Item Description A delightful piece of Japanese Showa-era nostalgia, this is the Ichiko Doubutsu Bus (Animal Bus) — a friction-powered tin toy bus produced in Japan during the 1970s by Ichiko (市光工業玩具部), one of Japan's most celebrated postwar tin toy manufacturers. Modeled after the iconic Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) Microbus, the toy is covered from front to back with vibrant, colorful lithographed illustrations of cartoon animals — a lion, deer, dog, cat, panda, elephant, monkey, tiger, giraffe, rabbit, squirrel and more — filling every window and panel with cheerful Showa-era character art. The roof, sides, front, and rear each feature a unique arrangement of characters, making it a feast for the eyes from every angle. The front bears the classic VW emblem flanked by green circular headlights, while the rear displays a large cartoon monkey surrounded by bright floral motifs. The top of the bus is decorated with a tiger, giraffe, fox, and rabbit among flowers. The underside has a black plastic chassis. This example comes complete with its original illustrated box (Code No. 1802), which features the Ichiko logo and the "ST" (Japan Toy Safety Standard) mark, confirming it was manufactured and certified in Japan. A rare find with original packaging. A wonderful collectible for fans of Japanese tin toys, Showa retro, and vintage VW-inspired toys. Size Height: 12 cm Width: 26 cm Depth: 11 cm Weight 387 g Condition The tin toy itself is in good overall condition with minor scuffs, small scratches, and light surface rust consistent with its age, but retains vivid lithography with no significant fading; the original box shows wear including creasing, scuffs, and surface cracks but remains intact. NOITICE: The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation.