toyboxdx toy blog brog: is graceful art of daily expressing japanese toy  

It’s the end of an era: the first vintage japanese toy store to hit the web in the ’90s shuts its doors in January 2009. On January 24th 2009, join us and Open Kimono for the very last time as 50 well-known freaks from the Tribe of Vintage descend upon San Francisco. This is your chance to drop the mouse and finally give them that reach-around and/or punch in the face you’ve been blabbering about.

A catered mandatory vintage toy masturbation session follows. Details forthcoming. RSVP’s go to Sjoen: esjoen (a) gmail.com. Seeya!

[BBS Comments]

Tiger Mask II (タイガーマスク二世?) is a Japanese manga that was adopted into an anime series that aired from 1981 to 1982 as a sequel to the original Tiger Mask.

An episode from this series just so happens to be included on a VHS tape of shows that came to me from a distant aunt that I poured over as a kid back in the early 80’s. Needless to say, those NHK recordings have had a serious influence on my collecting..

Nuff said..

Overall, this toy is just fantastic! It’s delivered in a DX Popy style box and it bears the spring loaded action and killer accessories that one would expect from any DX Popy toy. This toy is actually very similar to it’s Popy DX Chogokin super robot counterparts, as the box, accessories and paperwork are totally over the top. This 18″ bad ass toy totally delivers. Spring loaded madness, vinyl head/cape and some kick ass accessories really add up to an awesome vintage toy. If the chance presents itself, I totally encourage you to buy this if you are a fan of Popy. Honestly, it’s Popy at it’s best.. Believe me, you will not be disappointed.

Erik Sjoen

Also, here is a comparrison shot with the Chokinzoku Tetsujin 28 SG-01 for scale.

You know.. I’ve always been a big fan of tracking life enjoyment (see lower part of Robotora box).. I mean, who isn’t? Right? Right…

I’m not exactly sure what tracking life means, and I’m not sure enjoyment stems from it. What I can tell you is that I own almost every toy associated with 8chan and I can honestly say that I enjoy every piece. Seriously. From zenmai to chogokin to tricycles, I have everything 8chan.

The DX Robotora is a very rare piece. Who would have thought? It’s proven so, as it only took me 5 years to acquire one. Was it worth the wait? I’ll let you be the judge:

So, if you already own the 8chan stuff this review should only lead up to one conclusion.. Find a Robotora and own it.

– Erik Sjoen

Meet the latest diecast robot to roll off the CM’s Corporation factory lines: Gyakuten-Oh (“The King of Reversal”) from the old animated Time Bokan series “Ippatsuman.” It’s a remake of an old Takatoku toy by the same name. Due out in late September, it’s going to retail for a whopping 20,790 yen, making it one of the most expensive robot toys to hit shelves in recent memory.

If you live anywhere near the Louisiana State University, and even if you don’t, get yourself to the Shaw Center for the Arts. A new show entitled “Invasion: Japanese Robots from the Collection of Warren Schwartz” is open to the public through October 7, 2007. It showcases more than 200 robots, “about one tenth of Schwartz’s collection” (!) and many of which were used in the making of Super #1 Robot.

For those of you who live in Tokyo, Sunday, May 6th is Japanamerica night! The Pink Cow in Shibuya is holding a special event for author Roland Kelts’ book on the otaku phenomenon, which featured interviews with people as diverse as Japanese fashion mogul Nigo, Studio Ghibli producer Steve Alpert, “Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno” author Patrick Macias, and some guy named Matt Alt.

The festivites start at 7 P.M. on the 6th, hosted by Kelts and featuring both live music and guests including journalist Leo Lewis, “Tekkon Kinkreet” director Michael Arias, and Studio 4C founder Eiko Tanaka. Check it out!

If you’re into Japanese toys, chances are you’re at least passingly familiar with the Japanese-language Toys And Models And Things… website, one of the most thorough and widely linked-to sources of new toy reviews on the web.

In what is quite probably the first effort of its kind, the host of Toys and Models And Things has actually opened his collection to the public. His new members-only “toy club,” dubbed The Toy Warehouse, features no staff, no service, merely a coffeemaker and soft drink dispenser in a corner for refreshment. Instead, it’s a veritable shack o’ toy love with private “toy appreciation cubicles,” photo booths, and a chance to get to play with the collection of one of the most enthusiastic toy bloggers in Japan.

The system’s simple: pay by the hour to fiddle all you like. The catch? It’s located in Osaka and membership is restricted to people with proof of residence in Japan, meaning tourists will miss out on the fun. (The guidelines are here, for those who can read Japanese.) Still, it’s a cool concept and it’ll be interesting to see how it develops.

Attention toy-nerds: Robert Duban is back, and this time, he’s out for justice. Justice for the long-neglected manufacturer ROBIN, whose profile is the latest to grace the ToyboxDX Datafiles. Heavy drinking, hookers, firing squads, and bottom-of-the-barrel toys. It’s all here, just how you like it. Tune in, turn on, and party hearty “Robin” style.

Thanks to Robert for sending in this sweet auction. Ain’t it the truth…