Toys / Games | Michael John Grist

Hackman Gachapon

October 2, 2011 · Japan, Toys / Games · Comment

You can buy odd things in a Gachapon. Perhaps attention too often goes to the wadded-up knicker-vending machines (so sought-after these days), and not often enough to those cute little machines sitting so innocently right at your kids’ eye level….

DragonBall Z Key Chain

March 9, 2009 · Japan, Toys / Games · 8 Comments

And lo, let there be Dragonball Z. Dragonball Z is some kind of Pokemon copy, with weird powers being stored inside little balls that folks keep in their pockets. I’ll admit I don’t know anything about the genre- but that…

Mickey Mouse Sweets Time Mascot

March 3, 2009 · Japan, Toys / Games · 2 Comments

Ever felt a little lonely at Sweets Time? Perhaps you needed a little support, a little pick-me up, someone to sing while you take a bite, whip out back-flips as you brush away crumbs, and rustle pom-poms and dance when…

Battle Cards: Destmoon vs. Obama vs. Nidoking

March 1, 2009 · Japan, Toys / Games · 4 Comments

Battle cards hold a special place in the hearts of all Japanese- from childhood they are accustomed to trapping the spirits of nature in little plastic balls (Pokemon, Dragonballz) and unleashing their fury upon each other- their incarnations ranging from…

Ikebukuro Jingle Key-Chain

February 22, 2009 · Japan, Toys / Games · 18 Comments

Train Stations in Japan have jingles; at least the stations on the JR Yamanote line do- when the trains pull in and when they pull out. They’re bright, cheery, and last about 10 seconds. I suppose they let us know-…

Gachapon Toys

June 14, 2008 · Japan, Toys / Games · 6 Comments

Capsule Stations or ‘Gashapon’ are a big deal in Japan, located outside any place that kids or otaku (nerds) might go. They are basically toy vending machines, like gumball machines, but for toys in plastic egg-shells. The name Gashapon is…