SDCC 2014: Bwana Spoons talks about the Suns of Brodarr toy line

My interview with Bwana at SDCC. He introduces the Suns of Brodarr line, shows a prototype of an upcoming figure, talks about contributing artists, and more. Good times.

SDCC 2014: Cosplay

Cosplay at this year's event. Click on each image to see its full size.

Famous cosplayer Yaya Han. There was a long line of people waiting to meet her. One guy was literally shaking after his visit. I guess cosplay is getting to be serious business!

 More after the jump:

SDCC 2014: Brian Flynn talks Aliens, ReAction, & Sofubi

My interview with Super7's Brian Flynn at SDCC.

SDCC 2014: Indie Toys

Welcome to Kaiju Korner's coverage of SDCC 2014. We start with the main event - a look at the indie toys released at the show.  As always, booths and organized alphabetically.

3D Retro

 175 pics after the jump:

Paul Kaiju: A Fistful of Dominoes Show

Figures released today at Guunzo in San Diego.

 More after the jump:

New from Secret Base

Pics I recently snapped at the shop.

 More after the jump:

Time Tunnel - Store Visit (Old location)

NOTE: THE SHOP HAS A NEW LOCATION.
ADDRESS: 1583 MERIDIAN AVE.San Jose, CA 95125 USA.
(The below post is being preserved for posterity.)

It’s nice to bounce back with some good news on the toy store front. Today I visited a venerable old shop (23 years old and counting) that is not only defiant and standing, but thriving. 

The shop is called Time Tunnel. This San Jose, California fixture has faced the tide of the Internet onslaught – which has helped lay waste to the Northern California vintage toy scene – and come out standing tall. Time Tunnel is proof positive that people like to look at things in person. During my brief visit, there was a constant stream of shoppers.

First, the store details:

Address: 532 South Bascom Ave. San Jose, CA 95128

Phone: 408-298-1709

Hours: Tues-Sat 12:00-6:00 PM (Closed Sundays and Mondays)

Website: www.timetunneltoys.com

Note: On the store's page, it says to call them before heading over to make sure they're open, since they do travel for events, inventory management, etc. 

Time Tunnel has the look and feel of a Japanese “showcase shop,” but what’s different is that unlike showcase shops, where people rent cases to sell their things, the stock in Time Tunnel is all Joe’s. The super friendly owner will happily chat about toys, records, magazines, or other pop culture goods.

The stock is vintage, mostly from the 70s-90s. It ranges from toys based on old American TV shows and movies to Japanese tokusatsu toys. Along with the Star Wars, Transformers, GI Joe, Power Rangers, and other goodies, there’s also a good selection of posters, paperwork, magazines, and records.

I had a great time checking out the shop, chatting with Joe, and picking up some cool tokusatsu paperwork. 

More store photos and info after the jump:

Rare Marusan Kaiju

Rare figures in beautiful condition. On display in Nakano.

 More after the jump:

So long, Jyarinco

After 12 years in business, Jyarinco has closed its doors for good  Long one of the best indie shops in Tokyo, Jyarinco was a must-visit shop for figures of all sorts, from sofubi to chogokin to everything in between.

The early players like Popy and Bullmark were well represented, as were later arrivals, in addition to indie sofubi makers. In fact, Jyarinco released a number of Real Head collaborations and stocked a cabinet of indie toys for years.

Jyarinco's story arc is becoming all too familiar, and there are fewer and fewer shops like it in Japan. A major factor is the difficulty of getting new stock. The Internet has become a major means for collectors to unload toys. It's also difficult to compete against the larger shops when it comes to bringing in new product and attracting customer foot traffic.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the trend of everything moving online. I get the convenience, and I think it's great that the Net opens up buying chances for folks who aren't near a shop. But when things tilt so far that the last remaining physical shops are closing their doors, then that's a problem. There really is no substitute for walking into a shop, seeing something for the first time, and chatting with the owner about it. I'm not a luddite, but I do hope the pendulum doesn't swing so far that it knocks out the remaining indie shops.

Whatever the reason for his deciding to move on, I wish Jyarinco's owner all the best in his upcoming endeavors, and I thank him for a dozen great years. The shop leaves a real legacy, not just as a "remember back in the day" line, but as a model of what still can be with current and future shops, where owners are passionate, knowledgeable, and great to talk to and learn from. Thanks so much for that and for the chance to see and buy some great toys!

So long, Jyarinco.

Tokyo Cat Fight Toy Show

Show organized by Max Toy Co, featuring works by a big group of artists.

Japanese Pro-Wrestling Masks

Though my knowledge of the contemporary suplex scene is as shallow as a Mr. Socko soliloquy, I can certainly appreciate the work that goes into pro-wrestling masks. And I know there are a lot of folks out there who are into the scene, so I thought I'd put up a video of a cool bunch of masks on display in Nakano, Tokyo.