![[Nakajima die cast]](images/mast.gif)
Nakajima Die Cast
by Robert Duban & Matt Alt
September 1999, revised November 2004
12.07.04
Contributions: Corey Edwards, Tim Brisko, Yutaka Ishida / Kaikodo, Kimono My House, CW Louis Law, Todd Stadtman, Alen Yen
![[turtle logo]](images/nakajimalogo.gif)
Popy,
the titan of the 1970�s Japanese toy scene,
marketed their die-cast character toys under the famed
brand name �Chogokin" (�super alloy�). In what
appears to have been a move to out-do "super," rival
Nakajima Manufacturing Company unveiled a competing
series of die-cast toys dubbed �Ultra Gokin.�
In comparison to Popy's dozens upon dozens of licenses, Nakajima
boasted just a handful, only two of which were used to
make diecast toys -- the animated series "Space Knight Tekkaman"
(7/2/75 � 12/24/75) and "Groizer X" (7/1/76 � 3/31/77). And also unlike Popy,
Nakajima relied on partnerships with other, even smaller companies to
distribute many of its products. Several of Nakajima's mini-diecasts bear the text
"Manufactured by Nakajima, Sold by
Marushin,"
and Nakajima shared both the �Ultra Gokin�
brand name and licenses with Aoshin.
![[bell mark]](images/bell.gif)
In keeping with tradition of the time, Nakajima
stamped a unique logo on many of their products: the "Turtle-Mark." As an aside,
this turtle logo often appears alongside yet another logo, the "Bell Mark."
The Bell Mark isn't actually a Nakajima brand; it's the logo for a Japan-wide
campaign run by an organization, still in existence, that supports local school
parent-teacher associations. (The marks are clipped from participating products,
collected by the local PTAs, and sent in to the Bell Mark organization for exchange
for school-supply coupons and the like.)
Nakajima only made a handful of diecast metal
character toys, but some are classic examples of
1970's Japanese toy design. The Groizer X toys are
particularly interesting: the "standard" Groizer Robo
and Groizer X toys feature battery-operated flashing
lights. The company rounded out the Ultra Gokin line
with a series of UFO-themed diecasts (see "UFO or Die"
for more information) and a number of toys based on
real-life vehicles � trains, planes and fighter
aircraft � as well as a series of metal insects.
However, on the
current Japanese collecting scene, Nakajima is far better
known for their vinyl toys, particularly their
large-sized portrayals of characters from the
smash-hit wrestling series "Tiger Mask."
Nakajima also created talking dolls and the "Action
Boy" system, a
generic doll body with a unique head-nodding
mechanism, that was used as the basis for a variety of
toys, including those from Mach Baron, Gatchaman, Meteor Man
Zone, Hurricane Polimar, Rainbowman, Tiger Mask, and
their own groovy hero series, "Astro Mu Five."
(For more
information on the latter, read "Turtle Power.")
Additionally, Nakajima made mini and standard sized vinyls, missile-firing vinyls, and several "Jumbo" scale
polyethylene renditions of characters from Tekkaman.
Nakajima also produced a copious amount of
non-character merchandise: stuffed animals, snow-cone
machines, etc.
We've listed Nakajima's "Ultra Gokin" toys below. The list of Japanese snow-cone machines you'll have to find elsewhere.
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Flying Saucer UFO Series | |
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UFO 1: Cigar-type Carrier additional images: box, box back |
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UFO 2: Dome-type Saucer additional images: box, ufo mini book |
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UFO 3: Adamski-type Saucer additional images: box back |
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UFO: Space Base | |
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King of the Sky Groizer X Series | |
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Jo Kaisaka additional images: box |
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Groizer Robo additional images: box, box side 1, box side 2 |
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Groizer X additional images: box, box back |
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Groizer X Mini Size | |
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Groizer Robo additional images: box, box side |
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Groizer X additional images: box, box back |
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G-Jet | |
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G-Shark additional images: box, box back |
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Space Knight Tekkaman Series | |
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Tekkaman additional images: box, box back, box side |
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Pegas Robot additional images: box |
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Bad Guy Robot Ganira additional images: box |
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Blue Earth additional images: box |
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Tekkaman Mini Size | |
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Tekkaman | |
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Pegas Robot additional images: box, box back |
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Blue Earth additional images: box |
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Tekkaman Deluxe Set additional images: box, box back |
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Insect Series | |
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Semi (Cicada) | |
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Tonbo (Dragonfly) | |
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Kamakiri (Praying Mantis) | |
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Kabuto-mushi (Beetle) | |
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Kuwagata-mushi (Stag Beetle) | |
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Tento-mushi (Ladybug) | |
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Light-up Special Express Series | |
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183 Series Special Express | |
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583 Series Special Express | |
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495 Series Special Express | |
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Shinkansen (Bullet-train) | |
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1/95 scale Super Fighter Series | |
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McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom additional images: box |
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Grumman F-14A Tomcat additional images: box, box back |
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McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle additional images: box |
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General Dynamics F-16 additional images: box, box sides |
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Dream Road Series | |
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Lamborghini Marzal | |
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