Japanorama Short: Japanese Vinyl Toys

This is the new Japanorama short from BBC on Japanese Designer Toys. I thought it wasn't bad and covered some favorites including Bounty Hunter, Secret Base and Medicom. I was a bit put off by the term "Urban Vinyl" cause I don't think anyone really uses that terminology for Japanese vinyl toys. It's also a bit dated. The only other part that annoyed me a bit is the assertation that most collectors keep their toys in the original packaging to preserve the "value". Although Hikaru from Bounty Hunter said he likes to keep his toys in their pristine state and that he views the packaging as part of the overall unit, most collectors take their toys out of the package for display purposes. Otherwise, you can't really enjoy them! Ironically, if you kept all the Bounty Hunter toys in their plastic bags, you really wouldn't be able to enjoy them or the packaging really!

Soul of Chogokin Spec SPT Layzner Release!!!

After a very long wait, the SOC Spec SPT Layzner die-cast action figure is finally released! From the looks of these pics, it came out pretty darn good! So tempted to pull the trigger, but i'm waiting on a limited edition colorway. I'm hoping the SOC gods will replace the dull white colorway with some kind of silver or stainless steel finish. Either that or do the entire thing in a metallic flake in blue. I'm still pissed about the metallic red HCM Pro Limited Sazabi. My cheapness won't allow me to buy another one just for the color. I think I might have to paint it. Anyways, get the SOC Layzner for around $90. Worth it.

SIC Takumi Damashii Vol. 8 New Pics!!

We got some new pics of the upcoming SIC Takumi Damashii Vol.8 set. I'm liking the ninja style Kamen Rider motorcyles a lot, but not sure about the diorama thing going on here. I guess it's pretty cool, but I prefer my mini figures to be a little less...staged I think. Also not sure about the whole red and yellow colorway theme going on. Hopefully like the other sets, there will be a really cool alternate colorway. Doesn't matter, I pre-ordered a case anyways. Should be here sometime this month or next.

Wonderfestival 2007 Report from LivingDead!!!

Mark aka LivingDead in Japan gives us a little glipse as to the madness that is Wonderfestival!!

Mark was on the first train to Wonderfestival, but he wasn't the first one in line. But he wasn't the last one in line either!

This was the line BEHIND him:



This was the line in FRONT of him (with thousands of other people you can't see!!)



10:00am, the line in front of him starts to move:



The last bridge to cross before the entrance:



The front door is within sight. I asked Mark how long he had to stand in line and he said that once the line got moving around 10am, he was in the door by 10:15am!! Amazing Japanese efficiency for ya!!




Rumble Monsters Piranha Mini Damnedron!! Mark said most the Rumble Monsters stuff was sold out by the time he got there...15 mins after the show started! Ouch!



Rumble Monsters Pharoahs in the M1-Go colorway. Sick!!



Rumble Monsters Scud-01 which Mark was lucky enough to snag the very last one!!



Awesome Charatics Tower:



BLObPUS in matching Docross Colorway!!





New brand by BLObPUS Vinyl Junkies surprise Pumpkin Head sculp and Toy Tokyo Skull Zombi!!





Ack!! One of the must haves of the show would have to be this clear Gargamel mini smogon and mini zag with inserts!!!



The man behind RealxHead, Mori, is literally behind his new RealxHead figures:





Strawberry Gas Bawler?



Charatics Comes to the party with two favorite mini sets in this sick new Miami Vice colorways:





More pics of the new Secret Base Merry Cow Skulls:



Wow, wow, wow!! That's all I can say!!! The crowd looked huge and the toys were sold out very quickly. Thanks Mark! I'm bummed that I couldn't have been there with you in the cold fighting for those awesome toys!! You look like you did pretty good anyways!!

Star Wars in Japan: Alternate Photos!!!

The other article in this month's issue of Super 7 Magazine that I was honored to shoot was for the "Star Wars in Japan" feature. Fortunately for you readers, when Brian compared my shots to toy photography legend, Tim Brisko, it was a no-brainer!! Suffice to say, Brian made the right choice and went with Brisko's shots. Tim is one of my inspirations from years ago when I started taking pictures of my toys. One of these days, i'm gonna have to upgrade my 2 megapixel camera! Anyways, here are some of my favorite shots that didn't make it into the magazine from the Takara Star Wars Die-cast line featuring Darth Vader and R2-D2!!!



