Yochien (Japanese: 幼稚園 Yōchien) is a Japanese preschool children's activity magazine published by Shogakukan. It includes puzzles, games, stories and crafts. It was first launched in 1932. Like Televi-Kun, Yochien is known to have the Kamiwaza Wanda franchise featured in its publishings.
Magazine history and structure[]
History[]
When releasing its first issue in circa 1932, Yochien started out as a plain preschool children's activity magazine.
In 1959, Yochien started having franchises featured in its publishings, beginning with the American cartoon franchise 'Popeye the Sailor'. In 1965, 'Obake no Q-Taro' became the first Japanese franchise to be featured in Yochein.
Starting in August 2005, Yochien included DVDs, each containing an episode of either one of the children's anime shows or one of the children's television cartoons and shows, as a free gift. Yochien originally included one DVD per year as a free gift but is now including 4 DVDs per year.
In March 2010, Yochien went into full color due to the change on the content organization. However, in October 2016, the 'Knowledge' content pages returned to monochrome.
Structure[]
Yochien is a magazine that consists of:
- Puzzles
- Games
- Coloring
- Stories
- Crafts
Yochien features several kid-friendly franchises such as 'Kamen Rider' and 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' for boys, 'Tamagotchi' and 'Licca-Chan' for girls and 'Pokemon' and 'Yo-Kai Watch' for both boys and girls.
Kamiwaza Wanda[]
Starting in 2016, Yochien began featuring the Kamiwaza Wanda franchise in its publications. From the May 2016 issue to the April 2017 issue, Kamiwaza Wanda was featured in Yochien during the franchise's original Kamiwaza Wanda anime season era.
On the July 2016 issue of Yochien, there is a game based on the Kamiwaza Wanda franchise in which the reader has to reveal a picture by rubbing what covers it with the eraser-end of a pencil.
Yochien is yet to have the Kamiwaza Wanda franchise featured in its publications again when a new Kamiwaza Wanda anime season debuts.
Trivia[]
- The title of this preschool children's activity magazine is also the Japanese word for 'kindergarten'.
- In the original Japanese version of the Kamiwaza Wanda anime, there is a location in the franchise's universe that uses the 'Yochien' kanji on its sign above the door. (See: Kirakira Kindergarten)
- Of all the Shokakugan magazines the Kamiwaza Wanda franchise is featured in, Yochien is the oldest children's magazine by its year of debut.
Links[]
- Shogakukan Kids website (Japanese)