'International Tokyo Toy Show 2011' at Tokyo Big Sight June 16th-19th!

Japan's largest toy exhibition, the International Tokyo Toy Show 2011, will be held at Tokyo Big Sight from June 16th-19th. Public days are the 18th and 19th. Admission is free.

The 50th show's theme, like last year's is 'Bringing smiles to the world with toys!' 127 companies, both domestic and foreign, will be exhibiting around 35,000 toys. Visitors can look forward to Bandai's perennial display of Gundam items leading up an array of exhibitions and product announcements.

While a cancellation was contemplated following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Japan Toy Association, while praying for a swift recovery from the disaster, issued the following statement: 'In such a dark hour, the toy industry not only can but must band together to bring smiles to the faces of the children who are Japan's future. This is the greatest contribution we can make, and thus, the International Tokyo Toy Show will be held as scheduled.' Toys donated by 26 JTA members will be distributed to children throughout areas affected by the disaster by the nonprofit Educational Future Center.