China ACG Culture

The Tamagotchi-like Traveling Frog: Japanese Mobile Game Going Viral in China

The traveling frog needs to be fed before his adventurous travels. But some players are worried their ‘digital pet’ might be lonely.

Published

9 years ago

January 26, 2018

Manya Koetse

A mobile game in which players have to help a little frog prepare for his travels through Japan is topping the online game charts in China. With its cute design and stress-free strategy, Traveling Frog is the new smartphone game everyone is talking about.

“Everyone in my office is playing this game now,” a Beijing worker says on WeChat. The Japanese mobile game titled “Traveling Frog” (旅行青蛙／旅かえる) has become a hype in China over…

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Manya Koetse

Manya Koetse is a sinologist, writer, and public speaker specializing in China’s social trends, digital culture, and online media ecosystems. She founded What’s on Weibo in 2013 and now runs the Eye on Digital China newsletter. Learn more at manyakoetse.com or follow her on X, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

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China ACG Culture

A Very Short Guide to China’s Most Popular Designer Toys

Published

1 year ago

July 6, 2025

Manya Koetse

Note: In this What’s on Weibo chapter on the story behind China’s designer toys, also read Inside the Labubu Craze and the Globalization of Chinese Designer Toys and The Next Labubu: What the Rise of Wakuku Tells Us About China’s Collectible Toy Wave.

In our last article, we’ve determined how Wakuku’s rise is not just about copying & following in Labubu’s footsteps and more about how China is setting the pace for…

Chapter Dive

The Next Labubu: What the Rise of Wakuku Tells Us About China’s Collectible Toy Wave

From ugly-cute rebellion to a new kind of ‘C-pop,’ the breakout success of Wakuku sheds light on Chinese consumer culture and the forces driving China’s trend toy industry.

Published

1 year ago

July 6, 2025

Manya Koetse

Wakuku is the most talked-about newcomer in China’s trend toy market. Besides its mischievous grin, what’s perhaps most noteworthy is how closely Wakuku follows the marketing success of Labubu. As the strongest new designer toy of 2025, Wakuku says a lot about China’s current creative economy — from youth-led consumer trends to hybrid business models.

As it is becoming increasingly clear that Chinese designer toy Labubu has basically conquered the world, it’s already time…