Licca Castle Small Shop in Tokyo

Dear Readers,

Did you know that Licca Castle has opened a store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo!  It's called LICCA CASTLE SMALL SHOP and it will sell Licca Castle and Jenny dolls, shoes and outfits!  And they apparently sell rare dolls and dresses that are exclusive to that store!

Photo from Licca Castle Website

The shop has recently opened on August 1st, 2014 and I only saw a very few photos of the store so far.  But the most memorable pictures are from this fantastic Japanese blogger Kokeshi Diary !  She has an incredible collection of Licca dolls, Blythe dolls and Azone Pure Nemo dolls!  Her blog is such a pleasure to follow because of her super beautiful pictures!  It's thanks to Chloe Liu from MoonRabbit_Ly's Miniature World that I found out about the blog!

The photos I am posting here are however from the Licca Castle Official Website and are not that blogger's personal photos.  I wished I could ask Kokeshi Diary for her permission to repost her pictures here but her blog is in Japanese and I don't know how to navigate around to ask her nor can I write in Japanese :/

Photo from Licca Castle Website

So you must take a look at the Licca Small Shop on her blog entry!  Can you imagine rows and rows of dreamy doll's dresses and shoes?  It's a Licca Heaven!  

Photo from Licca Castle Website

The dolls themselves are super kawaii cute and for the fist time I am considering buying a boy Licca doll (they do exist!).  I think the pictures are showing Charles (Licca's cousin from France who has blonde hair).  I didn't know boy's outfits could interest me this much but they look fabulous on these dolls!  I found a close up photo of the boys in this other blog entry (scroll all the way down).  I am also in love with the sailor suit and dress shown on that post.  Aren't they amazing?

Oh to go to Tokyo and buy all these goodies!  One can dream.  What is your dream shop?

Emma's Bedroom

Dear Readers,

I intended to make a long post to show you the dollhouse I have chosen for Emma, my new Licca Castle doll, but it was much too busy yesterday to take pictures of everything so I can only show you a few shots of her bedroom.

I bought the Moxie Girlz Jammaz House many months ago but I didn't want to post about it until I got Emma because she was just perfect for this house.

The Moxie Girlz Jammaz House was released in two different editions:  one with a bed and bath tub (which I bought), and one without those furniture pieces!  Since I don't know exactly what edition is sold on websites, I don't want to link them and confuse people as to what issue they will receive.  In case of doubt, it's always best to ask the seller before buying.

The vanity table is from an old Bratz furniture set (Bratz World Yasmin's House).  The cosmetics are from Re-ment.  I found out about them HERE thanks to Moonrabbit's Miniature World who blogs about Sylvanian Families, Re-ment, Blythe and Miniature in general!  You should check out her blog!  She takes gorgeous pictures and she writes detailed reviews

Now back to Emma in her bedroom.  When I set up the dollhouse on my table, I thought it looked quite pretty; the most elegant dollhouse I have ever seen.  Once I placed Emma in her bedroom, it became so much more!  She was the ONE for this dollhouse.  She just belonged there.

Emma in her dainty bedroom!

The bed came with the dollhouse.

View from the top

Full view of her bedroom.

The dollhouse has a lot more rooms/walls and I can't wait to show them to you!  But I need to have time first.  Baby didn't sleep until 10 pm last night and I was too tired after that to take more photos.  I took the photos while she was awake and it was something I will not attempt again.  She was constantly trying to grab the items from the table.  Although she was too small to reach any of the furniture, her constant hovering around the table made it difficult for me to set up the display.  I gave her another dollhouse to occupy her but she wanted me to play with her, so in the end, I could only take a few shots before putting away everything. 

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I was not paid or received gifts to write this or mention any stores or website. You may find a better store in your area.

Licca Castle - Special Toy Box

Dear Readers,

I have been dreaming of getting another Licca Castle doll and it was a difficult decision because there are so many pretty dolls to choose from.  I finally chose: Licca Castle Special Toy Box Doll .

The website describes her as having blonde-white hair with purple/brown eyes and pink lips.

Licca Castle dolls are more expensive than the Licca Playline dolls but they are worth it.  Their face-up is so much more defined and the quality of their hair is totally in another league.  Super smooth and silky.  

Licca Castle collaborated with 20 doll outfit artists and created dolls and outfits for their 20th anniversary special event.   "Special Toy Box" is one of the artists. She mainly makes Momoko's outfits, and they sell out very quickly when she opens her web shop. Below is her website and blog. 

special-toy-box.chu.jp/

specialtoybox.blog71.fc2.com/

Here is how the doll is packaged.

The inside panel slides out easily.
A white dress and white shoes are included.

The doll is held only by two cloth-covered rubber bands.

