Announcing the annual year-end Capsule Toy Awards 2023! 5 Capsule Toys with Full of Personality Representing After Corona's 2023 [Wacky Kaiyama's Latest Gacha Exploration No.83

At this time of the year, when we sum up the year, every year we are asked, "What are the trends for this year in capsule toys?" This year, there was a noticeable trend toward regional diversification, with an increase in the development of original gachas that can only be purchased in the local area. In addition, many eco-friendly paper capsules and capsule-less gachas have appeared, and new gacha specialty stores are opening one after another. New gacha specialty shops are opening one after another, and media coverage of them is increasing.

In addition, due to the inbound demand for after-corona, the spread of capsule toys through SNS by overseas visitors has increased, and it seems that capsule toys have become more and more popular.

The news for me was the "Showa Retro Gacha Gacha Exhibition" held on December 2-3 at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, where I exhibited my capsule toy collection. I thought that the visitors were only people of my generation, who knew the real history of the Showa period, but to my surprise, 60% of them were in their 20s and 30s! I think the recent emo Showa retro boom may have had some influence, but it also made me realize how much the younger generation is interested in capsule toys.

Now, let us present the "Capsule Toy Award 2023," which has attracted a great deal of attention from the younger generation as well! This year again, we have chosen each award based on our own prejudice!

Nice Fancy Award

I'm going to start frogs today / Jenco / 7 types / 300 yen

Appeared in the 78th issue of the series. A frog figure released by Jenco, known for planning and producing animation, won the Nice Fancy Award.

（When he woke up, his "tail" had been removed and he had turned into a frog! The novel idea of capturing that moment quickly became very popular. It quickly spread through social networking sites. I, too, was delighted to see my unique worldview spreading throughout the world.

The number of people whose hearts have been captured by the perky shape is increasing day by day. What kind of pictures will you snap? The "Nice Fancy Award" goes to the cute and gentle one.

<Comments

Mr. Bonge Shiki, the original author

I am honored to receive this award! I have never been so happy to have a child that I have created come into the world with the help of so many people, and to be loved by so many people. Thank you all for everything!

Project Leader Mr. Akita

No matter where I take her, she always says, "Eh! So cute!" and look at them twice. Many people have been captivated by the adorable, smooth and poyon shape of the frogs created by sculptor Mr. Bonge Shiki. I am one of them, so I am very happy to receive this award.

We are planning to introduce many more frogs in the future, so please look forward to seeing them!

Nice Topic Award

Tsuchiya of Knights Tsuchiya is a comedian of The Radio Show, and he took the liberty of making an eraser saka player! / Studio Sota / 15 types / 300 yen

Appeared in the 80th edition, which marked a milestone. The "Chuunibyou-teki tabletop game" that the elementary school boy Naitz Tsuchiya created with authentic original rules and actually enjoyed was tied up with the Nippon Broadcasting System's "The Radio Show" corner "Gacha Gacha no Mori presents Gacha Gacha Shimashow! a tie-up with the Nippon Broadcasting System's "The Radio Show" program.

The unique comedians who appear on the show, transcending the boundaries of their offices, have been transformed into eraser dolls. The dolls look so much like the original performers and are so exaggerated that they move the viewer to tears of joy!

This product was initially available only at the capsule toy specialty store "Gacha Gacha no Mori," but was also sold at Knights' solo live concert. On the day of the event, I also visited the backstage and took a commemorative photo with the figure! This is a topical award that also includes personal memories.

<Developer's comment

The poses, forms, and hardness of each player (product) have all been carefully calculated for Eraser Saka. Of course, the game comes with a rulebook that even beginners to eraser-soccer can enjoy, so don't worry!

Nice Idea Award

Erase Sliding / Panda's Hole / Takara Tomy Arts / 5 types / 300 yen

This is the first appearance in the series. At the end of the year, here is an item that will make you say, "I thought of that!

A player in a dynamic, pure white uniform appears from inside the capsule. At this point, the gacha is not yet in its finished form. The eraser is used to rub out characters. The pure white uniforms are naturally stained black by the pencils. With this, this "erasing sliding" is finally completed!

This is a wonderful idea that defies common sense! The stains are the proof of success. Let's get dirty and dirty. The catchphrases "The dirt is the proof of our activity" and "Let's get dirty and dirty.

