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Have you ever heard of gashapons? Yes, those little surprise capsules that are so popular with children and always contain a little toy to collect.
In Japan, the machines that distribute them are to be found absolutely everywhere, and there are thousands of different collections to suit every taste, from the most classic to the most eccentric.
ZenMarket has put together a small selection of the most original models!
What are Gachapons?
It’s no secret that the Japanese are fond of onomatopoeia, and that’s exactly where the word gashapon comes from. Gasha or gacha refers to the sound made by the machine’s joystick and pon to the sound made by the object as it falls into its receptacle.
However, while gashapon (ガシャポン) or gachapon (ガチャポン) are the words most commonly used to refer to these little surprise capsules, there are others, such as “Capsule Toy” (カプセルトイ), “gacha gacha” (ガチャガチャ) or simply “GP”, which is a contraction of gashapon.
Derivative products found in gashapon machines can take the form of small figurines, key rings or even cell phone straps.
And if there are thousands of models in Japan, there’s a simple reason for this phenomenon: gashapons have it all!
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Inexpensive, fun to collect and available in a wide variety of models, gashapon machines have become a must-have in Japan. They can be found in children’s playrooms, in front of and inside many stores and shopping arcades, where entire floors are sometimes dedicated to them, like the “Ikebukuro Gashapon Department Store” (ガシャポンのデパート) in Tokyo opened in 2021!
And while in overseas, gashapons are generally small, simple toys or gadgets, in Japan, you’ll find anything and everything in these colorful little capsules.
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From products derived from famous anime or manga to miniature taiko drums and miniature representations of dishes and pastries, there’s something to suit all tastes.
Some are just fun little figurines to collect, others are miniature toys, but others are real gadgets or small devices for interesting experiments.
The most original gashapons
Gashapons are so popular that even giants of Japan’s entertainment industry such as Nintendo have started producing these little collectible goodies.
Gashapon machines were available in Nintendo pop-up stores across Japan. Inside, you could find adorable miniature controllers from retro Nintendo consoles such as the NES or Famicom. Perfect for nostalgic gamers who’d like a little souvenir of their favorite console to take with them wherever they go!
Of course, Nintendo is not the only company to get involved: Yoshinoya, one of Japan’s best-known restaurant chains, has also decided to produce a collection of small decorative objects representing its best-known dishes.
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At Yoshinoya’s gashapons, for example, you’ll be able to buy a highly realistic miniature version of your grilled fish plate, beef rice bowls or even a mini takeaway food set. Some models are even illuminated!
But gashapons aren’t just useless little objects, and some can be put to a wide variety of uses. Such is the case with some of the capsule series produced by Tama Kyu, a company renowned for its gashapon collections. Tama Kyu’s machines, for example, will feature small taiko – traditional Japanese drums – on which you can actually play music!
For just 300 yen, or around $1, you can buy a miniature taiko model, a set of chopsticks to play it, and a base so you can place it wherever you like.
And if you’re a fan of anime or manga, Bandai will have something for you in terms of gashapon! Bandai’s gashapon machines feature derivatives of Japanimation classics such as One Piece, Lupin III and, more recently, Jujutsu Kaisen, enabling anime fans to obtain miniature goodies from their favorite franchise.
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And if you’d prefer to get a little more wacky in your gashapons to impress your friends, there are thousands of them, each more fun and unusual than the last.
Mainly :
- Miniature objects such as furniture or everyday objects that will all fit in the palm of your hand.
- Key rings to hang everywhere, usually featuring characters, animals or amusing objects.
Lots of tiny representations of food, from the classic Japanese melon pan to our French croissants, or even bottles of ketchup and mayonnaise, depending on the machine. - Quite a lot of weirdness! There are so many, it’s impossible to list them all. The photo below is just one example.
How can I buy gashapons online?
As gashapons are essentially a concept based on the machines of the same name in which they are found, there are few sites selling them online. But there are a few sites and online stores where you can buy them, even if you don’t live in Japan!
Bandai’s official website, for example, allows you to order sets of products usually sold in gashapon machines. However, it is not possible to separate these sets, and you’ll have to buy the complete series of products.
This is good news, however, if your aim is to collect derivative products, for example. You’ll be able to get all the models in a collection in a single order.
If you’re looking for other gashapon models, or just want to buy one at a time, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for on Yahoo Auctions, Japan’s biggest auction site. And of course, it’s also possible to buy sets. Most of the products sold on this site will be second-hand, however, so it’s ideal for finding gashapon collections that might not be available anywhere else.
Also Read: WHAT IS AN OTAMATONE AND WHERE TO BUY ONE
How can I buy Japanese products with ZenMarket?
As its name suggests, Yahoo Auctions is an auction-based site. To find out everything you need to know about how to buy on Yahoo Auctions, read this ZenMarket article, which will guide you through the ordering process.
Of course, whichever site you wish to purchase your gashapons from, ZenMarket can act as an intermediary, enabling you to make your purchases.
Simply copy and paste the item’s URL into the ZenMarket search bar. Then all you have to do is pay the quote provided by ZenMarket, wait for your parcel and enjoy your adorable little toys and gadgets. And who knows, maybe start a collection or even buy a gashapon machine for your home!
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