What do you get when you combine a love of toy cars with a love of bugs? This amazing toy.
While toys in Japan can get pretty crazy, Japanese people also appreciate the curious inventions that other nations produce, like this insane Hello Kitty spinning top from Vietnam.
But toys can get even weirder. Japanese Twitter user @saitohyuka uploaded a video of this interesting toy car by Mattel called a Bug Racer that requires a cricket to make it come to life.
▼ Who knew crickets could drive as well as they sing?
https://twitter.com/saitohyuka/status/1165237367441018880When you place a cricket into the little driver’s pod and attach it to the main body of the car, a sensor picks up on the cricket’s movement and transforms that into blood-stirring music and almost erratic driving.
In case you’re wondering whether it actually needs a cricket to move, @saitohyuka also tried it out with an eraser to see what would happen.
▼ The music is different, and that car definitely isn’t going anywhere.
対照実験として、無生物(消しゴム)も乗せてみた。音楽が変わった。 pic.twitter.com/F4EXZ4ffKO
— サイトウユカ/齋藤友果 (@saitohyuka) August 24, 2019
Perhaps they were inspired by Garimpeiro Toys in Akihabara, who advertised on Twitter about the toy car powered by “elecrickety” just a day before @saitohyuka posted about it.
▼ You might not know the driver’s pod includes food and waste chambers without looking at the box.
たまにあるマテルの乱心!
— トイ&コミックのガリンペイロinAKIHABARA (@garimpeiro_toys) August 23, 2019
軽く嫌な予感しかしないおもちゃ入荷!
生きたコオロギを乗せることで、車内のコオロギの動きを感知して左右に走り回るバグレーサー!
コオロギじゃなくても動くらしいからみんなで買ってレースしようぜ!
店内にコオロギいないので動作保証いたしません! pic.twitter.com/pvOcBahovh
Reactions to the vehicle ranged from fascinated to even outraged at the cricket’s treatment.
“It’s like a cricket version of Evangelion…”
“Does it come with the cricket?”
“This must be like hell to the crickets.”
“Do you think there’s a group of people out there saying ‘Hey, this is cricket abuse!’?”
“I want to see a video of a cockroach driving it. I also wonder what happens if you put more than one bug in.”
While this certainly doesn’t seem like the ideal environment for crickets, it might be a tad better than making them into green tea-flavored snacks.
Sources: Twitter/@saitohyuka via My Game News Flash
Featured image: Twitter/@saitohyuka
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Tragic toy car accident in China leaves nation divided【Video】
Praying mantis in Japan hitches a ride, does a little dance for his driver【Video】
In the battle of car versus iron rails, iron rails win by T.K.O.【Video】
Japanese schoolgirl takes car salesman on test drive he’ll never forget in cool Honda ad【Video】
Live your childhood dreams with this life-size mini four-wheel drive car【Video】
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Studio Ghibli croquettes not to eat, but to keep your stuff in, going on sale in Japan[Photos]
Pokémon hot spring footbath opening in Japan this spring
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
We stress-test Uniqlo’s “Impressive Jacket and Pants” to see if they live up to their names
Rice-flavored ice cream: You knew it had to be in Japan somewhere
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Please enjoy this video of the world’s cutest tailgating car, filmed in Japan【Video】
Japanese couple fights burglars with bug spray, golf club as they gas, smash getaway car【Video】
Half-destroyed truck seen driving down Japanese highway, astounds drivers【Video】
Ghibli toy creature cars — Nausicaa’s Ohmu’s have become creepily cute pull-back toys【Video】
Bull suddenly rams into a sedan at railroad crossing in China, captured on video
Get in the damn drift car, Shinji? Evangelion Tomika toy brings D1 machine home in miniature form
Farewell, old friend – It’s time to say goodbye to the car we bought for 980-yen (US$9.60) car
It’s so hot in Japan that people are cooking food in/on their cars【Photos】
Turning your car into a Like a Dragon video game itasha can now get you paid and clothed
Toyota’s new Mark X car paints a picture that depicts its Japanese roots【Video】
Japanese man drives truck that’s on fire directly to fire station, drops flaming potatoes[Videos]
82-year-old Japanese man arrested for driving without license, says he had one 60 years ago