Hi,
This is something you often see on the side of Japanese toy and kit boxes – the ST J.T.A. marking. But what does it mean ?
Well, I finally decided it was time to find out. It turns out ST J.T.A. is the Safety Toy mark of the Japan Toy Association.
The Association was established in 1967 as a trade group, to promote the Japanese toy industry at home and overseas, encourage exports, and ensure toy safety. The Safety Mark was adopted in 1971, and assured consumers that the toys to which it was applied had been tested, and were considered safe.
Its presence can help when trying to date old toys and kits, as it only came in to use in 1971. In addition to toys, you see this mark a lot on Japanese kits.
The J.T.A. has a website, with a very useful guide to the Association and its history – in English. This is well worth a look.
This is my Fujimi Chi-Ha Shinhoto medium tank kit in 1/76th scale. It has the ST J.T.A. Safety Toy logo on one side of the box.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
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