Yeah for easy unboxing!

Here she is!

Her end curls are a little messy.

She has such a sweet face. A subtle smile and a soft purple shade in her eyes.

With hair swept in the front.

I am so happy with this doll.  She looks so precious and dainty.  I was a little surprised when I first saw her because she didn't look like her stock picture.  But that was because her hair was messy in the box and her bangs were flattened by the plastic holder around her head.  But once I got her out of the box, she looked exactly like her stock photo.  Once noticeable difference though is that the dress she wears in her stock photo is not the same as the dress I received.  That is not a problem for me since I don't mind this dress.  It's well made, it's soft and it fits her nicely.

I need to take better pictures of her though because I took these photos really quickly yesterday.  I feel I am not doing her any justice with my terrible photos!  So hopefully she will get some deserved time in front of the camera soon!  And I think I will name her Emma.  Do you think it suits her?

Licca Castle Dolls

Dear Readers,

As mentioned in my earlier posts, I will write about my first Licca Castle dolls!

Licca Casle dolls are manufactured at Licca Castle in Fukushima (about 4 hours by bus from Tokyo).  They are not available at toy stores like other TAKARA and TAKARA TOMY Licca dolls. They are available at Licca Castle events held in major cities.  The colorful-haired Castle dolls (the ones I purchased) are not sold online, and are only available at Licca Castle and their events.

I never thought I would like a blue-haired and pink-haired doll but I immediately liked them when I saw them on the Etsy shop!

Each doll came in a separate bag.  Included in the bag are:

• A dress
• A hat
• A pair of shoes
• A pair of earrings
• A hairbrush
• A certificate

The certificate is like a Thank You Note from Licca:  "Thank you for visiting Licca Castle today. I'm glad that you made a pretty doll. She will be your good friend."

The reason the word "MADE" is mentioned is because at Licca Castle, you can choose a doll, dress, earrings, shoes and hat to make your own doll. The certificate is only given at Licca Castle in Fukushima.

I noticed the hair of the Licca Castle dolls are a lot silkier and smoother to the touch than the other regular Licca dolls.

I am suddenly thinking about Cousin It for seam reason...

Another difference is their facial features.  The regular Licca doll bought in store looks very similar to the Licca Castle doll but here is a close-up of their face so you can see the slight differences.   Licca Castle seems to have fuller lips, and bigger, rounder eyes.  The face mold seems to be the same but the make-up is different.

Their body looks also similar except for the brand which you can find on the back of the Licca dolls. On the back of Licca Castle are the words: "TAKARA JAPAN".  

My two Licca Friends dolls bought from an online toy store in Japan has the mention "© TOMY MADE IN CHINA" on their back.   Below is Sakura-chan's back.

My Licca student doll was bought from an online store from Hong Kong and on her back are the words: "TAKARA CHINA".

Apart from the words on their back, their hair texture and their facial make-up being different, I don't know if there is other differences between the dolls.  They have the same proportion and their body look the same to me.  Some say the dolls in China have harder arms and head but I have not noticed to be honest.

I was curious to see if the clothes would have the same kind of tags too so here are the difference.

The Castle Licca dress has a tag saying: "Licca Castle Made in China".

The clothes I bought from the Licca Collection from a Japanese online store has this marking instead: "MADE IN CHINA ; TAKARA TOMY ®".

Takara 30th Anniversay Licca Blue Album

I would like to wish a Happy New Year to everybody!  May 2014 will be a better year for all! :)

I would like to show you my new dolls!  The very rare Takara 30th Anniversary Licca Blue Album! 

This box is a 1997 special release limited to 1000 issues only.  There are 7 dolls in the box representing Licca during different stages of her life:

1. Licca as a newborn baby
2. Licca at 3 year old 
3. Licca at 14 year old
4. Licca at 23 year old 
5. Licca at 25 year old
6. Licca at 30 year old
7. Licca's very own baby

There's a biography of Licca on the inside of the lid with pictures of the dolls.

I read HERE that there are 2 other boxes commemorating the 30th Anniversary as well: a Yellow Album (here is a LINK to pictures on Etsy: you have to scroll all the way down) and a Pink Album (here is a LINK to pictures on Amazon.jp).

1. Yellow: 1st Album - limited to 1000 
2. Blue:     2nd Album - limited to 1000 
3. Pink:     3rd Album

Each Album also features 7 dolls during Licca's life but they have different hairstyle and outfits.

The Yellow Album is the most expensive and then the Blue Album because they are limited issues.    The Pink Album is less pricy.  It's not that bad because you are getting 7 dolls after all.

This box comes with a card stating "30th Anniversary Premium Card".   There were also a catalog of Licca merchandise and an order form.

