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avatar_JimoAi

Japanese figures longevity

Started by JimoAi, January 16, 2024, 02:26:10 PM

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JimoAi

January 16, 2024, 02:26:10 PM
Am writing in regards of the longevity of Japanese brands figures being in production.

As we all know, Japan produces some of the best animal figures in the market. However, alot of them are exclusive to Japan so getting them overseas costs quite a bit of money.

Most Japanese figures are sold in Gashapons and some are exclusives to zoos or aquariums. Currently, Bandai is the biggest producer of animal Gashapons that I'm aware of but in the past, Kaiyodo, Ikimon and Yujin were really prevalent in the market. I'm not sure how long each gashapon stays in production but each gashapon lasts for a few months or a year or two unless they sell out quickly. If they're popular enough, they may get rereleased and sometimes they don't. However, some discontinued gashapon figures go for quite cheap online while others like the Kaiyodo Dart frogs and some rarer fish/sea animals go for quite alot.

An outlier out be Colorata as despite some figures matching Kaiyodo's quality like the Fossil fish and the deep sea inverts set, are still in production for many years with the fossil fish set being around for more than a decade in production albiet being sold as a set and commanding a hefty price tag.

Anyways I personally have mixed feelings on having some of the rarer figures and some of the bests being locked away in short production lifespan so I would like to hear what are your thoughts and maybe more objective opinions.

bmathison1972

#1
January 16, 2024, 03:31:06 PM
Since Ikimon took over the Nature Techni Colour line from Kitan Club, they periodically re-release sets (sometimes multiple times...). Nearly all of the classic Kitan Club NTC sets have been re-released at least once since Ikimon took it over.

NSD Bashe

#2
January 16, 2024, 04:34:23 PM
The one I'm disappointed by is a Qualia jellyfish set that includes a flower-hat jelly and a comb jelly and basically isn't ever available as far as I can tell.  I think it was recent-ish too.  On the same hand I wonder how hard it is for folks in places like Japan to obtain some of the ones made over here...

bmathison1972

#3
January 16, 2024, 04:48:01 PM
Quote from: NSD Bashe on January 16, 2024, 04:34:23 PMThe one I'm disappointed by is a Qualia jellyfish set that includes a flower-hat jelly and a comb jelly and basically isn't ever available as far as I can tell.  I think it was recent-ish too.  On the same hand I wonder how hard it is for folks in places like Japan to obtain some of the ones made over here...

which set is that @NSD Bashe ? The Qualia JOIN collection of jellyfish doesn't have a comb jelly.

NSD Bashe

#6
January 16, 2024, 05:36:59 PM
Had a feeling I wouldn't be the only one!
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