INTERNATIONAL

Barbie will get a new look in Japan. Mattel Inc. of El Segundo is planning a major marketing offensive in Japan, with a blue-eyed, bustier version of Barbie leading the attack. Previous Japanese versions of the eternal teen-ager were brown-eyed and flat-chested, more innocent and younger looking. Mattel’s partners in joint ventures in Japan had always said tradition-minded Japanese would never approve of the standard version, sold in 100 countries. “But based on our own research, we found that the traditional Barbie that is so popular around the world had appeal in Japan as well,” Mattel said.