2026-08-04 It could be made even more realistic. Yet, there were some things that TOMICA REBORN didn't change.
Do you remember the feeling of playing with TOMICA as a child?
Many people may have become Car/Vehicle through TOMICA, playing by hand rolling on the floor, opening and closing doors, and so on.
The idea of reviving such a nostalgic TOMICA using current technology led to the creation of "TOMICA REBORN."
I thought it would be a sophisticated TOMICA with new features, but an unexpected side emerged.
We spoke with YF, the planning and development manager, about the concept.
Planning and Development Manager for TOMICA REBORN
YF
Initially responsible for sales administration at the time of joining. Later involved in the event business, and through the operation of TOMICA Expo, became involved in planning and development work.
Aside from being familiar with TOMICA as a child influenced by my father, I wasn't particularly knowledgeable about cars or miniature cars; I joined development starting from the sense of distance that "customers feel almost the same as TOMICA."
Currently, in addition to 'TOMICA REBORN,' he is also in charge of 'TOMICA Premium Racing' and 'TOMICA Premium Unlimited.'
TOMICA cars with suspension really resonated with me as a child.
YF originally handled other tasks within the company and didn't have any special obsession with TOMICA or cars themselves.
However, since he had the original experience of playing with TOMICA, he was the perfect person to take charge of "TOMICA REBORN."
YFI'm not a die-hard fan; I have a perfectly normal distance from them.
I think it's pretty much the same feeling our customers have towards TOMICA. Like, "I played with this as a kid, it was so much fun."
I also had TOMICA at home when I was little. By chance, I've been assigned to work with them, and actually holding them in my hands brings back nostalgic memories of the past.
Most people probably have some experience playing with miniature cars like TOMICA when they were children.
But is there really enough of a difference between TOMICA and other toys for a child to recognize them?
YFThe most obvious difference is that it has suspension.
When you press down on TOMICA from above, you can feel the spring's resistance in your hand.
I think this is the part that children find intuitively enjoyable when playing with their hands.
When I was little, I once told my dad, "I want TOMICA car of this kind," and he bought me one, but it turned out to be a miniature car from a different manufacturer.
Adults might think that TOMICA cars and those from other manufacturers are all the same, but as a child, I remember being very disappointed because the feel and other aspects were completely different.
We recreated the memories of that time while keeping the design and actions as unchanged as possible.
TOMICA includes various types including "TOMICA REBORN," including "TOMICA Premium."
What kind of differentiation are they trying to achieve?
YF"TOMICA REBORN" began with the concept of reviving previously discontinued products as TOMICA celebrated its 55th anniversary.
On the other hand, the "TOMICA Premium" is a TOMICA that adults can enjoy, designed to satisfy you from a grown-up perspective.
With the concept of revival, it's important that adults who played with TOMICA long ago will feel 'this is it!' after touching 'TOMICA REBORN.'
That's why they make certain points original by faithfully reproducing them as they were back then.
YFIn terms of tactile sensation, it's the suspension I mentioned earlier.
Another characteristic of TOMICA is the smooth movement of the tires.
To preserve the original impression, the product is being manufactured on the same scale as the original.
Another fun feature of TOMICA is that the doors can be opened and closed, so we've reproduced that feature just like it was back then.
We hope that adults who played these games back then will feel nostalgic and enjoy playing them with children.
The balance between nostalgia and freshness is important.
However, TOMICA has been around for over 55 years, and there are probably many things that could be done now that weren't possible with the technology back then.
Wouldn't it be nice to incorporate more new elements during development?
YFWhen developing, we discuss with team members which model to release as "TOMICA REBORN" and decide on the design, but fundamentally, opinions rarely clash significantly.
I think the desire for families to enjoy the old TOMICA together is firmly shared among the members.
The fact that opinions aren't divided doesn't mean there's no doubt or uncertainty.
There's always the temptation to think, "Now I could put even more effort into it."
YFOn top of that, discussions can get heated around the feelings each member has attached to each member.
For example, some suggested that with current technology, the rear wing could be made a separate part to make it look more realistic, but we deliberately stuck to the specifications from that time.
If you go too far, it would approach the 'TOMICA Premium' and stray from the concept of 'TOMICA REBORN,' so I believe it's important to focus mainly on recreating the original style and maintain a consistent balance
The sophistication is already undertaken by the "TOMICA Premium."
TOMICA REBORN plays a different role. The moment you pick it up, your body remembers, "This is TOMICA."
This line is also reflected in the elements of the decision not to change.
Scale, door opening/closing, suspension. By never changing this, it becomes something you intuitively understand, "This is the TOMICA, different from other minicars."
YFIt's been over 55 years since the TOMICA was released, and printing and painting technologies have greatly advanced since then. Even if the basic structure hasn't changed, I think it's not just a simple revival but also adds a fresh feel to be what we call a "TOMICA REBORN."
Of course, there are many new technologies, but deliberately avoiding getting too absorbed in them is a key point that makes people feel nostalgic and want to pick them up again.
I won't change it, so I will renew it.
The two things that sound opposite each other are connected to YF-san.
Technology is used. But just because you can use it doesn't mean you have to include everything.
Distinguish between the parts to evolve and the parts that are important as TOMICA uniqueness.
The result of that line drawing is "TOMICA REBORN."
I hope everyone will pass on their own "TOMICA that holds special memories."
The "TOMICA REBORN" concept, which has always adhered to the principle of "not changing/not over-engineering," ultimately leads to the transmission of a certain wish from the parents' generation, who remember the original release, to the children's and grandchildren's generations.
YFThrough "TOMICA REBORN," we hope that adults and children can share memories and pass down TOMICA memories across generations.
Up to now, TOMICA has released a variety of vehicles, from sports cars and passenger cars to working vehicles like cranes and fire trucks, and each TOMICA holds different memories.
Until everyone's memories are filled, we want to release various models as "TOMICA REBORN."
By deliberately holding back on things that are possible with current technology, it evokes nostalgia in the older generation, and when played with by the next generation, it becomes a new memory that is passed down through generations.
"TOMICA REBORN" is not just about passing on memories, but about remixing them within the family, making it a toy that truly embodies the concept of "rebirth," as its name suggests.
