From action figures to the Tamagotchis: why Hong Kong’s obsession with toy collecting is more than just child’s play
Modern-day collectables are a far cry from what they used to be, according to university cultural studies expert
Hong Kong’s toy collecting obsession is more than just a financial investment. It satisfies the collector’s own childhood desires, one cultural studies expert says.
The city’s long-held affinity for collectibles – from dolls and toy guns to virtual Pokemon – allows fanatics to relive their younger days, according to professor Anthony Fung Ying-him, director of Chinese University of Hong Kong’s school of journalism and communication.
“Collectors are the industry’s major source of
income, because they are willing to spend more money on figures and models,” he said.
“They did not have the chance to collect toys in their childhood. So they do it when they grow up and have the money – like satisfying a desire that has developed since they were little.”
