Toy Sales In Japan Top ¥1 Trillion

Above, an Asakusa toy store in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Buying toys in Japan is one of those pastimes that many foreign visitors indulge in. 

I and many others in Godzilla/kaiju fandom collect Japanese toys of their favorite monsters in the U.S. in stores that specialize in them or at conventions such as the annual G-FEST conventions. The biggest draw at G-FEST, for example, is the dealers room where toys of every size and description can be found. Most dealers price them reasonably. 

Above, I got this 1968 Godzilla toy during my 2015 Japan trip in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Those same toys are available in Japan at considerably lower prices. One popular stop for foreign visitors is Mandarake in the Nakano section of Tokyo. I found some good deals there over the years.

Since Japan has reopened to foreign visitors, toy sales there have skyrocketed. It it likely due to pent-up demand from the pandemic closure of the country. According to an article in The Japan Times, toy sales in Japan topped ¥1 trillion for the first time. 

They wrote:

Japan's toy market topped ¥1 trillion ($7 billion) for the first time in the financial year that ended in March, driven in part by solid demand for goods of anime characters and franchises like Pokemon from foreign tourists, an industry body said Thursday.

Sales of card games, stuffed toys, model vehicles and other types of toys totaled ¥952.5 billion, up 6.7% from a year earlier, according to the Japan Toy Association.

Sales of "capsule toys," or miniature toys sold in plastic capsules from vending machines, amounted to ¥61 billion, up 35.6%.

To read more, go here. 

Shinjuku Station Is Getting A ¥72.8 Billion Makeover

Above, commuters cataching a Yamanote Line train at Shinjuku Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, I've been there several times to catch trains to Nakano (where Mandarake stores are located at Nakano Broadway) and Setagaya (where Toho Studios is located). The most recent time I've used it was in 2015.

Shinjuku Station is reputed to be the busiest in the world and not easy to navigate. I've never had a problem with it.

But, according to Time Out Tokyo, Shinjuku station is getting a makeover to make it more user-friendly.

They wrote:

Getting lost in Shinjuku Station is an emotional experience. With 12 different train lines and 36 platforms, it’s officially the world’s busiest train station, with an estimated 3.59 million people passing through it every day. As if the sheer number of commuters didn’t make things disorienting enough, Shinjuku Station has over 200 exits that even locals have a difficult time navigating. 

There might be an end to the chaos – at least, in the distant future – with renovations underway to improve the station’s layout and make it more hospitable for those of us passing through. New features will include a footpath allowing for people to cut through the station from the east side to the west side without having to go through any ticket barriers.

Above, the walk from Shinjuku Station to see Godzilla peering over buildings is an easy one. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Mandarake at Tokyo's Nakano Broadway

Above, the Nakano Station entrance to Broadway Nakano. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During the pre-COVID19 days, a vacation trip to Japan was possible for people who could afford and have enough dough to indulge in their collectibles hobby.

I have traveled to Japan eight times over the years since 2001 and one of my frequent stops while in Tokyo was the Nakano Broadway shopping mall, which contains several Mandarake stores that specializes in differing genres of otaku culture collectibles. 

Mandarake is a good source for new and used Godzilla and other kaiju toys.

Live Japan had posted an article on Mandarake in March 2019, but has updated it this month. Therefore, it is worth a look.

They begin it with:

Located in Nakano, just a 5-minute train ride from Shinjuku, Nakano Broadway is well known as a mini Akihabara and has been a haven to otakus and their culture for many years. This huge complex that spans over several floors is home to a multitude of shops all catering to all game, anime, and manga lovers!

Within Nakano Broadway there is one chain that clearly sticks out among the rest: Mandarake. This shop's everywhere in this shopping center and is impossible to miss! And the best part? You don’t even need to be really familiar with this otaku culture to be able to appreciate it and join in on the fun!

To read the full article, go here. 

Savvy Japan: A Guide To Nakano

Above, the entrance to Nakano Broadway. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the "must-do" places for fans of kaiju and other Japanese pop culture genres is a visit to the Nakano Broadway in the Nakano district of Tokyo.

The first time I visited the Nakano Broadway was during my first trip to Japan in November 2001. I visited it a couple of times on that trip (once while sick with a 24-hour flu) and several times thereafter and have purchased some kaiju toys and a porcelain "Nipper" of RCA Victor fame. Mandarake has several shops in Nakano Broadway.

For those who have been to Nakano before or for those who have never been to Japan, Savvy Tokyo has a guide on what to see and do while in the district.

