From collectors of Ultraman to the most recent Gundam and American comics figures, this is the event to find something *rare*. New stuff, used stuff, antiques and limited edition, you can find so many varieties of toys at this event. Tokyo Toy Festival, held on February 25 at Tokyo International Exhibition Center - aka 'Tokyo Big Site' provided collectors of toys a fantastic opportunity to explore and expand their field of interest.

Tokyo Toy Festival is one of the bigger toy events in Japan, despite the fact that it's only been going for 4 years. Produced by Tokyo Toy Festival Executive Committee (Honorary President: Teruhisa Kitahara, Toys Co.; Event Producer: Toshio Okada, Otaking Co.; Executive President: Hisanori Nukata, Executive Editor of 'Figure-Oh'), this festival first started off as a spin off event of the annual Tokyo Wonder Festival. With this unique background, at this toy festival there were booths selling toys (new used, and antique), cold-cast figures, statues, capsule toys and UFO plush items, books, trading cards, anime cels, and gigantic figures... From cheap ones to jaw-dropping prices, this show entertains your eyes, as well as adding to your passion for collecting stuff!

So. On a lovely Sunday morning I headed to the BIG convention center. That day there were several events going on at different halls - but the main one that I was heading for was being held in West Hall #6. I got there around 12:30, and paid my 500 yen entrance fee (lucky I wasn't into anything limited - if I were into limited toys and stuff, I'd be paying 2000 yen at the entrance, and queuing for hours to get tickets to obtain them!! (>v<;)), slipped into the hall and voila! Packed with 200 or so company & individual booths, the hall was quite heated up with toy / figure / antiques / trading cards / and so on... lovers. Mind you, being there LATE in the day means - I've missed all those great *limited* things, such as 1/4 scale cold-cast figure of Lum from "Urusei Yatsura", limited edition Gamera statue, "Ultraman" plastic models, "Tekkouki Mikazuki" special statue with autographed card... not even a sample was left, so no pics, sorry people! There were more individual booths than company ones, and some of the B*I*G companies which attended this show were:

Bandai -> they had the latest Gundam Fix model displayed (sorry, I wasn't tough enough to swim across swarms of people to get a pic)

Takara -> they had limited Transformer gadgets

Ujin -> the creator of Di Gi Charat trading figures - they had Gaogaigar things

Anime World Star -> they had CC Sakura's cel works, and other major anime cels

e-bay Japan -> well... toys in general, but they didn't have them auctioned there!! and on.

Cyber-Dyne (one of the shops run by Studio Hard) had its booth up there, too, selling American comic goods and figures - Yap, "Powerpuff Girls" & "Mortal Combat" are hot in Japan right now!! Loads of animators and anime-related workers, as well as individuals have been hooked up pretty heavily on this topic, maybe that "Powerpuff" influence will appear in future Japanimaton - my guess and hope, that is. Cyber-Dyne also sold Dragon Ball things, which I heard had completely sold out by the end of the day, so the good ol' DB series is still hot in this country as well. Oh, talking about Dragon Ball things, I've seen this booth selling Korean-made & imported Dragon Ball figures (darn, I should've taken those photos), and the Chinese version of Dragon Ball trading cards? were sold too - things are getting international and cross-cultural - which is a nice thought. I'm not gonna bore you by going on and on, so I'll conclude this piece of writing with what I bought there (=.=)

1. Tenchi Muyo! Shitajiki x 2

2. Lots of Evangelion shigajikis

3. Magic Knight Rayearth Shitajiki x 2 (shitajiki cost double the retail price!! help!)

4. Azmanga-Daioh capsule toy - Kagura x 2

5. Lupin III remote control car

6. 2 CC Sakura cels

7. I've got the latest (Feb & March) editions of "Previews" from Cyber-Dyne

8. ... empty wallet...

So. That was my day at Tokyo Toy Festival. If you like toys - any toys from second hand All Sakura Cards set to huge (180cm-tall) Tetsujin 28go figure, this is a place to visit. Not that stuff is cheap there - like Gundam Fix kits was double the retail price, but sometimes you get to see really rare and interesting things. Manga and anime is fun, but their extended market is also a great piece of entertainment.

click on piccies to make bigger!

180 cm Mazinger Z Great Majinger Grendaizer

Life size Astro Boy!

Lupin III - Remote controlled car

Can you spot Karaoke Man?

Previews Magazine

Look at me! Tetsujin 28!

Astro Boy and other Osamu Tezuka characters

EVA Shitajiki

Booth

Azumanga Kagura capsule toy