Vintage Toy Shipping in Tokyo

[samurainoir]

Wow! This combined with your Facebook pics make me want to hop on a plane! Glad you guys are enjoying your trip. I know you've been there before and have connections there, but I hope you're enjoying some non-toy stuff, too. Travel is such a wonderful experience.

Thanks dude... I hit up a bunch of galleries/museums including the Buddhas at the National Museum and the Magritte exhibit at the National Arts Centre, an exhibition of Toho movie stuff and a Manga exhibition, Ueno Park, Emperor's Garden, Tsukiji Fish Market, the Tokyo International Forum, shrines, artisan market, Ginza, Ikebukura, Shinjuku, Roppongi, a spa resort/onsen out in Asakusa, and had some really nice dinners too. We lucked out since it was the week of the cherry blossoms, so that was pretty darn spectacular (which made for some crowds in town as well). But do folks 'round here really want to hear about that kind of stuff? I'd feel like I'd be boring you with my holiday slides.

[samurainoir]

I want that McQueen Great Escape figure...but it's way beyond my budget for figures. Back in the day when they came out they were in the $200 - $300 range. I can just imagine what they might be today. Toys McCoy were definitely the Hot Toys of their day. I remember the horse for Indiana Jones was in that $200 range. Surprised that no one has done a Mego scale McQueen head/likeness

Looks like the McQueen in the pic was $220 and Indy was $200 at Mandarake.

[samurainoir]

This trip, I had a goal of acquiring up some Japanese Star Wars stuff. Thanks again to the Kaiju Korner blog, Chris and I found a place that specialized in Star Wars, called Star Case. Facebook album here:

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.382014965303544.1073742753.100004851313980&type=3

This is what I picked up at Star Case
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also picked this up from Toy Cats Showcase
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before someone points out this looks just like a North American release...

[samurainoir]

...Japanese packaging
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and this is what I got at Nakano Broadway Mall.
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[cjefferys]

You did great with Japanese release SW items on this trip Ed, all are very nice pieces!

[samurainoir]

One of the highlights for me was getting to visit the Bandai Toy Museum, which was a ways out in one of the suburbs of Tokyo. Depending on where you are in Tokyo, it can be a pain to get to, but from where I was it was just over an hour (return). We opted to stay at a resort/spa overnight (where the suites we stayed in were HUGE compared to the same price as our hole-in-the-wall Tokyo hotel), which resulted in a much more challenging journey of multiple trains/taxis.

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The building was formerly a Bandai Toy factory before most of the production moved to China. The large open space houses a HUGE Gundam, a display of robots, play/dress-up area for kids, vintage early 20th century arcade, and a train display. The one area I regret missing due to time was the Edison Gallery.

here's the exterior and open gallery space, along with the Giant Gundam.

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.382917118546662.1073742777.100004851313980&type=3

Primary Interest for folks around here would be the Japanese Toy Gallery, divided here into two albums

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.382756811896026.1073742772.100004851313980&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.383650308473343.1073742805.100004851313980&type=3

Hobby Callery:

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.382757288562645.1073742774.100004851313980&type=3

World Toys Gallery:

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.382757108562663.1073742773.100004851313980&type=3

[cjefferys]

Cool pics! The current Bandai Museum's set up is way different compared to their old location that I had visited (I can't believe that was over nine years ago, my son wasn't even born yet!). At the old place, the showcases were more crowded and crammed with stuff, everything seems more open now.

[samurainoir]

So I collect Starzinger/Spaceketeers now.
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Vinyl Jesse Dart/Jan Cooga came from 3rd Uncle. The Sea Wasp die cast came from a hidden gem of a shop called Moja Qte that is quite literally 12 paces left of the Nakano Broadway Mall entrance, up a flight of stairs.
mojaqte.jpg
Moja Qte Facebook pics here:

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.383846585120382.1073742807.100004851313980&type=3

Here is the vinyl Leopardon and Spidey I picked up at 3rd Uncle.
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[samurainoir]

Change of pace... down the street from Nakano Broadway is Psycho Monster. Specializing in Horror and Monsters stuff, and Alien/Predator in particular.

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facebook gallery here:

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.383139915191049.1073742786.100004851313980&type=3

[samurainoir]

Moja-qte
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[samurainoir]

Most important places of note if you are going to Tokyo to shop for toys... the Mandarake chain of stores. Each has it's own unique character, and you can easily spend hours/days wandering through checking stuff out.

If you have the time while you are there, it's actually worth going back to each location multiple times since they are refreshing stock through their buy-back counters at each location. You can also be staring at the same packed display case a half dozen times and spot something you did not spot previously... I find taking cel phone photos has become the best tool if you did want to take a closer look at what you potentially missed the first time given how overwhelming the experience can be. It was previously forbidden to take photos, but in the last couple of years they have relinquished that policy. So snap away!

I also ran into situations where I would see a certain item selling at a much higher price at one location, only to find the exact same item for much cheaper in another.

Madarake Akihabara in the electronics/Otaku district is 8 cramped floors filled with collectibles. The top two floors are the ones of most interest for Toy collectors.
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album of pics on facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.381651555339885.1073742736.100004851313980&type=3

Mandarake Shibuya in the very trendy food/club/shopping district is a subterranean bunker and treasure trove. Shibuya is that crazy intersection seen in Fast/Furious 3 Tokyo Drift.
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facebook gallery here:

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.381335182038189.1073742730.100004851313980&type=3

Finally Mandarake Nakano is the Mall of insanity. Quite literally three floors of stores (mostly Mandarake, although dozens of others are in the mix) with all manner of cool stuff to look at (there is actually a few stores on the first floor hidden around the corner, and a basement of tasty food). Book off either an entire afternoon or day to go through this place. If you are larger in girth and height, be prepared to get stuck in the aisle of some stores like Winnie the Pooh. The most expensive and mind-blowing rarities are on the top floor.
mandnak.jpg
facebook albums here:

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.381129062058801.1073742729.100004851313980&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/sam.noir.90/media_set?set=a.383874251784282.1073742814.100004851313980&type=3

it's worth noting, Mandarake Ikebukura is of no interest to Toy Collectors unless you are a japanese teen girl looking for manga or boy band memorabilia.

There are also Mandarake's in other cities, including two in Osaka (Chris has visited one of these locations)

[Confessional]

^^ Anyway you can open those albums to the public/non-FB users?

[cjefferys]

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Of course, the two toy floors are on the top levels of this place. You either take one of the two very busy, slow and cramped elevators, or the staircase you can see on the right side of the building in the first pic, boy is that good exercise!

There are also Mandarake's in other cities, including two in Osaka (Chris has visited one of these locations)

Yeah, I hit one of the Osaka ones last year, but had very limited time before we had to catch the train back to Yokohama. It seemed to have a pretty good selection, wish I could have had a longer visit there.

This is great information you are posting Ed!

[samurainoir]

^^ Anyway you can open those albums to the public/non-FB users?

My apologies, last year I was able to direct link photos from Facebook, but it appears they have disabled that ability now.

I'll try to post highlights when I can, given that I quite literally took thousands of photos, if folks want to let me know what kinds of things they want to see (Robots, Vinyl, kaiju, Jumbos, Henshins, Microman, Diaclone etc)

Here are a handful from Mandarake Shibuya:

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[J.B.]

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I have a soft spot in my heart for the little husky guy in the middle of your pic.