Reconfigured - Gashapon (Capsule Toy)
From Mod Mania
Put a gold coin at the vending machine coin slot, turn the dial and a capsule with toy contented will drop and sit still on the holder. Turn to open the pop coloured capsule, depends on the plastic toy which sits quietly inside the capsule, the very moment of excitement or disappointment is revealed on the face. If you still have gold coins, maybe you can spent your lunch money on this and try your luck again.
One of my childhood memories is the image of friends surrounded in front of the capsule toy vending machine. They turned the dial again and again for the whole afternoon until they spent all they coins or they got their favourite toy. We were live at a small town in Malaysia and vending machine was the only source we can access to get great fun from the randomness of capsule toy dispensed.
In this small town, capsule toy vending machine is the core to gather kids after school. Different groups of kids at different age forms a small society according to the content in the vending machine. Primary school kids has the small capsule toy corner which enclose cute cartoon animal figure or famous Japanese character at that time including Doraemon . The older kid has the anime character like the most popular Dragon ball and Gundam section and the junior high school groups secure their spot at the assembly toy in a bigger capsule, mostly automotive model or transformer.
When vending machine was so popular in the town and became a phenomenon, we discussed about the series collection, the one who got our favourite toy but not willing to swap, the one who spent all of the pocket money on capsule toy vending machine and punished by parents, the one just got a new toy to complete his series collection and so on. We swap or sell the toy to other, we do not fancy the toy on the shelf in the retail, and we gained our own toy and form the memories. We were crazy and serious about it.
Back to my childhood, we called the capsule toy, an egg, In fact, the origin of Japanese named capsule toy, Gashapon (ガシャポン) or Gachapon (ガチャポン). It is a onomatopoeia refer to the crank sound (gacha/ gasha) by turning dial on vending machine and sound (pon)when capsule toy drop on the holder. Gashapon usually contains a toy and a brief of instruction and general warning about the potential hazard from those small toys to young kid and it often found at supermarket or grocery store since 1965 in Japan and spreads to Asia country rapidly and today, it is a worldwide business.
In some Asia country, especially HongKong, Taiwan, China, Singapore and Malaysia, the Gashapon vending machine business is expanding rapidly in recent years, to illustrate, amount of arcade or store specialise with Gashapon vending machine (nothing else but Gashapon vending machines available in massive range lining along walls!) is growing. Apparently, it is a business with potential commercial value.
Japanese anime character sculpture or related product are on the top of the most popular Gashapon list and this push Japanese Gashapon producer Bandai Co., Ltd. (株式会社バンダイ) and its rival, Takara Tomy Co., Ltd.(Yujin) (株式会社タカラトミー) to the top producer.
These days, Gashapon vending machine offer better quality and wider range of product for selection. It is not just about Gashapon with Japanese character, but also introduce Western cartoon characters comprise WinnieThePooh, Disney and others. Functional product, including, figure mini-torch, mirror, fashion accessories, key or phone chain and so on are widely introduce to the product list to boosts the market value and expands target audience, from preschooler to full time mid age professional could be fan of Gashapon.
From what I remember, a colourful display poster was attached in front of the Gashapon vending machine with the description of toy series that content in the capsule. YesAsia.com’s Japan Mini is one of the website which offers a literal online based Gashapon vending machine experience, simply turn the dial to purchase random Gashapon online! Even though the fun of Gashapon is about the surprise offered by process of turning the dial and explores what you obtain from the capsule toy, however, it is hard to control one’s mind by himself when he really desires a toy or even a complete set from a series. It results in bad habit. From at the first dial, second dial, there comes third and forth and again, risk of repeating individual toy is extremely high. Especially when Gashapon vending machine is coin operated, it ends up waste of money.
People see the problem and they form online based forum and group to solve this issue. They invest time and effort to complete the Gashapon collection and give the offer online with great value. Low cost and high pay back makes great profit. Just a simple search on ebay, massive related bid is listed and all sort of Gashapon you named in. Through internet, Gashapon is given higher market value especially extremely rare Gashapon is produced in small quantity and mixed among also since Gashapon becoming a worldwide entertainment; collector has a way to enlarge their collection internationally.
From my experience, I believe, Gashapon is a way to improve the relationship. Through swapping and sharing, it strengthens the relationship and gives more meaning to the toy. I still keep my Gashapon toy in my hometown even I barely remember the story behind; it proves those Gashapon moment and friendship of my childhood were existed.
Reference:
Ryoko , 2008, Yujin: Capsule Toy Magic!, PingMag, viewed 25 September 2009, http://pingmag.jp/2008/05/09/yujin/
YesAsia.com , 2009, Japan Mini , viewed 25 September 2009, http://www.yesasia.com/us/en/free-japan-minis.html
Michael C, 2006, Lure of gashapon, the star online, 2009, http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/6/12/lifeliving/14191310&sec=lifeliving
Note: This writing is reconfigured from Vending Machine, Krijstelle Liao
