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Gashapon
Gashapon (ガシャポン), also called gachapon (ガチャポン), is a kind of vending machine-dispensed capsule toy manufactured and sold by Bandai. It originated in the 1960s and is popular in Japan.
The word Gashapon, a Bandai trademark, is onomatopoeic from two sounds, gasha (or gacha) for the hand-cranking action of a toy-vending machine, and pon for the toy capsule landing in the collection tray. Gashapon is used for both the machines themselves and the toys obtained from them.
Popular capsule toy manufacturers include Tomy (which uses the trademark gacha (ガチャ, gacha) for their capsule machines) and Kaiyodo. In many countries and territories including Japan, China, the United States, the European Union (European Union trade mark) and the United Kingdom, Gashapon is a registered trademark of Bandai. The capsule toy model has been adapted digitally into numerous gacha video games, such as mobile phone games and massively multiplayer online games (MMOs).
Capsule vending machines originate with small vending machines for gumballs that were first invented in the United States. They were eventually expanded to include the sale of small toys in capsule-shaped containers. This trend became popular in the United States. They were exported to Japan in 1965 from the United States and spread throughout the country in the 1970s.
As more manufacturers entered the market, the popularity of capsule toys continued to grow, especially with the introduction of licensed character-themed items in addition to original toys. They are often installed in candy stores and supermarkets, and there are often multiple machines in one location. With the rise in popularity of collectible figures, the variety of capsule toys has also increased significantly. Since the 2000s, there have been specialty stores that exclusively feature dozens to over one hundred capsule vending machines. Additionally, they are often installed in tourist destinations to offer local souvenirs and goods.
Unique examples of places where these machines have been installed include a train cabin of Wakayama Electric Railway's Toy Train as well as West Japan Railway's sightseeing Green Loop Bus. Furthermore, especially before COVID-19, they were also installed in departure lobbies of airports with many international flights, such as at Narita Airport and Kansai Airport. Since foreign currency exchange is generally limited to banknotes, these capsule vending machines were strategically placed so that travelers could use their unexchangeable 100 yen and 500 yen coins as a way to buy souvenirs.[citation needed]
As of the 2020s, adults are expressing Shōwa nostalgia by collecting capsule toys.
Gashapon machines typically sell toys at prices ranging 100–500 Japanese yen (US$0.69–3.45). The toys are often constructed from high-grade PVC plastic, and contain detailed molding and intricately painted features. They are engineered for high quality, small size, and minimal manufacturing cost; many do not turn a profit for their producers.[clarification needed] Some gashapon are considered collector's items.
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Gashapon
Gashapon (ガシャポン), also called gachapon (ガチャポン), is a kind of vending machine-dispensed capsule toy manufactured and sold by Bandai. It originated in the 1960s and is popular in Japan.
The word Gashapon, a Bandai trademark, is onomatopoeic from two sounds, gasha (or gacha) for the hand-cranking action of a toy-vending machine, and pon for the toy capsule landing in the collection tray. Gashapon is used for both the machines themselves and the toys obtained from them.
Popular capsule toy manufacturers include Tomy (which uses the trademark gacha (ガチャ, gacha) for their capsule machines) and Kaiyodo. In many countries and territories including Japan, China, the United States, the European Union (European Union trade mark) and the United Kingdom, Gashapon is a registered trademark of Bandai. The capsule toy model has been adapted digitally into numerous gacha video games, such as mobile phone games and massively multiplayer online games (MMOs).
Capsule vending machines originate with small vending machines for gumballs that were first invented in the United States. They were eventually expanded to include the sale of small toys in capsule-shaped containers. This trend became popular in the United States. They were exported to Japan in 1965 from the United States and spread throughout the country in the 1970s.
As more manufacturers entered the market, the popularity of capsule toys continued to grow, especially with the introduction of licensed character-themed items in addition to original toys. They are often installed in candy stores and supermarkets, and there are often multiple machines in one location. With the rise in popularity of collectible figures, the variety of capsule toys has also increased significantly. Since the 2000s, there have been specialty stores that exclusively feature dozens to over one hundred capsule vending machines. Additionally, they are often installed in tourist destinations to offer local souvenirs and goods.
Unique examples of places where these machines have been installed include a train cabin of Wakayama Electric Railway's Toy Train as well as West Japan Railway's sightseeing Green Loop Bus. Furthermore, especially before COVID-19, they were also installed in departure lobbies of airports with many international flights, such as at Narita Airport and Kansai Airport. Since foreign currency exchange is generally limited to banknotes, these capsule vending machines were strategically placed so that travelers could use their unexchangeable 100 yen and 500 yen coins as a way to buy souvenirs.[citation needed]
As of the 2020s, adults are expressing Shōwa nostalgia by collecting capsule toys.
Gashapon machines typically sell toys at prices ranging 100–500 Japanese yen (US$0.69–3.45). The toys are often constructed from high-grade PVC plastic, and contain detailed molding and intricately painted features. They are engineered for high quality, small size, and minimal manufacturing cost; many do not turn a profit for their producers.[clarification needed] Some gashapon are considered collector's items.