It's that time of year again. Children erupt with joy as they see their favorite anime characters come to life, and tech-savvy young adults scramble to figure out the latest cutting-edge gadgets. It's not Christmas, but the International Tokyo Toy Show runs a close second.

The toy show will take place at the capital's Big Sight convention center in Koto Ward through the weekend. Organizers say this year a record 153 toy makers and companies are scheduled to present the latest collections of toys, robots, gadgets and other forms of family entertainment.

"Just come to the event and take a stroll — you'll get a quick look at what the upcoming trends in Japan's toy market are going to be," says Fumiaki Ibuki of the Japan Toy Association, which hosts the event. This year, the JTA hopes to pack the venue to capacity and has set a target of luring 140,000 attendees. The four-day event kicks off Thursday, with a two-day showing aimed at corporate visitors. The doors open to the public on Saturday and Sunday.