Japanese Flying Squid (Nihon Auto Toy)

Review and images by Bruhmingo; edited by bmathison1972

Hello all, today I would like to share one of my favorite figures in my collection, the Nihon Auto Toy Japanese flying squid, (Todarodes pacificus). It has been difficult to find information on this model and the company producing it, but they seem to have been sold in Japanese crane games at arcades. Japan is known for their eccentric games, among other things, so seeing an incredible figure like this sold in this manner is both amazing and unsurprising.

The figure itself is stamped “Nihon Auto Toy”, and is not labeled with a specific species, but from cross referencing photos as well as taking into account the native species, I believe this to be T. pacificus. Cephalopod models can be notoriously difficult to identify, and that isn’t helped by my lack of familiarity with them, but I believe T. pacificus is a reasonably close ID.

Japanese flying squid belong to the family Ommastrephidae, and are commonly found along the Pacific coastline, ranging from southern China to Canada. They get their name from their ability to propel themselves out of the water and glide for distances as far as 30 meters, similar to the flying fish. As the name may suggest, Japan is the largest exporter of T. pacificus, primarily for sushi. With an IUCN status of “Least Concern”, and the methods for squid fishing allowing little opportunity for bycatch, the Japanese flying squid fishery is considered to be a sustainable one.

The figure itself is made of a flexible and hollow PVC, similar to the Safari Ltd. giant squid(s), but slightly more pliable. I think it is the perfect material to use for this animal as it maintains its shape while also conveying the characteristic squishiness of cephalopods. The coloration is also very beautiful and accurate to a real specimen. While the flying squid can change its color to some extent, often displaying an iridescent blue, it is common for them to be this deep maroon color, (often once caught). The toy itself is molded in translucent plastic as well, creating an even more life-like feel.

At an impressive size of 45 cm (18 inches), the model represents an adult specimen at a 1:1 scale. It is always very nice to see life-size models, especially of those that are often under-represented in toy form.

From what I can gather, the Nihon Auto Toy flying squid is relatively rare, and can only be found in Japan. There are several other marine species made by the company, including several fish and crustaceans, most of which are also life-size. The best places to look for this model are Japanese Yahoo! auctions, or Mercari Japan, although you may need to use a proxy buyer as I did. They come up frequently enough that it shouldn’t be too difficult to find.

This model has become one of my favorites in my collection, and is easily the best cephalopod I own. With an impressive size and paint job, it is a truly exemplary figure. While maybe not as detailed as some other similar figures, it is more than made up for in size and being generally realistic.