Maker record
Bandai
Bandai is a Japanese toy maker whose history began in Tokyo in 1950 as Bandaiya. Its early merchandise included celluloid and metal toys and rubber swimming rings; its first original product, the Rhythm Ball, appeared that September. Bandai began exports in 1951 and developed a broad range that later included character toys, plastic models, capsule toys, trading cards and virtual pets. Its documented product milestones include the first television character toy in 1963, Gundam plastic models in 1980, CARDDASS cards in 1988 and Tamagotchi in 1996.
- Founded
- 1950
- Countries
- Japan
- Locations
- Tokyo, Japan · 1950
- Founders
- Naoharu Yamashina
The story of Bandai
Bandai began in July 1950 as Bandaiya, founded in Tokyo under president Naoharu Yamashina. The company sold celluloid and metal toys, including passenger cars, as well as rubber swimming rings. Its first original product, the Rhythm Ball, appeared in September 1950. Export sales began in March 1951, and that April Bandai launched the B26, its first original metallic toy. In 1953 the company established product inspection and research functions for its products and new development.
Bandai changed its company name to BANDAI in July 1961. It launched its first television character toy, based on Astro Boy, in 1963, and began selling plastic models in 1967; the company history dates the start of plastic-model production to 1969. Bandai introduced capsule-toy sales through vending machines in 1977 and established BANDAI AMERICA as a U.S. sales base in 1978. Gundam plastic models launched in 1980, followed by Kinnikuman capsule toys in 1983, CARDDASS trading cards in 1988 and Tamagotchi in 1996. In 2018, Bandai's collectibles and model-kit business was combined with Banpresto's prize and lottery business to form Bandai Spirits.
