Vintage Keshi Gomu Packaging

Keshi gomu ("rubber eraser") figures are among the most popular toy collectibles in Japan. Maybe because of their size, or the instant nostalgia factor, or maybe the way they were distributed in so many outlets, people still love the little figures.

Keshi toys were sold in gachapon machines, as "candy/premium toys" (ex: buy a box of chocolate and get a little freebie figure), individually packaged with bags and headers, in sets, boxes, games...you get the picture.

I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the varieties of packaging for these remarkably detailed little figures.

Here are some Gegege no Kitaro figures in traditional bag/header card packaging.

Robo Hachan keshi set with backing board + clear plastic window

 More after the jump:

Gorenger

1979 Superman keshi. They made a huge variety of Superman figures for this series, in all sorts of poses.

Dougram set. Another cool thing about keshi is they sometimes came with little accessories, making them fun to play with. But these days certain sets are extremely difficult to complete since the add-ons are nearly always missing. :p

Interesting little "magnet mask" Kamen Rider item. I love the bubble heads on the header card. The KR Bunch. It's a story...

"Ultraman Family" set. I think these may have been pencil toppers.

Finally, here's a "shokugan" figure, aka candy toy. (On a side note, how sad is it that I'm becoming fluent in Geek...) Anyway, this neat little figure is glow in the dark and sports a sort of armor to boot. It came in the box on the right, which would have been packaged along with some chocolate.

And that's a little stroll on the keshi side. Toys are fun, but what's also fun is seeing how toys were packaged and marketed, and finding the links between different lines over the years. At least I think so. :)