Toy lovers find a haven at Mexican antique museum

Global Business

Toy lovers find a haven at Mexican antique museum

In Mexico City, the Mexican Antique Toy Museum has been enthralling visitors with its collection of over 40,000 toys produced in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s in Mexico.

CGTN’s Martin Markovits has more. Follow Martin Markovits on Twitter @MartinMarkovits

At the age of ten, a young Roberto Shimizu began hoarding toys his parents did not sell in their stationary shop in Mexico City. Now at 71, he said he has the biggest collection in Latin America and possibly the world.

His collection is now being displayed at the Mexican Antique Toy Museum in Mexico City, which he founded in 2006. The museum serves as a final resting place for toys made in Mexico. A once thriving local toy industry has been crippled by competition from abroad mostly from China.

Shimizu said that over 40, 000 pieces are exhibited here while an additional million toys are kept in storage. Here, visitors can relive there childhood as toy wrestlers, dolls, and sharks are displayed in five rooms in the museum.

Visitor Eva Granillo said the museum gave her a sense of nostalgia for the days when she was growing up with her brother and sisters.

It is these sentiments that give Roberto Shimizu most joy, especially when he sees both adults and children bonding over his collection.

Shimizu hopes that in the near future one of Mexico’s numerous national museums will take over his museum. He wants it to be nationally protected so it can continue being a vital part of the community long after he is gone.