Licca-chan
Licca-chan (リカちゃん Rika-chan), full name Licca Kayama (香山リカ Kayama Rika),[1] is a very popular dress-up doll series introduced in Japan on 1967-07-04 by Takara,[1][2] enjoying the same kind of popularity in Japan as the Barbie series does in the United States.[3] The Licca-chan dolls tend toward a more Japanese body as far as height and features. Takara had sold over 48 million Licca-chan dolls as of 2002,[1] and over 53 million as of 2007.[3]. Licca-chan was created by former shōjo manga artist, Miyako Maki, who is also the wife of Leiji Matsumoto.
Takara has provided an extensive background story for the Licca-chan doll, including an age (11), where she attends school, names and occupations for her parents, and her favorite books (Anne of Green Gables and A Little Princess). Licca-chan also likes Doraemon.[1]
Rough Trade Records teamed up with Takara in the late 90's to release "Street Licca", who was a DJ that carried a Rough Trade record satchel, and mini, doll-sized LPs from the labels' artists. Along with her Ursula 1000, Gants and Spearmint records, she toted a pair of pink Converse running shoes, grey "leather" pants, headphones, layered hoody and a blond bob haircut. This incarnation of Licca was only available through the Rough Trade records site, at a high price. Street Licca was the ultimate "indie rock" doll.
In 2001, a pregnant adult version of Licca-chan was introduced which included a postcard the purchaser could send to Takara for a baby doll. The baby came with a key which allowed the doll to be returned to its standard proportions.[1][4] The release of the doll happened to coincide with the birth of Aiko, the daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan, a factor which helped boost the sales of the new doll.[4] Since then, other versions of Licca-chan have been introduced, including a new "Departure Licca", released just ahead of the 40th anniversary in 2007.[3]
A Licca-chan video game was released for the Nintendo DS in Japan on November 29th, 2007. [1]. This game was later released in the U.S. on October 14th, 2008 as Lovely Lisa. [2]
The doll has also spawned an urban legend amongst Japanese High School students, with a cursed three legged version of the toy called Three Legged Rika-Chan.
[edit] See also
- Super Doll Licca-chan (anime TV series)
- Jenny
- Asian fashion doll
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e (English) "Licca-chan". http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/cool/01-10-12/licca.html. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
- ^ (English) "Super Doll Licca-chan". Hitoshi Doi. http://www.usagi.org/~doi/licca/index.html. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ a b c (English) "TOYS: Licca-chan turns 40, travels the world". Asahi Shimbun. 2007-04-19. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20070929125949/http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200704190067.html. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
- ^ a b (English) "Shoppers go ga-ga over pregnant doll". CNN. 2001-12-06. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/12/06/japan.pregnant.doll/index.html. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
[edit] External links
- (Japanese) Licca-chan page at Takara-Tomy
- (English) Attack of the Anime Toys (listing many different types of Licca-chan dolls)