They begin with:

Although a seemingly local and residential area, anyone heading West on the Chuo line will find much to explore in Nakano. Beloved by fans of video games, anime, and manga for offering a quieter version of Akihabara within its multi-floor department store Nakano Broadway, the neighborhood also suits anyone who loves to dig into the local side streets and seek out some gems. Nakano hides over 50 ramen restaurants (some of which are known to be the best in the city) which can mostly be found nestled around the energetic station exits and along the restaurant and bar strip of Rengazaka Street. Although Nakano is one of the most highly populated districts of Tokyo and surrounded by lively neighborhoods such as Koenji and Shinjuku, it’s easily accessible, retains a local, retro vibe and exudes charm.

To read more, go here. 

100 Best Shops In Tokyo

Above, Kama-Asa Shoten is my favorite source or Japanese cutlery and is on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the favorite pasttimes for visitors to Japan is to go shopping.

Tokyo has shops specializing in all kinds of goods from toys, cutlery, clothing, books and "you name it" items.

For first time visitors and experienced Japan travelers, Time Out Tokyo has a guide to "100 Best Shops In Tokyo". I've been to many of the places listed, such as Mandarake and Nakano Broadway.

They begin it with:

You don't know the meaning of retail therapy until you've shopped in Tokyo. And to prepare you for the ultimate shopper's high, we've rustled up, oh, just 100 of the best shops in Tokyo, from brand-spanking new fashion shops to a range of both well-known and underground spots to satisfy vintage hounds, decor dreamers, paper sniffers and vinyl fiends. And even if you're just in the market for holiday souvenirs, we've got you covered, too.

To read more, go here. 

The Rare Tokyo Gem Called Nakano Broadway

Above, the entrance to Nakano Broadway from Nakano Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whether or not you've ever been to Japan, most undoubtedly you have heard of Nakano Broadway.

It is a mecca for otaku, whether it is manga, books, anime and toys (for kaiju fans, there's Godzilla toys to be found there).

JAPAN Forward has an article on what people will find at the Nakano Broadway.

They wrote (in part):

Nakano Broadway is also the secret otaku paradise, and it’s this specification that makes the area so compelling. Above the grocery market and ice cream parlor obscured in the basement are an array of stores selling vintage toys, manga, anime merchandise, and art books. Mandarake, a company whose flagship store began in Nakano Broadway which focuses on the culture of anime and manga, expands throughout nearly every floor in the shopping complex. The walls of these stores tower high with specialty goods and books. Even their entrances are like something out of a steam-punk, sci-fi fantasy, with corroded pipes and larger-than-life robots grafted into the walls.

 To read more, go here.

Anime and Manga Souvenir Shops

Above, the entrance to Nakano Broadway, where
Mandarake has a store of kaiju toys. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those going to Japan to fill gaps in their collections, but need to know where to go get those items, Goin' Japanesque has a list of places and stores where fans can find them.

They begin with:

Today we have collected a few souvenir spots that will make your hearts race with excitement, regardless of whether or not you are an “otaku”! Each location carries numerous limited edition items that can only be purchased there, which makes it 100% worth the trip!  

*Otaku: A Japanese term used for people who are extreme fans of the manga/anime fandom, as well as idol groups, etc.

To read more, go here. 

Nakano Broadway Turns 50 This Year

Above, the entrance to Nakano Broadway. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A special place in Tokyo marks 50 years this year.

It is the mecca for otaku shopping: Nakano Broadway.

The Japan Times reported:

Nakano Broadway turns 50 this year. The shopping complex in Tokyo’s busy Nakano district remains popular with enthusiasts of pop culture, boasting dozens of manga, anime and collectors’ shops. 

The scruffy but vibrant building, housing some 300 shops and restaurants across its five floors, sits at the end of the Nakano Sun Mall shopping street, which is adjacent the north exit of JR Nakano Station. 

Since the opening of Mandarake Inc. stores at the center in 1980, Nakano Broadway has evolved into a center for enthusiasts of pop subculture, offering everything from cosplay items and old movie posters to figurines, plastic models, toys and used books. There is, of course, a good dosing also of manga publications and anime goods.

Along with the various Mandarake stores, Nakano Broadway has other, but smaller, stores who cater to your "inner fanboy" (or "inner fangirl") such as Robot Robot.

It is a must-visit place in Tokyo.

To read more, go here.

For an "ultra-short" history of Nakano Broadway, go here.

Tsunagu Japan: "50 Things To Do In Tokyo"

Above, yakatabune cruisers (right) moored on the Sumida River in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo is one of the most populous cities in the world. It also has many things for visitors to see and do.

