Turning Japanese Over LEGO® Japan
The beloved colorful plastic blocks has not only managed to conquer the US toy market but It has also caused a huge stir as far as in the Eastern part of the globe wherein LEGO® mania has definitely spread all over Japan. It’s really surprising how this unassuming contraption by business/handyman Ole Kirk Christiansen has been able to cover so much ground since its official launch way back in 1955 wherein from a small Danish woodshop who offered ironing boards, stepladders and wooden toys to the huge toy empire that it has become today.
It really is no wonder why LEGO® Japan is currently such a hit with both the young and old people of Japan. In fact, LEGO® Japan has become such a big thing among the Japanese that they have actually started the “First LEGO® League in Japan” wherein children of all ages can join and participate on the various LEGO® Japan related activities that the organizers have lined up for them.
From playing those adorable chunky Duplo blocks to playing LEGO® Knights Kingdom, there really is so much to do however, let’s discuss what the “First LEGO® League” is actually all about and see what’s so fascinating with LEGO® Japan.
The “First LEGO® League” or the FLL is actually not just available for LEGO® Japan fanatics but for children who adore LEGO® all over the world. This highly-creative league is actually created in partnership between the group FIRST and the LEGO® Company wherein every September, the “First LEGO® League” will announce its annual challenge which will require its members to form themselves into teams that will engage on hands-on designing for robotics and other scientific research. All these will happen in just a matter of eight highly-grueling weeks wherein the annual LEGO® Challenge season will be closed with kicking, energy-filled, mini Olympics. Back in 2003 alone, there were 43,000 children who participated in the “First LEGO® League” challenge who all came from 14 different countries across the globe, including fanatics of LEGO® Japan.
Ever since time immemorial, the Japanese people have actually been known for their craftsmanship and highly-creative thinking wherein they tend to invent all sorts of things – some practical while the others tend to be just outwardly weird and impractical. Still, enriching the Japanese children’s minds through the aid of LEGO® Japan has proven to be such an educational yet fun learning experience not only for the children of Japan but for their parents and teachers as well. Especially now that LEGO® Japan has also brought to its shores the LEGO® Classroom as well as the LEGO® Mind storm, wherein children from all ages are highly encouraged to hone their creativity as well as their building techniques to come up with innovative robotic designs.
From the old LEGO® Japan play sets, this wonderful invention by Mr. Christiansen has definitely come such a long, long way.
However, on an added note, it may be quite confusing to see on the internet another type of “LEGO® Japan”. Being auctioned off at a popular auction site, figurine collectibles under the name of LEGO® Japan actually abound. From antique porcelain figures of chicken or little figures of cartoon-like people with bobbing heads, it really is quite an interesting bunch although they are not in any way related with the LEGO® Company who brought to the Japanese shores the empire that is more popularly known now as LEGO® Japan.
