Long before Saito, Igarashi, or Nishimura got into the publishing game the ground was laid by none other than Popy. Behold the “Popy Catalog – Great Toy Encyclopedia”. Look at it as the TBDX little red book.
Minister of Information Alt wants all of our comrades to play safe, so read very carefully and retain..
“How Chogokin are Made” and on the right and “The Weak Point of Chogokin” on the left!
“Since Chogokin are made out of a hard metal, if they are struck against a hard surface such as a dresser or desk or glass window (!), they can damage your family furnishings. Play with them carefully. And never, ever throw them at other people!”
Toy Karma seems to be on the move… after a cryptic message from The Chairman read simply ‘give me your address’, I did not know what to expect. Never would I have guessed that after he helped me secure my first TT Macross vinyl, the GBP, he would surprise me with my favorite of the TT Macross vinyls, the Glaug, with its awesome vinyl charm! I couldn’t believe it when I opened the package. I LOVE this sculpt, with those big poofy arms in place of the lean and sleek lines of the Glaug. All the right ideas are there in the sculpt, but with that utilitarian-minded uncompromising vintage vinyl aesthetic. Truly a fantastic toy, for which I am truly grateful to our generous Chairman!
I’m totally into the carded stuff these days. I absolutely love them. Floor to ceiling, this stuff adorns whatever blank space is left on the walls of my personal little toy cave. The artwork combined with the funk of it all.. It’s just a match made in… Well, Japan..
In the murky depths of Tokyo’s sleepy Machiya neighborhood lies one of the best vintage Japanese toy stores around.. Jyarinco. Per BrianF/JoshB’s book Tokyo Underground; “An amazing store with every conceivable kind of toy in stock, Jyarinco is the last of Tokyo’s hidden gems.”.
No detailed pics, no in-depth write up.. Just take a look at their website. WOW. This place had us shell shocked. So much cool shit to be had. The shop owner was actually cool about me taking pics of this rare Dancougar store display. When I was firming up my purchases I actually noticed yet ANOTHER one in the back behind the counter. He offered it to me for $1K but unfortunately I had no reasonable way to get it home.. That’s two store displays (flashman in osaka) I found in under 2 weeks within my price range, yet totally out of my grasp.. ARGHH..
If you take a trip to Tokyo and plan to do some VINTAGE toy shopping, Jyarinco is a total must.
The best advice I could give you is to have a native Japanese speaker call first before you go. The time before last I went and made the trip all the way out there to find that nobody was home. Talk about disappointing.. Heed my warning, kids. CALL FIRST!
“Sun is shinin’ the weather is sweet. Make’s you want to move…” No no no, wait, kill the Bob Marley.. Que the Akira Kushida!! That’s it! “Taiyou ga moshimo nakatta. Chikyuu wa tachimachi kooritsuku ..”. Perfect, now we’re talking. Ahh, Sun Vulcan Jumbo Machinder greatness. Behold its beauty!!
I love the show, I love the toys and I REALLY love the fucking song. Man, you guys, that was my JAM!! No Lionel’s “Dancing On The Ceiling” for me (although it was a huge hit at the skating rink). I’ve been accused of singing this bastard of a song out loud in Japanese bars accompanied by young women while devastatingly embarrassing my friend Mattew Alt.
What’s up Alt? Jim thought it was hilarious, right? Right…
I’m a fan I guess. I’ve been singing that awesome song for 27 some odd years..
See… I even had the Sun Vulcan guys over to hang out on my very outdated TV-tray while I watched bootleged VHS tapes of daytime NHK programing (notice the “Eagle! Shark! Panther!” in reverse order).
Nowadays, I can karaoke “Baku-Ra No Sanvulcan” in the comfort of my own living room with my newly acquired SV Jumbo Machinder, who by the way is the only one I can get to kick it with me whilst I do so… Give us a cold bottle of shochu, a couple bottles of hoppy and it’s on!
“Follow The Sun, Catch The Sun. Taiyou sentai Sunvulcan!!!!!” Have a listen:
As an added bonus here I give you scans of my reading material circa September 1981. Notice my beloved Popy Sunvulcan Jumbo Machinder had more than one use.. As a tactical prop in the show, the SV Jumbo showed it’s stuff pictured here from the August 1981 episodes..
BIG PROPS TO AY, TO WHOM THIS WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE. LOVE YA SENPAI!
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