Greetings,

I would like to see how everyone feels of the state of Plarail. 2024 kind of shows how there is a shift as of late but here are my thoughts.

Please offer your thoughts on the state of Plarail in the present including current trends.

Here are my thoughts:

Plarail Real Class, Shinkalion and Go Go Thomas has become popular, so much that there is less interest and production for standard Plarail (S-series) and even targeted for children ES line has been non-existant. In 2024, what we did see more of are more wrapping/all sticker trains for children (ie. Rilakuma, Chikkara, Curious George, Disney-related, Crayon Shin-chan).

- More train competition to appeal for younger children to gain a foothold in the industry vs. Plarail. In 2024, Muraoka, Toyco, Trane (who produced small die-cast metal nguage versions of the trains) and Agatsuma Diapet have become more popular. These trains are dominating the sales charts for overall trains for children. What we could hope is with more competition, this leads to Takara Tomy considering how they can do much better than these competitors. Unless, Plarail Real Class is their "much better" but you're paying three to four times the amount.

Muraoka: http://muraoka-toy.co.jp/category_jr.php?category=JR

Toyco: https://toyco.co.jp/

Agatsuma: https://www.agatsuma.co.jp/product/diapet.php

Trane: https://www.trane.org/

Trane has been receiving so much traction and dominating the sales charts for 2023-2024 over Takara Tomy that for the Tomica line, we are seeing the company release the Enoshima Electric Railway (No. 150) in Sept. 2024. Now if this is a one time thing, who knows? But this is exciting if they do intend to go against Trane in the die-cast metal segment.

We are seeing more "Plarail original" trains and Shinkalion trains instead of Japanese trains on standard line. Since February 2024, for Plarail S released trains, based on actual Japanese trains have dwindled. The only train with the "S" designation was the S-59 Keihan Railway 13000 Series Thomas the Tank Engine (July 2024) and the S-08 273 Series Express Yakumo (September 2024). Just two trains.

How costly was that S-37 Osaka Metro Chuo Line 400 series gaffe? The fixed version was released in December 2023 along with the S-46 EF510 Red Thunder. The last month we would see nearly a consistent month of S-series releases featuring actual trains in Japan.

- We know one of the biggest problem for Takara Tomy and they have said this before, thus the reason for Plarail Real Class is the problem of couples not wanting to have children in Japan. Similar to comic books in the west, which were once popular and focused on the children's market has shifted to more adult buyers familiar with the brand. The demographic is getting older and the targeted age demographic is shrinking. Consumers who are older and grew up with Plarail are willing to spend for more quality and prefer Plarail Real Class over the standard Plarail. Is the third time a charm? After experimentation in the '70s with "Super Rail" and the 2010's with "Plarail Advance"? Was Plarail Real Class what people wanted?

If one thing is evident, the mistake of "Plarail Advance" was focusing on too much Kanto region trains, people want regional and the person behind Plarail Real Class said he wants to feature trains from all regions. But he also said the reason for Plarail Real Class was to address Japan's birthrate problems.

- Shinkalion has the anime series tie-in and thus is more popular and cooler. Even on the Tomica side, we are seeing the robots slowly become popular, whereas in Plarail, the popularity of the brand is leading Takara Tomy to make more Shinkalion non-transforming trains.

- Targeting the older demographic: As mentioned, more sticker-wrapped trains and standard Disney releases for the kids and the focus on Shinkalion and Plarail Originals and sets with tracks and train will probably be the child focus now. Takara Tomy is a business that can't focus on the child demographic, considering that Japan's birthrate problem is hitting record lows. With Japan's sluggish ecomonic growth, no one wants to have children, let alone expand their family. So, Takara Tomy has to target a demographic that has been there demographic before, the adult collectors who grew up with the original product. But aside from Plarail Real Class, in 2024, what we did get are more adult-centric releases. March - Arigato trains for 381 series Yakumo Express and SL Hitoyoshi, Shinkansen N700S 60th Anniversary and the 60th Anniveersary Commemoration Hikari set.

- What about the popular Thomas line? Go Go Thomas is a license that Takara Tomy will continue to release. As indicated by November 2024 release announcement, still going strong. I don't think anyone who are fans of "Thomas" or "Shinkalion" have to worry, these two are doing great.

But in the end...it's all business

It's all business and you focus and take opportunities where most money is made. If Shinkalion, Go Go Thomas and Plarail Real Class are the Plarails that sell the most, I understand that being the focus. But what about the current generation of train fans and the loyal collectors who still want S-releases? Will we see ramp-up of JR related S-trains in 2025? Or are we going to see more focus on sticker-wrapping trains for kids and Plarail originals? It is no doubt one of the reasons why Plarail Real Class is becoming popular, for adult Plarail collectors, aside from cool sets, there is no worries of an S line when barely anything is being released.

But as for 65th Anniversary of Plarail goes, while we are having solid sets and "arigato" trains being releases, I was expecting for a better anniversary year for releases. It's been bad for Japan's economy for another straight year and report back in February of Japan's new birth rate recording record lows was bad news. Takara Tomy reflects the market and while Tomica line still goes strong. For the Plarail line, Takara Tomy skipped January 2024 and also October 2024 and announced their November 2025 release.

And for me...

I have to be truthful, ever since I got the Plarail Real Class, I am loving it. There is just so much detail with the Plarail Real Class and while it costs nearly double or triple of a standard Plarail, I'm part of that adult targeted demographic, who is willing to spend $40-$50 for it. It's just a much better product.

While Super Rail got a good decade and Plarail Advance got seven years, Plarail Real Class celebrated their first anniversary. While adult collectors have raved about PRC, will Takara Tomy continue it's support for many years to come? It's too early to tell right now.

But unfortunately, while Plarail is cheaper for us internationally due to the weakened yen, it's a competitive crowd that people know they can probably get it cheaper from Japan than their country in Asia.

There has been news reports in Japan of fashion designer labels, anime-related toys selling out because people are going to Japan to buy them now, due to the weakened yen.

You really need to pre-order things on Amazon before releases, otherwise you're not going to see it again. Since the release of the 2nd release of Plarail Real Class, every release afterward has been difficult to obtain.

I've not been able to purchase any Plarail Real Class since the third release....anything afterward has been difficult. But pre-ordering is the best thing to do if you purchase via Amazon JP (which is fine). I took a chance in not pre-ordering because in the past, I have seen things brought back when they receive more shipments on Amazon and sold cheaper than the pre-order price. But now....I'm not seeing things getting restocked on Amazon. This is many months in 2024 of waiting and waiting and I get a feeling, I'm going to have to pay more, because I didn't pre-order. I took the chance to see if it would be like it has in previous years. This is not the case in 2024.

And last, the more adult targeted releases and the arigato series was great....especially for adult collectors. But with added competition, bad Japanese economy/low birthrate. What will happen to the Plarail line in 2025?