Sure, the toys are cool, but it turns out their cases can be pretty useful too.
capsule toys (Page 9)
You’ll never be lonely burning the midnight oil with one of these exhausted kitties diligently working by your side!
There are six crazy straps in this collection, but can you guess what they’re meant to represent?
It might sound like a strange coupling, but there’s actually a valid reason for this six-part collection!
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
Today
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Starbucks Japan releases new Discovery Series collection celebrating local regions and traditions
Teen girl in Japan refuses to be victim, personally escorts train pervert to police for arrest
Is Japan’s tourism boom slowing down? Foreign visitor numbers fall for first time in five years
Mass murder plot stopped by friend of Akihabara mass murderer
Evangelion beautifully reimagined as iconic classical Japanese folding screen art series [Photos]
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Starbucks Japan adds new Frappuccino, Tea, and Chillax Soda to its limited-edition summer menu
Weekly
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction- Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese government ID card and app to be required for certain Pokémon card purchases next month- Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Japan reacts to Donald Trump’s “Islamic Republic of Japan” remark
Three new starter Pokémon Jets to fly in Japan, first begins carrying passengers this month
Solid gold Hedorah kaiju from the Godzilla series is now available to pre-order- Evangelion beautifully reimagined as iconic classical Japanese folding screen art series [Photos]
Monthly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country- Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon- Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
Yearly
- Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo- Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]- Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】- Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Is Japan’s tourism boom slowing down? Foreign visitor numbers fall for first time in five years
Mass murder plot stopped by friend of Akihabara mass murderer
Evangelion beautifully reimagined as iconic classical Japanese folding screen art series [Photos]
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Starbucks Japan adds new Frappuccino, Tea, and Chillax Soda to its limited-edition summer menu
Baskin-Robbins Japan’s semi-secret affogato is a perfect mix of fun and fancy [Taste test]
Gundam’s Char Aznable normal suit becomes roomwear for doing normal stuff in the real world [Pics]
Studio Ghibli releases huge new wooden clip collection featuring 25 anime movies
Family Mart’s new Tokyo flagship convenience store doesn’t feel convenient, but is that a problem?
Defacing the Japanese flag is now a crime, says government, punishable by up to two years in jail
A donut and sugar-loving bear in Japan is breaking into homes, checking fridges for sweet snacks
After job-quitting service, leave-of-absence-request proxy service sees rising demand in Japan
Woman in short skirt arrested after inciting upskirt photography in Tokyo
Tokyo and Osaka make it into this year’s EIU ranking of the world’s Top Ten Most Liveable Cities
-