The lineup of products is also very cool, reminding us of an exciting sports scene. The WBC, the world's number one team! Sliding catch without fear of injury! The head-sliding of a high school baseball player who gave it his all in the heat of the moment! In soccer, I am reminded of Kaoru Mitoma's "Miracle of a millimeter. In rugby, it reminds me of the fierce battles in the World Cup.

By the way, it is also possible to customize your favorite team and players by painting them using the pure white molding color.

This time, Mr. Panda's Hole has sparked my imagination. This is, without a doubt, a nice idea award.

<Developer's comments

Natsumi Nosaka, Dentsu Promotion Plus Art Director

Natsumi Nosaka

Thank you very much for choosing my idea for the "Nice Idea Award! Since I received an award for my idea, I would like to write about the secret story behind the creation of this "erasing sliding. When I was a student, many times my younger brother would come to the living room in his dirty uniform after coming home from baseball games and cover the floor with sand. I wanted him to do something about it, but my parents told me, "He tried his best, so it can't be helped!" I was told. The hopeful "erasing sliding" was created from these memories.

This time I made an erasable gacha, but my love for gacha will never disappear, so I would like to continue making things that someone would find interesting.

Nice Impact Award

Busywork Squeeze Mascot / Qualia / 6 types / 300 yen

Appearing in the 77th issue, Qualia seems to be a manufacturer that specializes in cute figures, but they unexpectedly released a one-shot gag-style capsule toy!

I couldn't believe my eyes. I couldn't believe my eyes, because it was an unidentifiable squeeze with only one kanji character printed on it: "Busy" (暇). Moreover, there are variations of this capsule, with only differences in font (gothic or mincho) and font color! I wonder if the degree of "Busy" differs a little depending on the thickness of the letters. ......?

At any rate, it is a bit of a bummer to compete with only one character, "Busy"! By the way, it is made of soft material and can be easily crushed. You can crush the kanji character "暇". You can crush the kanji for "Busy".......

What is this shock ......? I opened the capsule and popped it open.

It is a magnificent shock award. Congratulations! I am the one who is firsing while saying "Congratulations!

<Manufacturer's comment

We are honored to have been selected for this award again last year, and we would like to continue to develop gachagachas that you will be able to see in 2024, so please continue to support Qualia.

MVC

All Night Nippon x Gacha Gacha no Mori: Miniature Radio Booth supervised by Nippon Broadcasting System Engineering Department / Toys Spirits / 4 types / 500 yen

Now, we are pleased to announce the 2023 MVC (Most Valuable Capsuletoy).

This year's MVC is the "All Night Nippon x Gacha Gacha no Mori: Miniature Radio Booth supervised by the Nippon Broadcasting System Engineering Department!

The capsule toy featured in the 72nd edition, the first of the year, won the MVC with flying colors!

All Night Nippon," a staple of late-night broadcasting that I used to listen to with great enthusiasm in my youth. It was a surprise to see the item used in the radio booth appear in miniature form. Moreover, the item is supervised by a person from the technical department who was actually involved in the project, so it is a perfect reproduction. When I actually lifted the cuff and the "ON AIR" light came on, my own excitement switch was turned on.

Looking at the miniature digital clock and microphone, I could picture the faces of the personalities I admired.

It was like stepping back in time to those days! The product was sold exclusively at the capsule toy specialty store "Gacha Gacha no Mori," and sold out in droves. In addition, a Bunka Hoso version appeared in the summer, and we had a lot of fun with it. I think there are not many adult games that are as authentic as this one.

In that sense, too, it was a one-of-a-kind capsule toy. So, the MVC decision was unquestionable! Crackle, crackle, crackle!

<Developer's comment

Mr. Nishimura, Development Manager

We are thrilled that our product "Miniature Radio Booth 2 supervised by the Nippon Broadcasting System Engineering Department" has been selected as the MVC of the year 2023. Radio is something we listen to, so we never had a chance to see the radio booth directly, but I believe that our thorough attention to the materials, gimmicks, and design of the booth was the result of our efforts to convey a sense of realism, etc. to listeners. We are very happy that they were pleased with our work.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to the Nippon Broadcasting System, Gacha Gacha no Mori, and the many customers who purchased our products. Thank you very much.

Now, how did you like it? Did you all enter your favorite capsule toys?

In 2024, I will continue to explore my favorite gachas and enjoy reviewing them. Please look forward to it!

Well then, everyone, please have a wonderful New Year's Eve and New Year!