Japanese capsule toys are high quality and unique. Items distributed only in Japan are a must-have souvenir of your trip to Japan!
Capsule toys are unique to Japanese culture! They also make great souvenirs.
Capsule toys are enjoyed by children and adults of both sexes. Recently, coupled with the popularity of Japanese animation and characters overseas, capsule toys have become very popular among foreign tourists. The wide variety and high quality of these products are more than just toys, they are a part of Japan's unique culture.
Japan's capsule toy market is worth approximately 40 billion JPY, a 1.5-fold increase over the past decade.
Bandai began selling capsule toys in 1977 and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2017. While most capsule toys at the time were priced around 20 JPY, Bandai was a pioneer in character capsule toys, entering the market at 100 JPY with the added value of characters from the very beginning of its release. An indispensable piece of Bandai's capsule toy history is the Kinnikuman eraser, also known as "Kinkeshi," which was released in 1983. It became a social phenomenon and sold a total of 180 million erasers in four years.
Bandai and Takara Tomy Arts account for more than 60% of the market, but new entrants have been increasing in recent years, and there are about 30 small and medium-sized manufacturers that develop products mainly for adults. About 300 new products are released each month and sold through approximately 600,000 vending machines nationwide. Prices range from 300 to 500 yen per unit, and their popularity is due in part to the fact that they can be purchased easily.
In August 2020, Bandai Namco opened its "Gashapon no Departement Store" in Ikebukuro. With approximately 3,000 capsule toys lined up, it was recognized by Guinness World Records as having the "largest number of capsule toy machines in a single venue.
Interesting Japanese Capsule Toys
Gacha Bun'ninichi Series
Portable shrine
Price: 400 JPY (including tax) Release date: September 2021
The "Gachabun-no-ichi" series, which has made capsule toys of various objects, now includes the "Mikoshi," a symbol of Japanese culture. This large, assembled model is a perfect match for the scale-matched figures. Collect them and recreate your festivals.
Size is approximately 11cm (assembled).
And the larger size of the assembled version is just as satisfying!
The lineup is
"Lacquered [black]"
"Lacquered [red]"
"White wooden" total of three kinds.
Released by: Takara Tomy Arts
What is a Mikoshi?
The Mikoshi, or portable shrine, carried during festivals is a familiar sight to Japanese people. The sight of the glittering Mikoshi parading through the town with its lively shouts is truly the climax of the festival!
A Mikoshi (portable shrine) is an ancient vehicle used to carry a noble person, and was generally carried by several people. It is called "Mikoshi" because it is a vehicle used to temporarily carry a god in a shrine and take him out of the shrine in order to ask the god to grant a wish.
There are records that Mikoshi were already made in the Nara period (710-794), and it is said that by the Muromachi period (1333-1573), festivals similar to those held today were held in many places and Mikoshi were carried.
Ringcolle! Big ball takoyaki ring Yubitako! Vol.2 Love Increase
Bandai Co., Ltd. has released the latest in its "Ringcolle!" series of ring collections that incorporate a variety of motifs into rings, the "Ringcolle! Ring Yubitako!
Product Features
This product is a ring with a motif of various octopus in a case in the shape of a takoyaki (octopus dumpling) with a diameter of 5.4 cm.
This is an original item.
When you open the lid of the case, which is made of sauce, mayonnaise, and aonori seaweed, you will find "Tako-Ashi" with its rounded shape, "Tako-Butsu" cut into a perfect size for takoyaki, "Iidako" with its cute small size, "Tako-San Wiener", a staple of bento, and the original character "Tako-San". Takoyakingu," an original character.
The ring is size-adjustable, so you can enjoy wearing it on your favorite finger.
The second "Takoyaki" motif in the popular Ringcolle!
Release date : The 2nd week in April, 2022
Price (tax included) : 300 JPY
Number of varieties : 5 kinds
What is Takoyaki?
Food stalls are indispensable at festivals and fireworks displays in Japan! Among them, the most classic is probably "takoyaki" (octopus dumplings).
It is said that Tomekichi Endo, the founder of "Aizuya" in Nishinari-ku, Osaka Prefecture, invented this Osaka local dish in 1935.
In Osaka, the birthplace of takoyaki, there are many stores selling takoyaki, and it seems to be a very familiar soul food. There are many kinds of sauce, as well as ponzu (Japanese citrus juice) and grated soy sauce, to put on takoyaki.
Super Luxury! Assorted Sashimi Mascot - 5 types in total
Recreate the luxury of a high-class kappo restaurant! "Super Luxury! Assorted Sashimi Mascot" is now available as a capsule toy!
This mascot is a reproduction of the luxuriousness of a high-class kappo restaurant. The meat is plump and juicy. The lineup includes a stairway platter, five types of boat platters, a boat platter with a tail, six types of platters, and five types of platters with sea bream on them!
Total 5 kinds (stairway platter, 5 kinds of boat platter, boat platter with tail, 6 kinds of platter, 5 kinds of platter with sea bream)
Sold by: Toys Spirits
Price: 300 JPY per capsule
What is kappo?
