Bandai/Bandai Spirits -New for 2025

[bmathison1972]

I don't want to offend anyone when I say that I don't understand the appeal of endless stag beetle and rhinoceros beetle figures.  I guess they are very popular in Japan, but I don't understand why.  The males have horns to fight each other with and some have interesting colours, but is there something I've overlooked?

They are very popular in Japanese culture, including breeding, as pets, and to collect, and Japanese manufacturers cater to the Japanese audience, not Americans, not Europeans.

[sbell]

I don't want to offend anyone when I say that I don't understand the appeal of endless stag beetle and rhinoceros beetle figures.  I guess they are very popular in Japan, but I don't understand why.  The males have horns to fight each other with and some have interesting colours, but is there something I've overlooked?

They are very popular in Japanese culture, including breeding, as pets, and to collect, and Japanese manufacturers cater to the Japanese audience, not Americans, not Europeans.

It goes beyond that. Beetles are (were?) popular with kids in what amount to live action Pokemon combat.

At one time there were capsule machines with live beetles that kids could pitch against each other.

So it's probably capturing that childhood/nostalgia element. As Blaine said, it's produced by Japanese for Japanese.

[Sim]

Thanks for the explanations guys!  I'm shocked by the live beetle stuff though!  That's animal cruelty!  The poor beetles!

[stargatedalek]

Thanks for the explanations guys!  I'm shocked by the live beetle stuff though!  That's animal cruelty!  The poor beetles!

I would argue it isn't, since the beetles inherently fight each other in non-injurious ways, just pushing each other off of surfaces territorially. The capsule machines probably are cruel though, can't picture that possibly being handled well...

[Sim]

I was referring to the capsule machine stuff as well.  But regarding the live fighting, maybe the beetles don't want to fight?  I didn't know the extent their fighting would reach though.  I once stumbled upon a Youtube video where a person put a tarantula, two centipedes, a scorpion and I think a stag beetle in a glass tank and let whatever happened happen.  It was awful to watch and I had to stop watching it quite early.  I thought the beetle fights might be similar.

[stargatedalek]

Nope! Beetle fighting is entirely natural, just place two males, even of different species, on a surface and they will try to push each other off of it. No (inherent) injury. Not at all like putting a bunch of predatory insects together and making them fight to the death.

[sbell]

I had the same thoughts about the capsules. I guess they're pretty resilient?
Or sell out so fast they're not in danger.

It was at least quite a while ago