Japanese Daiya tinplate, battery and friction powered toys, 1950s onwards

Daiya was a Japanese toy manufacturer founded in Tokyo in the mid-1950s. Their trademark was the letters "DAIYA" in a diamond shape. Daiya produced a wide range of tin toys, including civilian vehicles, space vehicles, robots, and other space-related toys. Many of their toys were battery-operated and had multi-functional features, such as operating lights and sounds.

Daiya's toys were popular in both Japan and export markets. They were known for their high quality and innovative designs. Some of Daiya's most popular toys included the Space Gun 577001, a brightly-colored metal toy gun that came with four projectiles that could be shot via the mechanism in the toy; Construction Crane, a battery-operated tin toy crane had a working hook and pulley system that could be used to lift and move objects and the Robot Walkie Talkie, a battery-operated robot toy could walk more... and talk and had a flashing light on its head.

Daiya's toys were produced until the late 1970s, when the company ceased operations, although the exact reason for Daiya's closure is unknown, but it is likely due to a combination of factors, such as rising production costs and increased competition from other Japanese toy manufacturers.

Daiya's toys are a reminder of the golden age of Japanese tin toy manufacturing. less...