Scrolling through this 1998 Toys "R" Us Holiday catalog from Japan was a nostalgic trip that left me both fascinated and a little surprised. What struck me most was how similar my childhood was to that of a kid growing up in Japan at the time. Sure, their catalog had a bigger selection of mechs and Gundam (lucky!), but the rest? Almost identical. VHS tapes of Elmo, Winnie the Pooh, and Wallace and Gromit. The same iconic board games, action figures, and video games I remember begging my parents for.
Even the prices were there—though, let's be real, converting yen and adjusting for inflation of two different countries is way beyond my abilities. I probably shouldn't be so shocked; after all, this was Toys "R" Us, and they had a knack for creating universal childhood dreams no matter where you lived. But still, seeing the familiar mixed with the unique made this catalog an absolute delight to flip through.
