KEN & ALLAN SOLD IN JAPAN
Unlike in the US and Europe, the Kens sold in Japan can not be so easily categorized. Kens and Allans were usually sold as Dressed Dolls, and some, if not all, outfits and accessories were available to buy separately. However, the combinations of Ken, clothing and packaging are seemingly endless, and ultimately appear to be the result of Mattel selling off old stock. This makes it challenging for the archivist, but also quite exciting, as every new Japanese auction throws up some novel discovery and changes Ken’s history in Japan. I would like to say a big THANK YOU to my collector friend Yuko, who has helped me discover so much about Ken in Japan.
The earliest Japanese Ken advertisement is in the April 1964 issue of Japanese TOY magazine (below left), which introduces Ken and Midge as: “Barbie’s new friends…… International fashion model Barbie has wonderful new friends Ken and Midge. Fine tailoring, wide range of changeable outfits, as seen on TV.” Only a single earlier reference to Ken in Japan has been found, and that is a small image of Ken wearing Time For Tennis in the Japanese FRIEND magazine from 23 February 1964 (below middle). The flocked hair Kens were not just used as models – they regularly turn up nowadays in Japanese auctions as Dressed Dolls. Note that all advertisements show the version with thin eyebrows, and Japanese auctions have proved that this was indeed the Ken sold at the time. The painted hair Ken was also available in 1964, and by 1965 is the only version of Ken to appear in Japanese advertising. Nevertheless, flocked hair Ken has been found MIB dressed in Seein’ the Sights, which suggests he was still being sold as late as 1966.
This fantastic advertisement from the January 1965 issue of Japanese Toy Magazine shows both Barbie and Ken in kimonos! The advertisement simply wishes a Happy New Year, and there is no indication as to whether or not these beautiful, ceremonial kimonos were available commercially. What a contrast to the December issue, which shows the Barbie & Ken family looking like the Kennedys at a Charity Gala.
The magazine below was either sold or given away in toy stores in Japan from the mid 1960s. According to my collector friend Yuko, ‘Yoiko no Taiyo’ translates literally as ‘Good Child’s Sun’ (which is far more pleasing than the Google translation of ‘Good Day’).
Allan first appears in the January 1966 issue of Japanese TOY magazine. An article in the February issue describes Allan as Ken’s “childhood friend”. He is always photographed wearing a version of Special Date, but so far I’ve only found him for sale in Japanese auctions in his original outfit, or dressed in Rovin’ Reporter.
As shown by the Japanese booklets – and versions found in auctions – several outfits came with slight modifications. Note the corsage worn as a boutonniere by the flocked hair Ken below – this version actually exists.
The 1965 Japanese booklet shows outfits like Dreamboat and Saturday Date, which were no longer available elsewhere. Also, it shows Dreamboat with the green Fashion Pak shirt and Goin’ Huntin’ with the boots from Mr. Astronaut (both of which have been found in auctions), as well as Sailor with a blue hand towel. American Airlines Captain came with a shirt and red tie, and Army & Air Force was just the Army outfit. It is also possible that Ken in Mexico is wearing the Best Man shirt (an out-of-box version has been found like that), though it is difficult to say for sure from the tiny photo. Japanese market Dressed Doll Kens have also been found in outfits not featured in the catalogues, from 1965 (College Student) and 1966 (Seein’ the Sights, Summer Job, Best Man, and Here Comes the Groom). Despite our intensive search, we have still not found a Japanese catalogue for 1966 featuring Ken.
THE DRESSED DOLLS
The boys came in regular or Dressed Doll boxes, which were practically identical to the ones sold in the rest of the world except that these had a Japanese stamp inside the box base, and an extra stamp with outfit number on the box lid. Almost every version found varies in some degree – either the box, the box stamp, the Ken used, or the exact outfit composition. Sometimes a brunette Ken was put in a box for a blonde Ken (or vice versa), presumably as Mattel assumed that the average Japanese child in the 1960s couldn’t read English anyway. Below are listed the versions of Japanese Dressed Dolls I’ve discovered so far. Unless specified, the painted hair Kens are all later, blue-eyed Kens. The KB logo on the outer stamp just coincidentally references Ken + Barbie: it actually stands for Kokusai Boeki, the company who produced for Mattel in Japan.
CAMPUS HERO
1. Brunette flocked hair Ken in regular blonde box. Stamp: No. 770. Extra Stamp: 74100 (Above right).
2. Brunette painted hair Ken in regular blonde box. Stamp: No. 770.
3. Brunette painted hair Ken wearing earlier version (variation fabric) trousers with later Ken label (Above left). Stamp: Illegible.
KING ARTHUR
Brunette painted hair Ken in regular box. Stamp: K 773.
KEN IN MEXICO
Blonde painted hair Ken in regular blonde box. Stamp: No. 778.
Brunette painted hair Ken found out-of-box with shirt from Best Man.
AMERICAN AIRLINES CAPTAIN
Blonde painted hair Ken in regular brunette box. Wearing white shirt and red tie. Stamp: K 779 (Shown above).
TERRY TOGS
Blonde flocked hair Ken in regular blonde box. Stamp: No.784.
DREAMBOAT
1. Blonde painted hair 1st version (teal-eyed) Ken with camera and lighter trousers, in regular box.
2. Blonde painted hair Ken with darker trousers, in regular box.
Both with regular Dreamboat shirt.
3. Out-of-box blonde painted hair Ken with variation print shirt. The jacket is interesting too, as it comes with variation buttons, and has the later label (Shown above – Photos courtesy Kanai Collection Japan).
