It started with a sushi set

Many years ago, my husband acquired a miniature sushi set.  He loved this little plastic sushi set and always had it on display.  Once our son was old enough, the display case was tossed and the boys began to play.  They quickly established a sushi restaurant game where they would ask each other for one type of sushi or another and the other serves the requested dish.  At one point, my husband even made a menu for their little restaurant.  It has always been a beloved game.

Over the years, my husband has brought home many of these little sets.  All of the sets he brings home are food related, expanding the restaurant offerings.

Miniature toys are very popular in Japan.  There are companies that produce a wide variety of miniatures, each with a theme.  Each complete set is broken up into 8 (or so) boxes.  When you buy a box, you don't know what is inside, it is just one of 8 parts of the set. 

The other day my husband came home very excited because a local shop not only sold these miniatures, they sold complete sets!  In addition to being able to buy a complete set, they had one that my husband really wanted: Nostalgic Dinner. 

This set contained many traditional Japanese dinners like ginger pork, gyoza (pot stickers), grilled fish, ramen, and more.  One set even has a cigarette and ashtray.  How very retro.  I, personally, love the little peeled tangerine.

I try to keep the miniature collecting to a minimum.  It could quickly become out of hand as one keeps buying boxes to get that one specific part of a set.  It is also easy to come home with something that is cute in the store, but isn't really desired and quickly loses its appeal. 

But as long as it remains fun, the miniatures will be a fixture in our house.