The "Candy Store" and the "American Barber"! The latest capsule toys, a collection of retro yet fashionable miniatures! Wacky Kaiyama's latest capsule toy collection!

One month has passed in the blink of an eye in the year 2022. We are looking forward to another year of "Wacky Kaiyama's Latest Gacha Exploration," a series of articles on the capsule toy industry.

The capsule toy industry has been booming without a break. The New Year has brought a rush of exciting new releases!

I am amazed at how people can come up with one idea after another. I am sure you will understand a part of this excitement by reading this column! Please take the time to read it through to the end.

Mini candy shop mascot 3 - J. Dream - 300 yen, 5 types in total

J. Dream" is a group of wizards who turn everything they see into miniatures.

The "Mini Candy Store Mascot," which we reviewed in our 49th column in February 2021, has been making its way up the ranks, and we have already released the third installment. This time, the lineup includes a coin-operated game from the front of the store! How could we not feature it?

Let's go back in time to those sepia-toned days!

Coin-operated game A

The illustration of the space shuttle, which was a big hit when I was a kid, is very exciting! The deep blue housing reminds you of outer space and makes you nostalgic.

If you put money in and reach the goal, you get a golden ticket, which you can use to buy candy. I used to try it with my meager pocket money! I used to play with them.

What? You can actually play with this miniature? The capsule comes with a coin less than one centimeter in diameter. If it is placed in the goal, the coin will come back. You can play with it splendidly. It looks like it will bring tears to your eyes.

Coin Game B

This is an illustration in the style of that hit "Shinkansen game! The color of the housing was also like this. It brings back the thrill and excitement of those days. I remember one of my classmates was so strong that he could play it by a few millimeters.

I remember the dull clang when he reached the goal. It brings back many memories.

Display case A

This is a nostalgic case with a slightly angled, wood-grained atmosphere. Of course, the door can be opened and closed. Two types of candy figures are included, one in the style of Moroccan yogurts and the other in the style of "Bic Kats," which is being added to the lineup for the first time.

The "Bic Kats" have a nice, three-dimensional look to them!

Display case B

The candy that comes with this case is "Screw Jelly," which was made by turning the plastic container around and screwing it open while chewing. And Marukawa's "10 yen orange gum" which used to come in packs of four. I remember they used to come with Atari, too!

Refrigerated case

Includes two cola bottles and one orange bottle. It can be divided into three tiers with trays and can also be removed. It can be displayed either standing up or lying down. I think I'll put some screw jelly in there too!

It's bliss to be able to enjoy nostalgia in the palm of your hand. Everyone! Let's recreate the original candy shop!

American Barber" Ken Elephant, 500 yen, 5 types in total

The pop-up stores that have been opening at major stations in Tokyo are doing extremely well! Ken-Elephant is continuing its breakneck pace, opening a store in Osaka Station at the end of last year for a limited time.

The highly reproducible miniatures are all unbelievable, and although the price of 500 yen gacha may not sound cheap, once you pick one up, you will be amazed at the quality. The high quality of the product itself is astonishing, and the miniature book that comes with it is also worth reading, making you think, "Too cheap! I think, "Too cheap! It is no wonder that KenElephant is gaining fans at an accelerating pace.

Ken elephant's target this time is the barbershop industry.

When I opened the mini-book, I found a large headline that read, "A space with quality time and miniatures for adults. It seems as if we are already intoxicated by the adulty atmosphere. This time, they are going to let us enjoy old American barber culture. With some monotone chic photos, you are already feeling like you are on the other side of the ocean.

In addition, the items in this issue have been made even cooler with the cooperation of THE BARBA TOKYO, a traditional hair salon in Kanda, Tokyo.

●Barba Chair

A modern chair in black and white tones, called "Classica 90" released in 1954.

For more detailed modeling, it is nice to see that the kit is an assembly kit divided into parts. As you assemble the parts, you can enjoy the detail of each part.

And when you complete it, you will be so satisfied that you will be tempted to actually sit on it! The attention to detail, especially in the foot area, is worth a look. The lever on both sides of the seat, which is often omitted, is also reproduced. It is a convincing work of art.

Barber pole

This is a pole by MARVY, a long-established manufacturer founded by William Bill MARVY in Minnesota, U.S.A. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the company's founding. When turned on, the pole lights up slightly. The pole is magnetic, so you can attach it anywhere you like.

Clippers & Scissors

The clippers are about 3 cm in length. It may be a perfect match with existing figures. The sharp lines and burgundy coloring give it the atmosphere of an adult item.

The scissors (scissors) are a model that has been used by barber technicians for many years, and a comb of about 3 cm is also included, making this miniature the best in terms of texture and smoothness.

●Hair sets

This high-spec hair dryer was widely used in the 1960s.

The solid modeling gives it a presence that transcends that of a capsule toy. A bottle of melon soda-colored pomade is also included. The cool, melon soda-colored pomade bottle comes with a removable lid, too.

The vintage comb is faithfully reproduced from a mold, and the detailed printed logo is also noteworthy.

Shaving set

The razor part of this shaver can be stored inside the handle. It is a wonderful gimmick for such a small item.

The actual brush bristles are made of badger hair, but this product is made of a hard plastic material. However, the detailed coloring gives it an ultra-realistic appearance. At first glance, the hair looks as fluffy as the real thing.

You can also use it to play with a black and white shaving bowl.

The owner of my favorite barbershop also wanted this toy. So I attached a barber pole to the cash register at the reception desk, and he instantly felt like an American. The owner of the barbershop seemed to have a longing for this kind of atmosphere, so he was very happy.

How did you like it? Really, the evolution of capsule toys has been amazing. The quality of the modeling has simply improved, and the world of maniacs has expanded.

This is where my 45 years of experience as a gacha collector really shows its power! This year, too, I will be immersed in the gacha swamp, and I will continue to review them relentlessly. I look forward to your continued patronage.

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Wacky Kaiyama
Freelance TV personality, gacha-gacha collector and researcher (capsuleer)
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 Gacha Gacha - Cosmos, Its Love" (Futabasha), and "Nihon Kaishikashi Gacha Gacha Daizen" (Tatsumi Shuppan).
Videos of the latest gacha and retro "cosmos" gacha are shown daily on his official YouTube channel, "Wacky Kaiyama Gacha Channel!