Here they are out of their box.  I thought the yellow purse was the Mother's purse but now I realize it's the bride purse! >.<

DIFFERENT SIZES

Very interestingly, these dolls have a unique size I you compare them to other Takara dolls.  I took two pictures to show you: from left to right : regular Licca, Castle Licca, Licca 14 year-old, Takara Jenny Friend (Olive), 23 year-old, 30 year-old.

WARNING: PLEASE LOOK AWAY IF DOLL NUDITY OFFENDS YOU!

I took off their clothes to show the difference in the torso and waist size too.

The 14 year-old Licca doll is about 0.5 cm (0.2 inches) taller than the regular Licca dolls you see in stores or sold by Licca Castle.  Since the regular Licca dolls is presumably 11 year-old, Takara logically made the teenage Licca a little taller.   But teenage Licca has a smaller face than the 11 year-old.

The other adult Licca dolls in this box are about the same height as Takara Jenny dolls who are 17 year-old but the adult Licca's face are bigger and rounder.

The 3-year old doll is the same size as Miki-chan and Maki-chan, Licca's twin little sister dolls who are 4-year old.

I don't know how the baby size would compare to other Takara dolls because I don't own any other baby dolls.

DOLLS & OUTFIT REVIEW

The babies and toddler dolls are so cute!  They come with very detailed clothes!  I admire how Takara took so much care in giving them beautiful clothing and many accessories despite their small size.

Apart from her incredibly pretty kimono, Licca's baby has also white socks, tiny red geta (kimono shoes) and a red purse.   Here hair is super short and she has a red bow.

The 3 year-old Licca wears a one piece dress consisting of a white top and plaid skirt, a beige vest with gold buttons, a red beret topped with a white pom pom, brown shoes and a navy backpack!

And finally the baby is absolutely adorable with her closed eyes.  She wears a pink footed pajamas, fur collar tied with a red ribbon and furry poms poms.  Her very short hair is covered with a pink headband adorned with orange flowers on each side.

I think they are better dressed than I am!

Here is a view of their back.  Their clothing are easy to remove with the Velcro closure located on the back (as it is the case with most Licca's clothes).  They are easy to dress up too!  Probably easier to dress up than my own baby :P

The older dolls are beautiful with very elaborate outfits!  Only Licca teenager is wearing the original shoes that came with the box.  The other 3 dolls didn't have any shoes because the original ones were missing.  The seller disclosed this information in her description of the Album so it was not a surprise.  It was a minor detail for me anyway; I just gave them shoes from my own collection.

Spot the difference with the next picture :P



The teenage Licca has short hair and she comes in a tennis outfit (white T-shirt and blue skirt) complete with a yellow windbreaker, tennis shoes and a tennis racket with cover!  I don't own any short hair Licca dolls yet so I am over the moon about getting such a cute doll!  She actually reminds me of myself at 14 with my very short hair ;-)

9 years apart...

After the 14 year old, you suddenly jump to a 23 year-old doll.  Licca is now taller and has long wavy hair. Her outfit is elegant and styled like a working young graduate.  She wears gold hoop earrings, a gold ring, a red headband, beige corduroy pants, a white wool sweater, a red jacket with black lapels and a flower brooch, and a black tote with two shoulder straps.  One of her pant's button fell off so I'll have to sew it back.

Of all the dolls, I prefer the bride!  Her wedding dress is simple but totally classy!  She wears a tulle underskirt to make the dress more puffy.  She also has earrings, a ring, a pearl necklace, a bouquet of flowers and a purse with a handle made of pearl.

Looks like the Bride lost a bit of weight prior to her wedding.  Poor dollies have to diet too?

It was so difficult taking a good picture of the Bride because of her all-white outfit.  I had to go outside to try capture some good light for the photos.

I also love her hair!!!

Channeling her inner Princess Leia :P

I was curious to see if the dolls would have any marks showing they were from a special edition to I looked on her back.  But as you can see below, it's just showing"TAKARA JAPAN".  The regular Licca dolls from the Play Line has "TAKARA made in China" on her back, even the dolls I bought from Japanese stores.  

Licca as a 30 year old mother wears a purple kimono.  I thought the little red purse was hers but I think it suits her baby's kimono color better.  Poor mommy has no purse!!! 

Her Obi (kimono belt) is beautiful!

I need to mention that the outfits are extremely well made and everything is real fabric, no plasticky feel (except for the yellow windbreaker but that's because that type of garment requires a water proof kind of fabric).  The buttons are tiny but they are sewn very discreetly without any bulk thread showing.  Each doll has underwear, including the babies!!!

To end this long post, I want to show you one last picture.  When I got the babies ready for a picture of their back, I noticed the cutest little butt crack :P