Kaiyodo, they are synonymous with otaku culture

Shokuganare toys that come with junk sweets. For example, ChocoQ is a popular sweet for acquiring Shokugan. But Shokugan have become very hot collector's items, so now adults buy the sweets for the shokugans. Here is a huge Shokugan collection site, you can have a look at the various Shokugan by clicking on the yellow links in the nav panel to the left. They have Japanese animation and hero collections like Gundam, foreign movie and hero collections like Star Wars, history collections like the world heritage, a culture collection like American meals, and even a detailed food collection like this Ekiben (compare it to the real one?). You can get this Takashi Murakami collection with candy at a convenience store, but not at the Louis Vuitton shop. and since Shokugan is going to the so detail and Otaku culture, look at this Kurosawa collection.

The market size for Shokugan is said to be about $8,000,000 annually. Kaiyodo is one of the biggest and hottest producers in that market. Their obsession with creation/design brought them notoriety around the world. From their modest beginnings as a small modeling shop, Kaiyodo has now become synonymous with Otaku culture. In 2004's Venice biennale, the Japan pavilion introduced some Kaiyodo items as Otaku culture. On their web site, you can check out the new items. The Dinosaur Expo is now being held in the National science museum. Sue the T-Rex is visiting Tokyo from the U.S :-), so Kaiyodo made an official figure of her. Kenshiro stands tall at 40cm ; on the other hand this Dim Sum is so tiny. I do not collect Shokugan because I know it would turn into an addiction. I stopped collecting my bottle caps because I knew this kind of thing could go on forever.

Anyway today I read this article about an exhibition of their history at the Art Tower in Mito. (They do not have this in Tokyo!!) You can enjoy a virtual tour on the fifth link. try it!

Comments

[Mari]

Hi robert
"Got Kaiyodo" is really cool idea. I really it would be nice clique.

Hi abraxis
Yes they made a lot of Eva, you like Eva?

Hi Charles
6 years! I felt Pepsiman was older stuff.

Hi AzianBrewer
ha ha ha ha ha

[robert]

sugar and toys??!! I would be in heaven! maybe I shouldn't come to Japan. I have a feeling I will need to see a dentist when I get home...if I haven't spent all my dough on collectors items. Hmmm maybe I could stand on a street corner with a "Will work for Shokugan" sign..or maybe I'll make a t-shirt that says "Got Kaiyodo?"...hmmm I wonder if it's too late to start my Murakami collection? \(^.^)/

[abraxis]

Kaiyodo? I have an big Eva 00 that's made by them!

Got it before Bandai came out with the Eva chogokins...

[Charles]

ha.. I put up a web page about PepsiMan bottle caps, wow, that was 6 years ago.

[AzianBrewer]

Here in the States AzianBrewer bought kid cereal with large amount of sugar just for the "junk toy".