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

“The cat is a dog”. Yes. I’m pretty confused. I was one of the guys who thought for
decades t hat Norakuro is a cat. Japan’s answer to Felix the Cat. Holy shit.
He looks like a cat! But I was wrong.

Norakuro (のらくろ), or Norakuro-kun was created by Suihō Tagawa.

“The name Norakuro is an abbreviation of norainu (野良犬, stray dog) and Kurokichi
(黒吉, the name of the dog, literally meaning “black lucky”).”  wikipedia

Norakuro started his manga career in 1931 as a private, serving in an army of dogs
called the “fierce dogs brigade” (猛犬連隊 mōkenrentai).

I always wanted the Popy Chogokin version of Norakuro, but I needed a few
years to get one. He’s not very scare and not very expensive, always another
toy was on top of my “list”. Norakuro had to wait. Finally I got one from Yahoo
Japan last year. When he arrived I was really amazed. All I can say. Super nice toy!

The 1976 Norakuro GA-72 is from Popy’s Meisaku Series. Let’s start with the box art.

The toy comes with a plastic stand, a bag with accessories, a Popy chogokin catalog and
a little brochure.

Hope you all appreciate what I do now ;-)
I destroyed the C-10 condition and open the plastic bag with the accessories.
Hmmmmm…I smell more than 30 year old preserved japanese odor.

In the bag are Norakuro’s rifle, sword, bayone, backpack and 7 attachable badges of rank.
With the badges he could be gradually promoted from private to 2nd lieutenant.

Here are some detail shots of his military equipment.

Norakuro itself is heavy diecast. Only his head is plastic and
he could move his arms and legs.

…again. Super nice toy!
I love this little dog and I hope that Norakuro didn’t make any bad things in
China during the 30ties when he was part of the Imperial Japanese Army.
Ok, not really Imperial Japanese Army…”fierce dogs brigade”.

THANKS Mr.Chairman Sjoen destroying my illusion that Norakuro is a cat.

All the old fotos are from the secret archive of the Imperial “fierce dogs brigade”.
They never had been published before.

More fotos in the BBS.

This morning I cracked open my mini Shogun Warriors Grendizer to re-seat the legs, which had come off their groove. I noticed the screw was awfully loose, as if someone had already been inside. What I did not expect to find was a scrap of paper nestled inside.

I carefully unfolded it, wondering what it could be. We’ve all seen the story of the eerie Japanese note inside the vintage sofubi, but this turned out to be far more sinister.

Rather than risk marring the once-pristine paint with a name written in sharpie on the back, the intrepid Bruce Fenton (or, more likely, his parents) endeavored to store a writ of ownership where any sensible person would think to look first. Well Bruce, your note may have been tough to find, but rest easy knowing that your Grendizer is still in good hands.

Here’s an oldie but a goodie from the archives. I randomly came across it when doing a Google image search this evening and thought it was worth another look.

Reposted from 09/10/04:

So what’s up with 1982?

1982 was a busy year. For example, there was Blade Runner, RunDMC, Lebanon,
Springsteen and Reagan.. No doubt, these were all VERY important things. Not to a 7 year old.

My 1982 was all about Japanese toys. Diecast, Jumbos, Vinyls, Model kits and books.. Anything I could get my hands on was “all good”.

A quick trip to San Francisco’s Japan Town would always land me a couple of TV mags (with prizes), toy candy (with prizes) and last but not least a MIMB Popy Chogokin. After taking all my loot home, I would blow through the candy, quickly get over the mag/candy prizes, and alas the precious Chogokin specimen would eventually hit the toy shelf..

The TV magazines on the other hand would always stay in heavy rotation, and were visited on a daily basis. They were stocked full of toy pictures and ads of all the latest swag. They acted as a Japanese toy/anime “insider” for a stateside bound kid like myself. On a monthly basis, one could view the who’s who of Japanese toys by the current heavy hitters (Popy, Takatoku, Takara and Bandai). Best of all they always gave you a hint of what was yet to come..

So, enough of all that sappy nostalgia. Here’s a quick rundown of what Terebi Magagine November 1982 includes:

-MASSIVE amounts of Popy Chogokin

-Goggle V

-Microman

-8chan

-Machine Robo

-Gavan

-Dougram

-Robomaru

-Ideon

-Xabungle

-Kamen Rider ZX

-Gold Lightan

I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Take a load off with some Chogokin and Mini Machinders galore!!

Popy Gan Gara Ganchan diecast

I’ve heard ‘em all, sir. Every one.
The cheating wife, the stubborn son,
the stupid boss; the kitchen sink.
You take a seat, order a drink
and, soon enough, you lend my ear
to troubles soaked in scotch and beer
One mug, two mug, three mugs tossed
straight down the hatch: hell with the boss!
You’ll learn that boy. You’ll kick his ass;
replace your wife with some young lass.
You pound the bar and slap my arm.
Bleary and weak, you’d bet the farm
your new friend (me) can cure all ills.
In sooth reverse: you pay my bills.

wikipedia “…quite bizarre-looking anthropomorphic aircraft…”

true!