Licca-chan

== Biography ==

== Biography ==

In 1966, Takara planned to enter the dress-up doll market taking advantage of the know-how of the plastic process. The initial plan was for the company to plan a dollhouse which could be carried by children, for dressing dolls of other companies like Mattel.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Okazaki|first=Manami|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2017/07/08/lifestyle/living-doll-licca-chans-legacy-lives/|title=Living doll: Licca-chan’s legacy lives on|date=2017-07-08|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2020-04-04|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763}}</ref> The size was larger than expected and the plan was reviewed not suitable for Japanese housing circumstances and children’s carrying. While planning, a fashion doll, in a setting of elementary school, the height 21&nbsp;cm to fit in the palm was in favor, adopting characteristics of a cartoon girl. Miyako Maki, a cartoonist was put in charge of the illustration of the advertisement at the time of release and the advertisement was named as “supervised by Maki-sensei”.<ref name=”:0″>{{Citation|title=リカちゃん|date=2020-04-03|url=https://ja.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AB%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%93&oldid=76894739|work=Wikipedia|language=ja|access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref>

In 1966, Takara planned to enter the dress-up doll market taking advantage of the know-how of the plastic process. The initial plan was for the company to plan a dollhouse which could be carried by children, for dressing dolls of other companies like [[Mattel]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Okazaki|first=Manami|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2017/07/08/lifestyle/living-doll-licca-chans-legacy-lives/|title=Living doll: Licca-chan’s legacy lives on|date=2017-07-08|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2020-04-04|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763}}</ref> The size was larger than expected and the plan was reviewed not suitable for Japanese housing circumstances and children’s carrying. While planning, a fashion doll, in a setting of elementary school, the height 21&nbsp;cm to fit in the palm was in favor, adopting characteristics of a cartoon girl. Miyako Maki was put in charge of the illustration of the advertisement at the time of release and the advertisement was named as “supervised by Maki-sensei”.<ref name=”:0″>{{Citation|title=リカちゃん|date=2020-04-03|url=https://ja.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AB%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%93&oldid=76894739|work=Wikipedia|language=ja|access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref>

The name “Licca-chan” was decided by the general public offering on the July 1967 issue of the monthly girl manga magazine “Ribon”. Subsequently, the name “Rica” became known as a name that works for both Japanese and foreigners. Two years after the launch in 1969, the dolls were accepted by the Japanese children causing Mattel (Mattel’s Barbies) to move its production base to another country, focusing less on sales in Japan. Licca-chan started exceeding Barbie sales and began to reign as the queen of Japanese dress-up dolls.<ref name=”:0″ /> Despite the popularity, Licca-chan dolls suffered a decline in sales in the 1990s due to rival dolls based on the anime like Sailor Moon. In 1996, Licca-chan returned to the top sales of dress-up dolls again.

The name “Licca-chan” was decided by the general public offering on the July 1967 issue of the monthly girl manga magazine “[[Ribon]]“. Subsequently, the name “Rica” became known as a name that works for both Japanese and foreigners. Two years after the launch in 1969, the dolls were accepted by the Japanese children causing Mattel (makers of the [[Barbie]] doll) to move its production base to another country, focusing less on sales in Japan. Licca-chan started exceeding Barbie sales and began to reign as the queen of Japanese dress-up dolls.<ref name=”:0″ /> Despite the popularity, Licca-chan dolls suffered a decline in sales in the 1990s due to rival dolls based on anime like [[Sailor Moon]]. In 1996, Licca-chan returned to the top sales of dress-up dolls again.

Even now, Licca-chan is highly recognized and it is even used as a synonym for other dolls from different companies. From its high recognition from the Takara era to the current Takara Tomy, Licca is positioned as a corporate identity character of the manufacturer.<ref name=”:0″ /> As of today, Japan’s Licca and America’s Barbie are the only two fashion dolls in the world that have lasted more than 25 years and their sales are always in competition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-27-wr-979-story.html|title=Culture : ‘Doll Wars’ Challenge Female Ideal : Japan likes ‘cute.’ America likes ‘sexy.’ So, Barbie and Licca duke it out in toydom.|date=1992-10-27|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref>

Even now, Licca-chan is highly recognized and it is even used as a synonym for other dolls from different companies. From its high recognition from the Takara era to the current Takara Tomy, Licca is positioned as a corporate identity character of the manufacturer.<ref name=”:0″ /> As of today, Japan’s Licca and America’s Barbie are the only two fashion dolls in the world that have lasted more than 25 years and their sales are always in competition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-27-wr-979-story.html|title=Culture : ‘Doll Wars’ Challenge Female Ideal : Japan likes ‘cute.’ America likes ‘sexy.’ So, Barbie and Licca duke it out in toydom.|date=1992-10-27|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref>