Why This Topic Landed in Japan

When Toys R Us arrived, it was cast as a giant "black ship" that would wipe out neighborhood toy shops, so its departure from Japan was received as the closing of an era. The story spread from a Nikkei scoop. According to reports, Pan Pacific International Holdings—the parent of the discount chain Don Quijote—would take over the domestic business, including about 150 stores and their staff, for a sum put at around 10 billion yen. There has been no official announcement from the company or finalized terms yet, so a completed acquisition is not confirmed.

"Exiting the Japan business" refers to Japan Toys R Us stepping back from running the stores, not the brand or the shops vanishing overnight. Behind it lie a falling birthrate, competition with Amazon and other online sellers, and "showrooming"—shoppers browsing in-store and then buying online.

Key Reaction Themes

  • The exit reads as inevitable — The largest share pointed to thin selection, empty shelves, and the shift to online shopping, treating the retreat as a sign of the times rather than a shock.
  • Nostalgia — Fond callbacks to the "We're Toys R Us kids" jingle and to other bygone toy chains like Hello Mac.
  • Curiosity and jokes about Don Quijote — Riffs on a "Donki-rus" rename, the usual mix-up with the Bikkuri Donkey restaurant chain, and unease at Don Quijote stores multiplying everywhere.

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

Toys R Us leaves Japan and Don Quijote takes over

The "black ship" foreign toy retailer is reportedly exiting Japan, with Don Quijote set to take over about 150 stores.

Sources: Yahoo! news, 2ch

Comments:

  • "Toys R Us's selection is way too poor."
  • "We're Toys R Us kids."
  • "Wonder if they'll rename it 'Donki-rus.'"
  • "Does Japan even need Toys R Us?"
  • "A hamburger place buying a toy store—is there any upside to that?"
  • "The number of kids was dropping fast—every store will probably turn into a Mega Donki."
  • "With the falling birthrate, businesses aimed at kids are probably shrinking too."
  • "Big plush toys were about the only thing distinctive—will it even be a business for Donki now that they've bought it?"
  • "So the U.S. head office went bankrupt first, huh."
  • "Hello Mac became a shoe center; so Toys R Us becomes a Donki, then."
  • "Being forced to log in again at the register every time the app updated was torture—fond memories."
  • "Once electronics stores started selling toys too, the neighborhood toy shops were all wiped out."
  • "There was no stock either; there were rumors, you know—the stores were bare."
  • "150 of them, huh—in this low-birthrate era you don't need that many toy retailers."