BEGINNINGS: April, 1993
Bear fans who gathered at Cuddly Brown, the first teddy bear
specialty shop in Japan located
in Tokyo's Daikanyama section, used to
talk about how great it would be if there were some way in which they could
exchange ideas and information on
a broad basis as well as to get information about the bear scene abroad.
The Japan Teddy Bear Association
was born out of these discussions.
TEDDY BEAR "VOICE" MAGAZINE
The first edition of the Japan Teddy Bear Association's magazine,entitled "VOICE", was published at thesame time the Association was formed.
Members who visit teddy bear conventions and museums abroad contribute
essays about them.
A source of hard to come by information, the magazine includes Japanese and
foreign artist's comments,
as well as convention and auction announcements and results,
It is published 6 times a year, in even-numbered months. Each edition of
the magazine is distributed free to members.
START OF A NEW BEAR CONVENTION: November, 1993
The first Japan Teddy Bear Convention was held at the Lahore
building in Harajuku,, Tokyo. Since then,
it has been held once each spring in Tokyo. It has turned into a major
event which members look forward to throughout the year.
Of late, it has come to be known overseas as the main Teddy Bear convention
in Japan. For two days, visitors can enjoy the
various events such as "Show and Sell", the "Teddy Bear Contest", "Slide
and Talk Show", and the "Classroom for Handmade
Bears". Members can even use a table to display and sell bears they've
made! The popularity of this section has become so
great that quite often there aren't enough tables to go round resulting
in some bears having to wait!
The Teddy Bear Contest allows entrants to have the limits of their
technique and ideas evaluated. Both veteran bear
artists as well as newcomers participate, and many new artists have come
to be recognized internationally as a result of
this contest.
Dealers from abroad, well-known foreign artists, domestic manufacturers, and bear shops have their wares on display, and antique bears as well as recent limited edition bears can be seen. Bear-making supplies are also on sale for those fans who make their own, making this the place to get that special mohair you've been looking for.
INTERACTION WITH BEARS OVERSEAS - THE BEGINNING: August, 1993
The Doll and Teddy Bear Show sponsored by the Japan Teddy Bear
Association's honorary advisor, Linda Mullins,
which is held each January and August in San Diego is a major convention.
In addition, the "Teddys" convention
held in London in February and August every year sponsored by
Hugglets is another important international show.
The Association also covers other bears shows in the U.S., U.K., Germany,
and New Zealand as the opportunities arise.
SUPPORT ACTIVITIES BEGUN:December, 1994
The Isetan Art Museum's "World Collection of Teddy Bears" was the first
teddy bear exhibition in Japan. This
exhibition proved to be extremely popular and was aided by the Japan Teddy
Bear Association working in the background
to make it a success. This marked the beginning of the Association's
tradition of working throughout the country
to assist bear exhibitions.
UNDERTAKING CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES:January 30, 1996
"Berryman's Teddy Bear Auction" held at the Tokyo Prince Hotel was held
under the sponsorship of the Japan
Teddy Bear Association. After the Kobe Earthquake, the Association's
honorary advisor Linda Mullins contacted bear
artists from all over the world in addition to making a oneoff bear for the auction. The 130 bears donated by artists
were auctioned for 22,000,000
JPY with all proceeds going to going to the care of children affected by
the earthquake
via the Japan Pediatrical Psychiatric Medical Research Association
(Nihon Shoni Seishin Igaku Kenkyu Kai).
The Association also has made it a policy to donate the proceeds from its
Convention auctions and charitable activities
to various institutions throughout the country as well as to the Japan
Aquarium and Zoo Association to promote environmental
protection.