The following are excepts from Super 7 Magazine, "Star Wars In Japan" written by Will Grief. For the full article including Tim Brisko's luxurious photo's, buy Super 7, Issue #15!!!!

"A long time ago in a country far, far away known as 1978 Japan, the toymaker Takara jumped on the Star Wars bandwagon with a line of cool toys geared exclusively toward the Japanese market.

Unfortunately, most of these toys were never made available in the United States, so American Star Wars collectors of that era were often not aware that these toys even existed. A few "supercollectors", however, figured out how to get their hands on them. Some took trips to Japan specifically to buy Star Wars collectibles. One savvy collector, after learning of the toy line, wrote Takara directly for a catalog of their offerings, and requested product samples. Lo and behold, good customer service was not yet an anomaly. Although the collector corresponded in English and the company corresponded in Japanese, somehow he managed to submit and receive his order. You see, all he needed was a picture and a price. He circled what he wanted, went to his bank, and withdrew a cashier's check in yen. About a month later, Takara sent the customer the Star Wars product catalog and several empty boxes of their current line.



Die-Cast and Action Toys

Takara's next-most recognizable set included die-cast versions of Darth Vader, C-3PO and R2-D2, which all came in cardboard boxes with action figures packed in foam trays and with stands. Darth Vader came with a vinyl cape, a glow-in-the-dark lightsaber, and a fully functional crossbow that could fire glow-in-the-dark projectiles.



For the last figure, R2-D2, Takara produced four different larger-size R2-D2s with action features: the standard missle-firing R2-D2; the movie-slide viewer R2-D2 (who also happened to shoot missiles!); the bump-and-go R2-D2; and the remote-controlled, disc firing R2-D2. The standard missile-firing R2-D2 was the likely third wheel, and came packaged with three silver missiles and some decals. The three remaining R2-D2s all came with awesome, "I wish i'd had that as a kid" features. I mean, who wouldn't want an R2-D2 that showed slides from the movie? The next R2-D2 was the bump-and-go R2-D2, which was a little larger than the movie-viewer R2-D2 and was battery operated. Once you turned him on, there was no stopping him. He ran on a horrible-sounding motor, and whenever he hit a wall, he would change positions. And if none of those R2-D2s fit your bill, you could also buy in on the granddaddy 8" remote-controlled disc firing R2-D2. Remember when C-3PO said to let the Wookie win? Maybe he ain't so tough when he's up against an R2-D2 unit that can shoot exploding discs from his mouth, move around, spin his head, light up, and make noises that also came boxed in a Styrofoam tray."



Will Grief is a private collector who is always seeking to expand his knowledge and archives, and always interested in purchasing additional vintage Star Wars collections, especially Takara packaged items and advertising displays. Feel free to flog your Takara Star Wars toys to him at dspair@gmail.com

Toynami Announces Three New Transformable Mospeada Cyclones!!

Mecha Legend Roger Harkavy shares the news from Raving Toy Manic covering the American International Toy Fair that Toynami is going to produce three (3) new transformable Cyclones from the Mospeada (Robotech) series!!! Cyclone fans rejoice!!! I've always wanted a transformable Cyclone since I was a wee lad, but never could pull the trigger on the vintage Gakken version for whatever reason. Now I am blessed with not one, but three Cyclones to collect with updated engineering and modern transforming goodness! Let's see pics of the other two Cyclones!!! Count me in!!!!! Thanks Roger!!

ROBOTECH: THE MASTERPIECE COLLECTION

The Robotech Masterpiece Collection returns with this all-new assortment focusing on the Cyclones! These high-quality, ultra-detailed transformable vehicles offer an authentic re-creation of the ultimate in personal combat/transportation gear.

Each volume is limited in production, and is packaged in our trademark "book-style" box with slide-out tray, allowing for safe storage and "forever mint-in-box packaging."

Volume 1: Scott Bernard's Cyclone
Volume 2: Lancer's Cyclone
Volume 3: Sue Graham's Cyclone

1. Fully transformable from motorcycle to armored suit
2. Die-cast metal and plastic construction
3. Highly articulated action figure
4. Authentic rubber tires