A STUDENT MICROSITE ABOUT TRAVEL FROG (旅かえる)

A Frog Goes Viral

How a Japanese game won over China

TRAVEL FROG • TABIKAERU • 旅かえる • TRAVEL FROG • TABIKAERU • 旅かえる • TRAVEL FROG • TABIKAERU • 旅かえる • TRAVEL FROG • TABIKAERU • 旅かえる • TRAVEL FROG • TABIKAERU • 旅かえる • TRAVEL FROG • TABIKAERU • 旅かえる •

Number one in China

In January 2018, Travel Frog was the top free game on China’s App Store for more than two weeks. This happened even though the game was still in Japanese, with no Chinese translation.

The frog sitting on a green clover patch in its home

Why a frog?

Some commentators connected the game’s popularity with “toad worship” culture in China.

The frog resting in a purple tent at night beside a small campfire

An official Chinese version

On 2 April 2018, Alibaba Group announced a cooperation with Hit-Point to publish an official Chinese version, with Chinese-style game content. It included a version of the frog eating steamed buns.

The frog on a rock by a campfire under a starry sky