai Watch Has Totally Overtaken Japan

Picture: honyo29

See how this game has become more than a game? How it’s more than software sales? It’s become part of the culture and part of people’s lives. Now, whether this is a passing fad, or whether Yokai Watch is in for the long haul like Pokémon remains to be seen.


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