Behind Malaysia’s Tomica diecast culture
FOR Malaysian Tomica collectors, the conversation has never really been about toy outlets. It has always been about the cars themselves and increasingly, about whether a familiar local name might one day appear among them.
Collectors span generations. For Jasmine Ng, Tomica became part of family life when her son Tyler Lim, now four, received his first construction vehicle set at the age of two.
Lim gravitated toward excavators and cement mixers rather than sports cars, learning vehicle names and even picking up Japanese terms through Tomica videos.
Today, Lim owns more than 100 Tomica vehicles and around 50 playsets, arranged at home into scenes that make sense to him. Family trips have also been shaped around the hobby, with visits to Japan including stops at Tomica stores.
For Ng, the appeal lies less in collecting for value and more in how the brand supports learning, imagination and shared interests.
Long-time collectors approach the hobby differently, but with the same consistency.
Alvin Goh, 48, estimates he has been collecting diecast cars for more than 20 years, with over 600 Tomica models forming part of a wider collection that also includes Hot Wheels, Gundam kits and Transformers.
He is drawn to realism, favouring licensed production vehicles over fantasy designs. His shelves are dominated by Japanese domestic market models, but he also owns a Mitsubishi Titan Bolt Edition produced specifically for the Malaysian market, which he views as a rare example of regional relevance within a global brand.
Goh estimates his total collection at around RM400,000, with diecast cars accounting for roughly RM150,000.
For Sanjay Madhav, the appeal of Tomica lies in restraint rather than hype. At 29, he has been collecting for most of his life and owns more than 100 Tomica models as part of a broader 500-piece diecast collection across brands.
“I don’t really follow the hype. I just buy what I like,” he told theSun.
His focus is on unmodified Japanese cars that mirror real-world production models. Still, he sees clear value in a Malaysian entry.
A Proton Saga Tomica, he said, would feel less like a novelty and more like a natural reflection of Malaysian automotive identity within a global lineup.
That idea is not limited to collectors alone. When asked whether Tomica would ever release a Malaysian car model, Tomy Asia managing director Ochiai Kiyoshi said the company is open to the possibility.
“It’s not something we’re against. We’re likely to work on it, so stay tuned,” he said.
For collectors, that cautious openness matters. A Proton Tomica would not just be another model on a shelf. It would signal recognition of a community that has quietly supported the brand for decades, from children arranging toy cars on the floor to adults carefully curating cabinets and boxes.
The collector culture already exists. Whether Proton eventually joins will depend on how fully Malaysian enthusiasts see themselves reflected in the miniature cars they have spent years collecting.
