Japanese Transformer Toys
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Japanese
Transformers Toys generally differ from the ones that are available
elsewhere.
It differs from the ones in the U.S and U.K markets in the sense that it
may
have different colour schemes or limited editions not available
elsewhere and
so on.
Hasbro
initially reissued previously released toys from the Takara line, namely
Microman(ミクロマン ) and Diaclone
(ダイアクロン) . Hasbro issued
toys – by combining and rebranding them the under Transformers in the US
in 1984. It was not until 1985 that Transformers actually made its debut
in
Japan.
Basically,
the Transformers toys in Japan are marketed by Takara, as opposed to the
ones marketed internationally by Hasbro.
Takara still has control over
the actual manufacture of the toys while Hasbro does most of the
character
creation and majority of the concept work
In Japan, some names differ form that in the US. For instance. the Autobots and Decepticons are known as Cybertrons and Destrons respectively. Optimus Prime was known as Convoy in Japan. Below are some of the differences/characteristics of the Japanese Transformers toyline.
Generation 1
Transformers : The Headmasters (1987). There were some releases in Japan that were never issued in the US such as Airfire and Stepper (repainted, Targetmaster versions of Inferno and Jazz respectively). There were also several new cassettes such as Noizu and Gurafi who merged to form Decibel as well as Dairu and Zauru who combined to form Legout. There were also a number of individually packaged headmaster figures such as Kark aka Kirk aka Kaku, Rofa aka Rover or Loafer and Trizor aka Trizer. The many different names in Japanese figures are due to the many different interpretations of the Japanese pronunciation
Transformers : Operation Combination
The Combaticons
and Protectobots have been repainted and some name
