Shadow puppets and sculptures! In this issue, we introduce capsule toys of animals full of individuality! Wacky Kaizan's Latest Gacha Exploration No. 54

The capsule toy market has reached 30 billion yen per year, and about 1,000 different items with 300 titles are released each month! Takara Tomy Arts has created a giant gacha that stands 2 meters tall and costs 5,000 yen per purchase. There is a lot of talk about the gacha industry.

This is a chance to showcase Japanese culture to the world, and not just domestic popularity. This time, we have selected capsule toys for inbound (?) customers that we think will be especially appreciated by people from overseas. We have selected capsule toys that we think will be especially appreciated by inbound (?) customers.

Kagee no Te - Animals - Bandai, 300 yen, 5 types in total

Hand Kagee" has appeared as a capsule toy. The silhouette of the hand is not cut out, but rather the hand is sculpted. It is a beautiful white hand that looks like a sample of an art room statue.

When the hand is illuminated with a smartphone light, the silhouette of the animal is projected on the wall.

If you actually put your hands together, you can make a shadowgraph in the same way.

There seem to be endless ways to have fun, but let's start by playing with Kagee.

RBBIT

Looking at the hands alone, the left hand tends to catch the eye as if it is about to grab onto something, but if you combine them and project light, the impression changes dramatically and a fancy world opens up. The soft texture of the hand is beautifully reproduced, creating a warm rabbit shadow.

GOAT

The fingertips are delicately expressed. When these hands are combined, a goat appears.

PIGEON

A dove, a symbol of peace. The neatly aligned hands look like those of a model. If you combine these hands, you can transform it into a magnificent dove! If there are duplicates, don't worry. If you place them at a distance from each other, you can create a parent and child dove! A parent and child dove will appear. Double your wish for peace!

DEER

Dynamic antlers! A silhouette of a deer, similar to a reindeer, is created. The left hand is super complex in contrast to the simple right hand. You have to go this far to get this feeling. I'm learning a lot about this again.

WOLF

Only this product has both hands assembled from the beginning. I am not sure if it is really possible to make a wolf. I was a little worried about it, but it is no problem if you project the light. If you change the angle, you may be able to reproduce a howling wolf!

Each product comes with a base to fix the hand, so you will not assemble it by mistake. The name of each animal is engraved on the base, so you can display it as an objet d'art.

Mio Hashimoto's Sculptures: Zoo Animals" Kitanklub, 5 kinds, 500 yen

Up-and-coming sculptor Mio Hashimoto has been vigorously holding sculpture exhibitions throughout Japan. The animals she sculpts are all warm and lively.

Hashimoto is well known for capturing the casual, everyday lives of these animals, and now a capsule toy in collaboration with her sculptures has appeared!

There have been many animal gachas in the past, but this product is different from such other gachas. The handmade feel of the sculpture is strongly reflected in the colors, shapes, patterns, and various other aspects, creating a one-of-a-kind finish.

Is this why we never get tired of looking at them?

The somewhat simple and nostalgic "Hashimoto" world. These delicate animals are sure to be well received by travelers from overseas!

This product is not a local gacha, but a local zoo gacha! This product will be available only at Yokohama Zoo Zoorasia, Nogeyama Zoo, Kanazawa Zoo, Nohoi Park, and Fukuoka City Zoo. This is a premier item, and we are sure that your desire to get one will increase even more.

Kotome Otter (Fukuoka City Zoo)

An otter at rest. He is staring off into the distance. His mouth looks like he wants to say something, and his eyes are straight. This charming face is sure to captivate many people.

Meeting an actual otter will be the best memory of your summer.

Indian elephant (Kanazawa Zoo)

The rugged texture of this sculpture is the best. The contrast between the dull eyes, large tusks, and stout legs is irresistible.

The elephant's ears are spread wide and it looks as if it is about to let out a "powwow" as it poses. I would like to meet the model elephant, too!

Lesser panda (Nogeyama Zoo)

The normal red panda has an image of being lazy, but this one is dignified.

I want to applaud the imposing figure that retains its wildness.

The ruggedness that can only be achieved by sculpture is unforgettable. It looks as if it might start moving at any moment!

Polar bear (Nonhoi Park)

Is it peeking at us through a crack in the rock?

The slightly haughty appearance of this bear makes us laugh uncontrollably.

Is he a timid bear? We'll have to actually go to Nonhoi Park to check this out. They may be waiting for you in the same pose. ......

Okapi (Yokohama Zoo Zoorasia)

This is a rare animal sculpture.

It has its ears up and glances at us with an adorable expression. ...... The uneven stripes on the legs are also realistically expressed.

Why is it that I want this animal so badly, even though it is not a major animal? Is the charm of the okapi that we can't easily imagine it?

It's amazing that they made it into a gacha! These kinds of gachas are a must-have!

I would love to have a lineup of them beyond the confines of the zoo. Popular animals from all over the country gathered in one place. This is a dream team! It's a dream collaboration.

Well then, let's go on our next journey of exploration. I'm sure I'll unearth some more amazing capsule toys. Please look forward to it.

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Wacky Kaizan
Freelance TV personality and capsule toy collector and researcher (capsuleist)
He has been collecting GACHA-GACHA since he was 7 years old and owns 100,000 of them. He has published several books including "Showa Retro Gacha Gacha: The Most Powerful Collection" (Graphix, Inc.), "All About My Inch Gacha Gacha Cosmos", "The Wonderful World of Inch Gacha Gacha - Cosmos Forever", and "The Final Definitive Version: The True Story of Inch Gacha Gacha! The Truth of Phony Gachagacha - Cosmos, Its Love" (Futabasha), and "Nihon Kaishikashi Gachagacha Daizen" (Tatsumi Shuppan).
Videos of the latest gacha and retro "cosmos" gacha are shown daily on his official YouTube channel, "Wacky Kaiyama Gacha Channel!