It might sound like a strange coupling, but there’s actually a valid reason for this six-part collection!
capsule toys (Page 9)
The “Brilliant Capsule” sales area in Shinjuku is filled with plenty of adorable and ladylike anime goods!
Phone accessories come embroidered with declarations of protection against online flaming and low batteries.
Move over water bottle panties, it’s time to dress up your drinks with a fashionable over-the-shoulder sweater that takes its styling cues from Beat Takeshi.
What’s brown, lumpy, and can now be purchased via capsule toy machines in Japan? If you guessed “a turd,” then you have a gross mind, but are also entirely correct!
Looking for a new line of tiny appliances? This cute cat-themed line of tiny toys is just what you’ve been looking for!
Need some new figures for your desk? Then check out these Buddhist statue figures from Kaiyodo!
Last week Bandai hinted that they would be announcing something big in their line of Gashapon capsule toy machines. Thinking I’ve seen it all in the capsule toy world I didn’t give it much attention. I figured it was probably just another series of sushi-cat hybrids or sausages shaped like giant isopods, same old same old.
It would seem I was wrong. Actually, Bandai did have something big up their sleeve and will be soon offering their line of capsule toys for random purchase from anywhere you happen to be holding your smartphone. That’s because next month they’ll be doing test runs on the sophisticatedly named Net de Capsule: remote operated Gashapon machines accessible over the internet.
One of the most symbolic foods of the Japanese winter season is the grilled mochi rice cake. You set up a charcoal grill and put a few slabs of pounded white mochi on it. After a while, the mochi will soften, blow up, and eventually become a warm, golden brown gooey delight that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside like a kind of savory marshmallow.
But what happens when you combine cute fluffy animals with these grilled mochi? Well, toy maker Bandai has the answer for us in this series of adorable mochi anime capsule toys!
We all love a good gashapon capsule toy. But whether it’s One Piece characters or doggy bread, getting more than one of the same toy is usually a disappointment. No wonder some collectors skip the vending machine step altogether and buy completed sets second-hand. Duplicates are no fun.
There’s one Japanese toy company that flips that idea on its head, however. Unlike conventional capsule toys, Epoch’s scale models actually look better the more identical items you have! And these miniatures of seemingly mundane items such as school desks, shopping trolleys and folding chairs have proved a runaway hit.
So when our reporter Mr. Sato heard about the latest capsule item from Epoch, he immediately grabbed a bunch of hundred-yen coins and headed out to start collecting…miniature cinema chairs! Here’s what he found.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Pizza Hut Japan’s new ie-kei ramen pizza is here and weird, but is it tasty too? [Taste test]
Japanese government says country needs more women’s room toilets to meet modern society’s needs
Are Japanese convenience store sandwiches scamming us with their fillings?
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Eastern Japan high school graduating class’s wallets robbed during ceremony
Japanese man drives truck that’s on fire directly to fire station, drops flaming potatoes[Videos]
Man in Japan falls into hole with a bear in it
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Weekly
- Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones- Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students- The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Monthly
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026- Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
- Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals- Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]- Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
RECOMMENDED STORIES
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Eastern Japan high school graduating class’s wallets robbed during ceremony
Japanese man drives truck that’s on fire directly to fire station, drops flaming potatoes[Videos]
Man in Japan falls into hole with a bear in it
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Tokyo Metro adds platform display showing where least crowded parts of the next train will be
Starbucks Japan opens new Kyoto store in Place of Scenic Beauty
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
Godzilla hammer from Japan lets you smash nails like a kaiju
7-Eleven Japan’s “Paper Tiger” sandwich sparks online controversy over deceptive packaging
Fender releases Made in Japan Limited Cyclone with domestically made pickups
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Yakuza Oishi Sushi in Laos is criminally sweet
-