"Kappo" is a counter-style restaurant for enjoying Japanese cuisine.
Incidentally, "kappo" was originally not the name of a restaurant format, but rather a term referring to traditional Japanese cooking methods and cooking itself.
In such kappo restaurants, counter seats and tables are the main seats. The greatest feature of kappo restaurants is that the seating area and the cooking area are located in the same space.
This makes it a pleasure to watch the chefs actually preparing the food.
In addition, most of the dishes will not be course meals, but rather a la carte dishes prepared to the customer's order.
However, even Japanese food, such as home-style dishes and rice bowls, are not offered. Among Japanese dishes, authentic and high-end dishes are served.
The first seasonal colorful Nerikiri in case of a long-established Japanese confectionery shop
"Nerikiri", an art on a tray, is a gem of craftsmanship.
400 JPY capsule
Capsule size: 65mm
Scheduled to go on sale in February 2022
Specifications: Capsule toy, body, vegetable resin
Total 5 kinds
Ball Plum
Dusk bellflower
Rainbow-colored Temari
Dusk Lantern
Crystal Hydrangea
What's "Nerikiri"?
Elegant sweetness is the charm! The world of wagashi, a seasonal confectionery that is a feast for the eyes.
The colorful "Nerikiri" that line the shelves of Japanese confectionery stores. The colors and shapes of nerikiri are so atmospheric that one cannot help but be drawn to them. In addition to their beautiful appearance, these wagashi are smooth to the touch and have an elegant sweetness.
Nerikiri is an artistic Japanese confectionery made by copying seasonal scenes, etc. It is made from nerikiri dough mixed with white bean paste and binder.
Wagashi can be divided into three main categories according to the amount of water content: fresh confections, semi-perishable confections, and dried confections. Nerikiri are categorized as fresh confections that contain a large amount of water, and they are representative confections that are considered to be highly artistic and fine confections. Nerikiri are used as sweets for celebrations and for entertaining special guests, and are also served with thick tea at tea ceremonies, with nerikiri matching the season.
Nerikiri dough is colored with colored powder and other ingredients to create seasonal shapes. The white finish of the kneaded dough leads to the beauty of the coloring.
Conveyor belt sushi - 5 kinds
Conveyor belt sushi mascot
Collect them! Line them up! Reproduce the conveyor-belt sushi!
<Product lineup>
Set A: 2 straight lanes x 2 cups x 2
Set B: 2 straight lanes, 2 sushi x 2
Set C: Straight lane, curved lane, faucet, powdered tea
Set D: Straight lane, curved lane, gari box, tongs
Set E: Faucet, powdered tea, sushi x 4
What is conveyor belt sushi
Kaiten-zushi is a semi-self-service, inexpensive form of sushi restaurant where small plates with various types of sushi are continuously circulated on a chain conveyor located along the customer seating area, and customers freely select sushi. It is popular not only in Japan but also overseas.
Saizeriya Miniature Collection 2
The second miniature version of the very popular menu at the Italian wine and cafe restaurant "Saizeriya"!
Release Date : March 2022
Price (tax included) : 300 JPY
Number of items : 6 kinds
What is Saizeriya?
Saizeriya is a family restaurant chain that serves Italian food at reasonable prices.
The most popular menu item is Milanese doria.
Also, wine is available for 100 JPY per glass.
Saizeriya offers Italian food in Japan at very reasonable prices.
Mini Mini Cup Noodle & Cup Yakisoba Mascot 3
Toys Spirits presents capsule toy "Mini Mini Cup Noodles & Cup Yakisoba Mascot 3"!
Miniature mascots of cup noodles and cup yakisoba. Lineup of big and high-calorie noodles!
Capsule products
Total 5 kinds (Dekamori Sauce Yakisoba, Cup Ramen BIG Cheese Curry, Mokuren Kokuuma Miso Ramen, "U.M.A.i" Plenty Mayo Yakisoba, Thick Salted Butter Ramen)
Sold by: Toys Spirits
Price: 300 JPY per unit
This is a capsule toy of a popular cup ramen that is actually sold in Japan.
Nyan bread on wood board - 5 kinds in total
Adorable Nyan Cat Shaped Bread Miniatures!
400 JPY per capsules
Capsule size: 65mm
Total 5 kinds
Shiro Neko Morning Set
Strawberry Cat Afternoon
Choco Neko's crunchy time
Tortoiseshell Cat's Lunch Time
Matcha Cat's Afternoon Smoke
Japanese capsule toys are unique.
In addition to low investment risk, another characteristic of capsule toys is that "product quality" is judged severely.
Capsule toys have the dual constraints of size and money: the prizes are placed in small capsules, and the price per capsule is several hundred yen. In other words, the deciding factor is "how to add superior value".
One of the charms of capsule toys is that, because of cost and size limitations, they can also produce unique products that would not be produced by ordinary toy makers.
