Japanese post-war Marusan tinplate toys and models

Marusan was a Japanese toy and model company founded in 1913 in Tokyo by Yoshihiro Ochi, The company was originally called Maruzensha but it changed its name to Marusan in 1923 initially focusing on importing and distributing foreign toys in Japan. However, it wasn't until the 1950s that Marusan began manufacturing its own toys and models, becoming one of the leading toy companies in Japan.

Marusan's early products included wooden toys, such as cars, airplanes, and trains. In the 1930s, the company began to produce metal toys, such as tanks, ships, and airplanes. Marusan also produced a line of tinplate toys, which were popular in Japan during the 1940s.

In the aftermath of World War II, Japan experienced a surge in demand for toys as the country sought to rebuild and recover. Marusan capitalized on this opportunity by producing a wide range of toys, including tinplate vehicles, dolls, more... wind-up toys, and model kits. The company began to produce plastic toys, the most popular of which were its model kits, which were based on popular Japanese anime and manga characters. Marusan also produced a line of die-cast metal cars, which were popular with collectors.

The company experienced financial difficulties in the late 1970s, and in 1984, it was acquired by the toy company Sanai Sangyo. Marusan ceased operations in 2002 less...