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

Great Mazinger – Bandai / Popy – 1974

マグマ大使のブリキのおもちゃ。何歳の誕生日だろう。祖父からのプレゼントです。

“Maguma Taishi tin birthday present from our grandfather”
– from http://www.yossie.jp/photo/showa.html

Likely to have been overshadowed by the Ogon Bat, I did not mention my other purchase waiting for me this weekend. Until now.

Kitty Fire. Made in 1972 by Yonezawa, this is the smaller of the two sparklers made of the Mirrorman kaiju.

Regan matched her nail polish for the occasion.

Of course now I need the bigger one.

There are toys that one thinks about. Then there are toys one dreams about.

This is one of the latter.

I drive with the girl for 4 hours today to pick up a tin I secured a couple weeks back over the phone.

It feels fitting that this was not an online purchase. It was personal, analog, and reminded me of the days now long gone, when human conversation and not a keyboard was the catalyst for the hunt.

Ogon Bat, one of the very first Japanese super heroes, was created in 1930 by writer Ichiro Suzuki. However Ogon’s origins go back even further in the realm/art of Kamishibai.
After falling into relative obscurity for a generation or two, Ogon was recreated in 1966 with the arrival of a live action movie staring a young Sonny Chiba. Its success spawned a number of toys, many of which were tins by the epic manufacturer Normura.

The characters beginnings only succeeded to heighten the love I had for the mythological “presence” the design already had over me. The simplicity of the colors, the raw graphic elements of the box, the naivete the toy expressed. This is what the term “old skool” was created for. The toy is 45 years old and counting. It is for me, kindred , and a continuation of any Yoshitoshi print, chawan, or nihonto. Iconic, simple and balanced.

This is why I am still collecting.

Ladies and gentlemen…I proudly present another nerd Brog from the Rockbat universe ;-)

Today I focus on Rockbat’s archenemy, GONG.
WAIT…I always thought this  hairy beast is called GONG, because GONG is
written on his chest armor…this would be too easy, I was totally wrong.
My personal japanese to english translating & extra information god, Mr. Matt Alt brought
light into this mystery. Thanks again Matt!

“His name is Doradanuki, or “Stray Tanuki.” A tanuki is a raccoon-dog. It’s a real animal
but also seen as a trickster in Japanese folklore. (The Studio Ghibli movie “Pom Poko” is
all about them). Normally, their secret power is all in their testicles, but Doradanuki
doesn’t seem to have any! ;) ”

So, adieu GONG…hello DORADANUKI!

I only know of these 3 versions of Doradanuki, all made by Bullmark.
The “nearly” standard size version is from the Rockbat 5 figures carded set.
The small sofubi is from the 4 figures carded set and the mini sofubi looks
like he’s from the Rockbat playset.
…wow I created a new sofubi category. The “nearly” standard size sofubi ;-)

The sizes of the Doradanukis are 5,4” (13,7 cm) for the big one,
4,1” (10,5 cm) for the small version and 3,5” (9 cm) for the mini version.

Here are 2 groupshots. The Doradanukis side by side and together
with the rest of the Rockbat gang.

Finally some action fotos.
Doradanuki always trys to kick Rockbat’s Ass…but in the end he always gets the spanking.

As always…more fotos etc in the BBS.

It’s difficult fo find them in Japan ..

Well with this box they are even rarer !
These three guys are the Italian version of the Takemi Grandfigher from the original TV serie Gingaizer .

I had seen them so many times before in the old Bullmark Catalogs but never “in the plastic”.

I decided to take the plunge on a BIN “Export version” set from Yeebay which i received this morning.

Even though it’s just one small set ( Set 4 Aerial Airport) , I didn’t get a whole lot done today.

I still have to go into the breakfast hutch where it’s currently located and crank it every so often.

It’s quite fulfilling and I’m not ashamed to admit it!

Had to add some Mini kaiju into the mix as well.

I’m planning on expanding my city eventually and adding a Coffee grinder and a revolving tie rack..

(more…)

What you are looking at is the Albegas Alpha Gyromecha toy by Victora. While the red and blue (Beta and Gamma) can be found every once in a while, this thing never shows up for sale. In fact, every collector I have talked to about it doubted its existence. I’ve seen two Garada K-7 Jumbos come up for sale in the time I have been looking for this piece.

I don’t know if it’s so much R@RE as it is forgotten. Honestly, who else is looking to complete a set of three cheap robots from a forgotten 80s cartoon? While some toys are hard to get because of low production numbers, or high demand, this one I think just got overlooked in the sea of superior products.

Fate would have it that I scored one on YJ for relatively cheap, and here it is. I would have paid 10 times what I paid to get it.

So what is a Gyromecha?

Each toy in the series is modular, and can be re-arranged in all kinds of crazy configurations. Included with the toy are several connecting pegs, a motor, and a rip cord. The motor has a heavy metal wheel in it, and you can mount the various parts onto the wheel and let it rip. When you have all three Gyromecha, you can connect them all into some insane configurations.

That’s fun and all, but the real reason to get all three is to make the combined Albegas robot. You can make any of the combinations by rearranging the parts at will. It looks really great when it’s together.

Make no mistake – it’s a crappy plastic toy. But for those stricken with the unfortunate obsession with this character, it’s a grail.

– Josh B