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2025.09.03
CULTURE

Timeless 'Kindness' and Ever-Evolving 'Fashion'—Why Mell-Chan Has Been a Beloved Icon for Over 30 Years

#Mell-chan
#Dress-up
#Doll
#Handmade
#Bestseller
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For over 30 years since her debut, the doll Mell-chan has nurtured the gentle spirit of children who want to care for someone. In recent years, her appeal has expanded beyond nurturing play, embracing the joy of fashion and dressing up.
We sat down with Natsuko Doi and Chisaki Takagi from the Toy Division at Pilot Corporation to dive into everything from Mell-chan's origin story to her current spotlight on social media and dedication to fashion.

The Origin Story: Ink Technology from Writing Instruments

Launched in 1992, Mell-chan is a long-loved doll now celebrating her 33rd year. She has long been cherished as an educational toy that fosters compassion through play, but why did a writing instrument manufacturer like Pilot decide to create a doll?
"Actually, 'thermochromic ink'—ink that changes color with temperature—had been developed within our company long before the erasable FriXion ballpoint pens, which use frictional heat to erase writing, hit the market. But it was taking a while to refine the quality to a level suitable for writing instruments. The Toy Division was born from the question of whether we could apply this technology in another way.
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