Takara Jenny Friends Who Are Staying

I am late on sharing my ethnic American doll posts. I don't want to re-hash the same lists so I am trying something different this year. You'll see the results soon. In the mean time, here are some Takara Jenny friends who represent some of my Asian fashion dolls. Many of you will recognize Takara as one of the Japanese toy manufacturers who worked with Mattel to promote the sale of Barbie in Japan. These are some of the Takara girls I want to keep and why.

I have below one Kisara, two Linas, and one Meiren who fall in this category. Let's start with Firefighter Kisara from the Calendar Girl: The Uniforms of History series from 2002.

Takara Calendar Girl Kisara

Kisara is one of my favorite Jenny friends. So although I was tempted to NOT open her box, I opened her box. (Insert wry face.) The plastic around her head is intact. She has not yet been removed from the box. I wanted you to see here as close to NRFB as possible minus the glare on the box.

Takara Calendar Girl Kisara close up

I love the coloring of this Kisara. She's got an ivory complexion against chocolate brown hair, brown eyes, and a dark rose lip color. I like the costume, too. It is an antique fireman's uniform. I would feel anxious if I were putting out fires while wearing something that billowy, but I like the colors, the way the fabric drapes, and the smooth texture. That's why - unfortunately for her - I still have her in that outfit although I *know* that it has stained her body. All that dark cotton. Yes, we *know* without looking. Sigh. But I really like this doll, her outfit, and the overall look.

Next up: Lina, another of my favorite Jenny friends.

Takara Chinese Lina, Jenny's older friend

Takara Licca Club 67 Lina

Two wise Lina dolls. Lina is an older friend of Jenny. Don't you think that she looks as though she understands how and why people act the way they do? My Linas both have Jenny 18 bodies. (Jenny 18 bodies are a little taller and more buxom than the basic Jenny 17 bodies.) 

The first doll with glossy black Princess Leia-style braids is called "Chinese" Lina. No, I did not give "Chinese" Lina that title: that is her description. She wears her original fashion, a pink brocade qi pao gown. It looks great on her - so I have been reluctant to find something else for her to wear. 

The ash blond Lina doll is from the Licca Club 67 series. Licca Club 67 are/were special order dolls: I contacted a dealer and let that person know that I wanted that doll. This Lina wears a My Scene Barbie outfit that I thought looks great against her dusty pale coloring. What I like about her coloring is that it looks as though she were a brunette who dyed her hair a blond color that does not exist in nature. Takes moxie to dye your hair that kind of color. I redressed her in that outfit years ago and re-boxed her to protect her from dust. Her original outfit was a white, one-piece knit swimsuit.

The last doll to be discussed today is Meiren.

Takara Brown Box Meiren

She's got a lovely red-brown hair color, warm brown eyes, and a pink-peach complexion. When I first saw her, I did not like this doll. She looked like a snoopy Chatty Cathy. Notice those big, round, all-seeing eyes? Then I realized she didn't look malicious. She looks curious and eager to share whatever she has learned whenever that's convenient. Like now, ha ha. Meiren has become one of my favorite Jenny friends. The Kisaras and the Linas have quieter looks, but for liveliness, you can't beat Meiren.