Today is November 18th, Mickey Mouse Day (or Mickey Mouse’s Birthday). Back in 1928, “Steamboat Willie” made its debut on this very day. While it was not technically Mickey’s first cartoon, “Steamboat Willie” propelled Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse into critical acclaim. One young fan in Japan was smitten with Walt Disney’s productions and characters, and he set out to create his own works.
That man was Osamu Tezuka, aka the God of Manga, who would also get the nickname “The Walt Disney of Japan”.
Tezuka drew some Disney-inspired comics like Bambi, and while the rights to such an adaptation were hazy back then, they are now officially licensed.
The two men would meet in 1964 at the World’s Fair in New York, and Tezuka would often boast of the encounter.
Years later, in perhaps a twist of irony, Disney’s studio would be accused of copying one of Tezuka’s stories. The 1994 hit The Lion King has similarities to the manga Jungle Emperor aka Kimba the White Lion, which was serialized in the 1950s and has had various animated adaptations since the 1960s. The production crew deny they plagiarized Tezuka. If you’ve never studied this case, read up!
Regardless of whether The Lion King is inspired by Tezuka’s work or is coincidentally alike, comics and animation in the US and Japan are connected. Their media continues to be connected through shout-outs and collaborations like Disney: Twisted Wonderland, a mobile game drawn by Yana Toboso of Black Butler fame. So today, here’s a list of Disney merchandise with a Japanese flavor so you can feel like you went to Tokyo Disneyland without ever leaving your home.
Mickey Mouse in Japan Graphic Tee – $5 at Five Below
Here we have Mickey with a pagoda in the background. Up at the top, Mickey’s name is written in katakana. We might not be able to go to Japan right now, but you can feel like a tourist like Mickey!
Shipping is $5 flat on all orders.
Women Mickey Manga Art UT (Short-Sleeve Graphic T-shirt) – $9.90 at Uniqlo
Yes, another shirt, but this one is part of a collection involving three heavyweight manga artists. This one, for instance, features a drawing of Mickey by Osamu Tezuka. Others in the collection may be low in stock, so if you’re interested, you might want to buy soon.
Shipping is free on your first order or on $200+.
Disney Kingdom Hearts Mickey Cardholder – $10.00 at Loungefly
The Kingdom Hearts series is probably the quintessential East meets West crossover. Just about any Kingdom Hearts product fits this post’s theme. This cardholder has symbols from the series and a nice large Mickey charm.
Shipping is free on $100+.
Kilala Princess Rescue the Village With Mulan! Manga – $11.99 at Right Stuf
TOKYOPOP has released quite a few Disney-related comics. Some are direct from Japan; others are OEL manga. Kilala Princess is now both! The original Kilala Princess was serialized in Nakayoshi magazine, but now 15 years later, TOKYOPOP is releasing a full-color sequel, still following Kilala as she meets various Disney Princesses.
Shipping is free on $75+.
Good Smile Nendoroid Mickey Mouse: 1928 Ver. (Color) – $27.71 at Bonanza
What better way to celebrate the anniversary of “Steamboat Willie” with a Japanese-style figure of Mickey from that cartoon! This figure is available in color or black-and-white. Beyond that, there are other Mickeys (Fantasia, classic, etc.) and even more Disney Nendoroid figures.
Shipping is free.
Japan Tote Bag – $19.95 at ShopDisney
This bag with Mt. Fuji in the background can be personalized, and if you want to add a little flair, yes, it seems like Japanese text can be added! You can also choose to pay about $5 more for the large size. Also, this bag is made in the USA.
Shipping is free with email signup or on $75+.
Disney Tsum Tsum Bento Lunch Box Picks Onigiri Case Set of 5 – $22.99 at eBay
Like with Kingdom Hearts, the whole Disney Tsum Tsum line could be a part of this list, so I decided to represent the franchise with even more Japanese culture: with a set of bento-related items. If you need some food to make in your new set, how about a sushi Tsum Tsum cookbook?
Shipping is $2.
Disney Big Hero 6 Chair Rail Prepasted Mural – $154.90 at Hot Topic
Yes, this item is expensive, but it’s also huge at 10.5 x 6 ft! Big Hero 6 is set in the fictional town of San Fransokyo, a combination of San Francisco and Tokyo. As you can see in the background, the fake newspaper articles include a mix of English and Japanese
This item is subject to a $3.99 shipping surcharge.