Super Rare Masudaya Spectreman Mitsukubi Ryu Vinyl Figure

Peppered through the world of vintage toys are some figures that rarely see the light of day. Photos of just a handful of them can be found, and the number of verified figures that have survived the ravages of time is small.

The three-headed Mitsukubi Ryu sofubi figure made by Masudaya is one such toy. The kaiju villain may have wrecked chaos in the Spectreman tokusatsu TV show, but to hardcore collectors, it's a collecting grail.

This example of the toy was recently auctioned off by Mandarake at a starting bid of 1,500,000 yen (roughly $13,000 at the current rate). I believe it actually did attract a buyer.

The toy has been reissued in recent years by CCP, and though the new figure can be had for considerably less money, super hardcore toy connoisseurs who want the real deal will pony up the cash for the toy of their dreams.

For most people who like old toys, we'll just have to enjoy pics of the super rare stuff that's out there.

AMAZING Collection of Asahi Sonorama Ace Puppy Book + Record sets from the 1970s

Recently, a fantastic collection of vintage book + record sets went on sale in Tokyo. These are from the 1970s, and they belong to a series put out by Asahi called the Sonorama Ace Puppy series. I think it's the best series from the decade, given its incredible variety and overall quality.

Sonorama Ace Puppy covers the big guns (Ultraman, Mazinger Z, Godzilla) as well as fairly obscure shows like Diamond Eye (tokusatsu), Jim Button (anime), and Gaijin 20 Looks (some type of TV drama with a masked Westerner dressed like a magician).

I filmed the collection here:

Vintage Tin Toy Airship / Blimp Display

Toy collecting is full of all kinds of interesting niches. If you're at an antique store or show, you might spot something (like an old fountain pen) and think "That's cool." But when you see 10 or 20 together in a collection, it adds meaning. You can compare different versions and styles, and there's something about putting a lot of a certain type of thing together that creates a story or identity.

So, the other day at a Mandarake, I spotted a bunch of vintage dirigibles. Let me start by saying I have zero knowledge of this corner of the toy world. But the assembled group looked really neat, and I thought I'd share a look with you guys.

Pretty serious money for these collectibles. But beyond that, how cool is this Shenandoah blimp circling the Eiffel Tower!

I wonder how many kids filled the moats with water back in the day. I'm guessing most of them -or maybe mud...

A familiar sight to sports fans.

This one has a Steampunk vibe.

This zeppelin looks like it has a turn key on the bottom. I wonder what it does. Any time I'm at this shop and I heard mechanical whirring and clanging, I run to the register to see what tin toy they're testing. :)

The sign says this one is from Germany.

Looks like one of those Time Life books. Remember those commercials?

I look at toys like this and am just amazed that they survived the decades with such delicate parts!

I guess the blimp from this Marx set is part of the coastal defense? The attackers are coming! Fire up the blimp!

Beautiful jumbo lenticular card.

Top shelf piece right there.

A more modern battery operated toy by Bandai.

A Mandarake story: The founder's tale

Mandarake Shibuya

Mandarake is Japan's preeminent source of many pop culture goods. The company, which was founded in 1987, runs shops all over Japan. In Tokyo's Nakano district alone, the Broadway mall contains 26 Mandarake shops (yes, that's 26 with a capital who's your daddy "T"!) A main fixture of these otaku meccas is the "buy back" area where countless streams of people sell things for quick cash. This allows each store to restock shelves regularly - a critical component of the firm's success.

Mandarake Grandchaos, Osaka

In 2000, Mandarake went public, with shares debuting on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Stock symbol: 2652.T) Its recent earnings reports reveal just how big the pop culture market has become. In 2014, the firm pulled in 9.5 billion yen in revenues. That's a lot of copies of Gegege no Kitaro!

More after the jump:

Japanese Tin Toy Racing Cars and T-Rex Skull

Video I shot today in Tokyo.

Mandarake exclusive Enmas

MVH x Blobpus Enma Ollies -  handpainted by Kaiji-san (Blobpus). Released today at Mandarake.

Regular version:

 

 Secret version:

Max Toy x Mandarake Dualos

To commemorate the relocation of its Sapporo shop, Mandarake is releasing an exclusive Max Toy Dualos. This is Max Toy's first collab with Mandarake.

The figure will be released on March 17. It will first be sold at the Sapporo shop starting at 11:00 AM. Then, online sales will start an hour later at 12:00. The price will be 8,400 yen per figure.

Here's a shot of the back of the figure:

For the full release details (Japanese only) click here.

Disney @ Mandarake Akiba

Mandarake's Akihabara Complex mega store has a nice Disney display on the first floor. They've got toys, statues, pins, etc. One of the great things about Mandarake's display is it's all up for grabs - like the candy growing on the trees in Willy Wonka's factory. Except it isn't free. And there aren't any Oompa Loompas. Come to think of it, in Akiba...

Anyway, here are some pics from the home of the Everlasting Yenstopper:

 More after the jump:

A Mandarake Story

Ah, Mandarake - the first place collectors go before they`ve eaten, rested, or unpacked!

There`s a magical yellow sheet passed out at the stores, listing Mandarakes throughout Japan. It has the locations, store info, and little maps. By my count, I`ve made it to all but 1 or 2. If you`re a hard core toy nerd, it`s not a bad way to structure a trip around Japan. If you hit them all, that would be WORKING a Japan Rail Pass.

Anyway, so after I arrived in Fukuoka a few days ago, I stopped by to check out the local big M. It`s a nice store with very friendly and knowledgeable staff. One of them recognized me from the recent Ollie release in Nakano. Comeagain?? We chatted for a while, and as it turns out, the staffer had just spent a month in Tokyo to, get this, be part of the Mandarake homestay program!

What a sweet job. Not only do you get to be around toys all day, but you can spend a month working at a Mandarake in another city, and they`ll set up a homestay with another Mandarake staffer. That`s just flat out awesome.

There are two Mandarakes in Kyushu: Fukuoka and Kokura. Yesterday I took a train ride up to Kokura (about 45 minutes each way) to check it their branch. It`s smaller than the one in Fukuoka, and almost no indy sofubi, but Kokura makes an easy day trip, and there`s a nice castle (though it`s a reproduction built some 50 years ago). If you`re in Kyushu and short on time, I`m not sure I`d recommend the trip, but if you have 5-6 days in the area, then why not.

Incidentally, in Fukuoka, there are a couple of other otaku meccas: 007 and Maxim City (both on the same street). Kind of a free for all, flea market vibe, which makes a fun visit, but they`re not so geared towards serious collectors. There`s a similar mecca about 45 minutes from Kokura. When I have a chance, I`ll write up my complete Kyushu Toy Hunter`s Log, with pictures to boot.

Doll display @ Akihabara Mandarake

Spotted this a few days ago. Not usually my thing, but I thought some nice work went into these.

More after the jump:

VIntage Popy grail @ Mandarake?

I spotted this vintage Popy set yesterday, in one of the Nakano Broadway hallway displays. I like the way it's just put there, sans pomp or circumstance, next to whatever other figures happened to still be on the shelf. At more than $8,000, it may be the most expensive toy I've seen for sale at a Mandarake.

Mandarake x MVH Double Ollie Release

Got there a wee bit early for the release. Seeing Nakano Broadway empty and dark felt like a scene from a zombie movie. When the early otaku crowd started flowing past, my suspicions grew... Then I sat back and relaxed, content in the awareness that I have little brain matter to tempt the hungry undead.

Line starts here.

Two Ollies were released at Mandarake:

Standard

Secret