01/08/2023
Barbie began in Japan...kinda. She was originally manufactured there, but when she hit the market there in the 60's she was kinda a flop.
Dolls like Licca-chan who was younger looking and looked more Japanese outsold her for years until Mattel retooled Barbie to get her to fit the Japanese demographic.
It still took many years for Barbie to catch on. With the demographic becoming more metropolitan in taste she finally gained a foothold.
Barbie is now one of Japan's top-selling dolls.
