Marusan is one of the oldest Japanese toy companies. Using the services of Masouzou Kosuge, a talented tool maker, Marusan began their post WW2 business by launching a large tinplate model of a 1951 Cadillac, that became a classic. By the late 1950s, Marusan was making not only tinplate toys but also die-cast vehicles inspired by the British Dinky Toys line, as well as producing plastic model kits of Japanese WW2 aircraft and navy ships, rather crude but interesting models. In 1964, they jumped in the slot car racing bandwagon and eventually produced a fair amount of kits in collaboration with Atlas in the USA. Today, Marusan is still in business, their most famous toys being that of models of the Godzilla monster eating Tokyo.
Marusan
Marusan is one of the oldest Japanese toy companies. Using the services of Masouzou Kosuge, a talented tool maker, Marusan began their post WW2 business by launching a large tinplate model of a 1951 Cadillac, that became a classic. By the late 1950s, Marusan was making not only tinplate toys but also die-cast vehicles inspired by the British Dinky Toys line, as well as producing plastic model kits of Japanese WW2 aircraft and navy ships, rather crude but interesting models. In 1964, they jumped in the slot car racing bandwagon and eventually produced a fair amount of kits in collaboration with Atlas in the USA. Today, Marusan is still in business, their most famous toys being that of models of the Godzilla monster eating Tokyo.
