Revoltech action figureRevoltech is an action figure line from the Japanese company Kaiyodo. The main selling point of the line is the 'Revolver' joint, which all of the figures utilize. This gives the figures a high degree of articulation, allowing for many dynamic and varied poses.
The subject matter for the Revoltech line can be broadly split into 3 categories—Real Robot, Super Robot and Humanoid, with the Real Robot line being the best served at present. Thus far, only mecha/characters from anime, video games and manga have been covered.
Yotsuba&! is an ongoing Japanese comedy manga series by Kiyohiko Azuma, the creator of Azumanga Daioh. It is published in Japan by MediaWorks, now ASCII Media Works, in the monthly magazine Dengeki Daioh and collected in eight tankobon volumes as of August 2008. It depicts the everyday adventures of a young girl named Yotsuba as she learns about the world around her. Several characters in Yotsuba&! were previously featured in a one-shot manga called "Try! Try! Try!" The phrase Yotsuba& means "Yotsuba and," a fact reflected in the chapter titles, most of which take the form "Yotsuba and something."Manga are comics and print cartoons in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 20th century. In their modern form, manga date from shortly after World War II, but they have a long, complex pre-history in earlier Japanese art.
Unazukin are a brand of toys designed by Bandai. According to the official Bandai webpage, the toy is no longer in production. An Unazukin looks like a small "angel" averaging 5 cms (2 inches) high. They are reminiscent of a nesting Matryoshka doll, and have a retro/popart style decoration. Some models are voice activated and react to voice, nodding and shaking their head. Battery powered with an on/off switch, they have four different movements, shaking head back and forth once or twice; and nodding once or twice. From the toy-maker: "Unazukin is a special friend who is always ready to listen to you and give advice. She loves to hear your stories and for you to share your thoughts with her. She is very wise and knowledgeable and loves nothing more than for you to ask her questions. What will be her reply? A simple 'Yes' or 'No'. or something more definite?"
napping... by CherrySodaPullip is a collectible fashion doll. It was created by the Korean company Cheonsang Cheonha and marketed by JUN Planning of Japan. Since the release in 2003, other types of dolls were added to the Pullip line: the male doll Namu, male doll Taeyang, younger girl Dal, and miniature versions of Pullips called Little Pullip.
Pullip dolls are released on a monthly basis, and there are additional limited release exclusives sold occasionally. Each edition has a unique name with distinct face make-up, hair, outfit, accessories, and box.
The Pullip has a unique eye mechanism that allows the eyes to move back and forth and wink, using levers on the back of the head. Pullips are highly articulated and can be personalized or customized. They are about 12 inches tall with oversized heads. The body is about 9 inches tall (1:6 scale), the size of many fashion dolls such as Barbie and Jenny.
Spacewarp 5000The classic Spacewarp toy from the 80's has been recreated in Japan and imported by ThinkGeek for your rolling pleasure. What is it that fascinates us about rolling steel balls on a roller coaster style track? Perhaps it's the mesmerizing perpetual motion as the balls zoom around loops and curves, only to be cranked corkscrew style up to the top for another go-round. Or maybe it's the hours of assembly time spent tweaking each section of track to get the perfect run without the balls flying across the room. Of course you can build the exact structure shown here, or design your own crazy track with only the laws of physics as your limitation.__$49.99
The Moofia Mozzarella__$30__[ningyoushi.com]Mozzarella is the leader of the Moofia, a gang assembled to extort milk from the lunchboxes of schoolyard bullies. Mozzarella is loving and kind to good kids, but ruthless and feared by those who harass the innocent.
Mozzarella packs tommy gun heat, and comes with a 2.5 inch smiling bullet companion. Designed by Tokidoki.
Susuwatari (lit. meaning "travelling soot") are the "dust bunnies" or "soot sprites" that appear in two Studio Ghibli anime movies, My Neighbour Totoro (1988) and Spirited Away (2001). They are shy, slightly frightful creatures that live in abandoned buildings such as old houses.
DomoAdventuresDomo is the mascot of Japan's NHK television station, appearing in several 30 second stop-motion sketches shown as station identification during shows.
The name "Domo" was acquired during the second episode of his show in which a TV announcer said, "dōmo, konnichiwa", which is a greeting meaning something along the lines of, "Well, hello there!", but which can also be interpreted as "Hello, Domo!", and thus is a convenient pun (dajare). The kun suffix on "Domo-kun," the name used to describe the character in the Japanese versions, is a Japanese honorific often used with young males.
[pics - uncredited: (flickr.com)]
Weird Japanese Toy
Automated Face Bank
Japanorama - Urban Vinyl
Until about 5 years ago, if you were a collector of toys like this, you were regarded as a bit weird, if not a pervert.
Plastic Culture: How Japanese Toys Conquered the World
Plastic toys based on Japanese comics, movies and TV shows from Astro Boy, Godzilla and Gatchaman, to Power Rangers, Sailor Moon and Pokemon, have had a powerful effect on the imaginations and the markets of the West, and have kick-started trends in design and pop culture that have crossed from Japan to the West and back East again. Lavish full-color photographs of cult, limited-edition, and "designer" toys take us through the postwar period and right up into the present, with a fascinating look at the current vogue for "urban vinyl" and "art" toys.