4. Brunette painted hair Ken in regular brunette box. Stamp: NO. K785 (above right).
SATURDAY DATE
1. Blonde flocked hair Ken in regular blonde box. Stamp: No.786. (Shown above).
2. Brunette painted hair Ken in regular box. Japanese exclusive pedestal.
TUXEDO
1. Blonde flocked hair Ken in regular blonde box, wearing corsage as boutonniere. Stamp: 787.
2. Blonde flocked hair Ken in regular blonde box, with regular boutonniere. Stamp: NO. 787. Japanese exclusive pedestal.
3. Blonde painted hair Ken in regular blonde box, wearing corsage as boutonniere. Stamp: No. 787. Japanese exclusive pedestal.
4. Brunette painted hair Ken in Dressed Doll box, with regular boutonniere (Above left). Stamp: NO. 787.
5. Brunette painted hair Ken in regular brunette box, wearing corsage as boutonniere. Stamp: NO. K787 (Above right).
YACHTSMAN
1. ‘Blushing’ brunette painted hair Ken in regular blonde box. Stamp: K 789 (Shown above).
2. Empty regular blonde box found stamped NO. 789.
TIME FOR TENNIS
1. Brunette painted hair Ken in regular brunette box. Stamp: 790 (Shown above).
2. Blonde painted hair Ken in regular brunette box. Stamp: NO. K790.
DR. KEN
1. Brunette painted hair Ken in Dressed Doll box. Stamp: NO. K793 (Above right).
2. Empty regular brunette box found stamped NO. K793 (Above left).
FRATERNITY MEETING
Blonde painted hair 2nd version (teal-eyed) Ken. Wearing yellow socks and brown shoes (not available with original outfit).
GOIN’ HUNTIN’
2 versions found out-of-box with astronaut boots.
ARMY
‘Blushing’ blonde painted hair Ken in regular blonde box. Stamp: K 797. Japanese exclusive pedestal.
COLLEGE STUDENT
Blonde painted hair Ken in regular box.
ROVIN’ REPORTER
Allan in regular Allan box. Stamp: Illegible.
Brunette painted hair Ken in regular box.
SEEIN’ THE SIGHTS
Blonde flocked hair Ken in regular box.
SUMMER JOB
1. Blonde painted hair Ken in regular brunette box. Stamp: K1422 (Above left).
2. Brunette painted hair Ken in regular brunette box. Stamp: NO. 20301422 (Above right).
BUSINESS APPOINTMENT
Blonde painted hair Ken in regular blonde box. Stamp: K 1424. Found with hat but no other accessories and wearing shirt and trousers from Seein’ the Sights. Many thanks to French Ebay seller nanousan for use of the images above.
BEST MAN
‘Blushing’ blonde and brunette painted hair Kens found in regular boxes.
HERE COMES THE GROOM
1. ‘Blushing’ brunette painted hair Ken in regular box (Above left).
2. ‘Blushing’ brunette painted hair Ken in regular brunette box. Stamp: K 1426 (Above right).
THE INNER STAMP
The Japanese writing on the inner stamp translates as follows (from top): Utility Model – Japan Soft Vinyl – Toy Industry Association. The stamp can been found in purple or green.
THE EXCLUSIVE JAPANESE PEDESTAL
Some Kens came with a regular black wire stand, but others came with a Japanese exclusive pedestal with Ken® BY MATTEL embossed in gold.
THE ‘ROYAL WEDDING’ KEN
There was at least one exclusive (and elusive) Dressed Doll Ken made for the Japanese market. Even the doll itself is interesting as, despite being a painted hair Ken, he was given a kind of flocking. I’ve seen eight of these Kens over the years, all identical with this odd fuzzy brunette hair. He wears a beautiful ‘brocade’ tuxedo, with shiny dress shirt and yellow bow tie and cummerbund. He also came with a samurai sword in sheath. To judge by the ‘blushing’ Kens used, they should date from 1966 or later. Legend has it that only a few were ever produced (along with a companion Barbie), to retrospectively commemorate the 1959 royal wedding of Crown Prince Akihito and Michiko Shoda. These Kens were never made available for sale (ultimately for fear of causing offence to the royal family), and were eventually just handed out as gifts. However, to this day no printed documentary evidence has appeared to support this, and probably never will. In 2016 two sold at auction in Japan for well over six thousand dollars each, making him the most expensive Ken ever.
Are you lucky enough to own one of these amazing Kens? Then send me some decent photos! I implore Japanese collectors to stop hiding all this wonderful stuff away, and share it with the rest of the world! Please send photos of any rare Japanese Market Kens or Ken outfits to Anthony: contact@somethingabouttheboy.com.
KEN OUTFITS
Ken’s outfits were also sold in Japan from 1964, though are now rarely found NRFB. They are packaged slightly differently to Ken outfits as sold in the US and Europe. Some Ensemble Pak outfits are packaged similarly, but in larger boxes containing a Japanese booklet (directly below). Some have a unique-to-Japan two colour backing card: some great examples can be seen in THE ORIGINAL KEN BOOK.
The Fashion Paks below are extremely unusual in many respects. The first two were sold by Japanese department store SAIKAYA for the bargain price of 150 Yen each. Both are originally sealed and come with a booklet for 1965. Time For Tennis and King Arthur were otherwise only sold as an Ensemble Pak, and the accessory sets are completely unique. All these ‘Fashion Paks’ use the earlier backing cards, which were otherwise discontinued in 1964, and have (sewn on) white hangers, which normally only came (stapled on) with Barbie clothing. These outfits must surely be proof that Mattel were selling off old stock, even to the point of using up old packaging.