Tsunagu Japan has posted a list of "50 Things To Do In Tokyo." I have probably seen or done about half of them. For you Godzilla fans, they also include shopping at Nakano Broadway at the Mandarake stores (number 41).

They begin with:

Tokyo is where Japan's melting pot sits. While Tokyo has an image of being a huge city, one of its biggest charms is actually that it has plenty of hidden areas. While it's fun going to all the famous sightseeing areas, you can also experience the way Tokyo-ites truly live.

 To see the list (3 pages of them), go here.

Nakano Broadway

Above, the entrance to the Nakano Broadway. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the past 15 or so years (maybe even longer) the Nakano Broadway Mall has been legendary for being the place to go to buy new and vintage kaiju toys of all makes and sizes.

I first visited the Broadway Nakano in 2001 and was impressed by the number of shops catering to the Japanese pop-culture collector.

Mandarake has several stores in the mall with each one targeting to differing interests. Another great store for finding kaiju items is Robot Robot.

Tokyoing.net has a picture article on the Broadway Nakano. They have several photos of different shops (oddly, no shop names are provided except for Print Mouse). Most of the photos appear to be of Mandarake shops.

They begin with:

Are you interested in manga and anime? And, are you going to Japan for the first time?
If you are so, I recommend you to visit NAKANO BROADWAY. 

Even though Akihabara is famous and attractive town for fans of anime, this town is too big for first visit. 

On the other hand, NAKANO BROADWAY is not crowded with people, and easy to look for products of anime, manga.

I don't know when the writer of the pictorial article went there, but the Broadway Nakano has always been crowded whenever I've been there. But since the mall has four floors, the upper floors have fewer people to have to contend with.

To view the photos, go here. 

ANN: Nerd Tour Japan 2014 Day 3

Above, Shibuya Crossing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Anime News Network's Zac Bertschy and Hope Chapman have penned day three of their trip to Japan and this time the focus is on Shibuya, Tokyo.

There's several places in Shibuya they visited, including some familiar names such as Mandarake, Animate, Tokyu Hands and Loft. There's plenty of photographs of merchandise that these stores have to sell. The duckbill dog muzzle is hilarious. They also include the Hachiko statue.

Part four will include Ghibli Museum and Nakano Broadway (another familiar place to kaiju collectors)!

To see the full article and photographs, go here.

The Other Otaku Heaven: Nakano Broadway

Above, the entrance to Nakano Broadway.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever since I first stepped foot inside the Nakano Broadway mall in 2001, it has been a "must" stop each time I've been to Japan ever since. Sometimes I've found some items I was interested in, sometimes not.

Nakano Broadway is a haven for those who are collectors of kaiju toys, anime, manga and other items of Japanese pop culture. Mandarake dominates the floors where collectibles are found. There are other stores of interest that are also worth checking out. Robot Robot is another favorite.

Japantravelinfo.com's "Only In Japan" has an article on the Nakano Broadway that collectors should read.

It begins with:

Any visitor to Tokyo interested in anime and manga will surely have Akihabara high on their to-do list. However, on the other side of Tokyo, Nakano Broadway is just as much a must-see for fans of Japan pop culture. A short walk north of Nakano Station, Nakano Broadway is a four story shopping mall whose second and third floors are entirely dedicated to anime, manga and collectibles. It can be easy to lose your bearings once inside, but the shops listed below are all notable for the range and quality of their merchandise.

Above, a RCA-Victor "Nipper" figure I picked up at Mandarake
at the Nakano Broadway mall.  Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

 To read the article, go here.

101 Things To Do In Shibuya

Above, the Shibuya 109 from Shibuya Crossing.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Shibuya is one of those places in Tokyo that should be a "must see" for fans of kaiju movies.

It was prominently featured in two fairly recent (if you want to call 1999 and 2000 "recent"). It was also featured in Mothra (1961), but the Shibuya of that time is long gone.

The two "recent" kaiju movies Shibuya played a major role was in 1999's Gamera 3 and in Godzilla x Megaguirus. The Shibuya of those two movies is still with us today and is spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Time Out Tokyo has a nifty online guide on "101 Things To Do In Shibuya." One of which is paying a visit to the Shibuya Mandarake store (number 11 on the list) where goods for kaiju, manga, anime and other goods (including toys) that would interest the otaku in you.

Before going into their list, Time Out Tokyo says:

Shibuya: it's the 'hood with everything. Cutting-edge fashion boutiques, world-class nightclubs, hip bars, dining options ranging from fancy washoku eateries to dirt-cheap diners – if you want it, you can probably find it here. But with so much to choose from, where on earth should you start? Read on for Time Out's 101 essential Shibuya tips: the best places to shop, eat, drink and party in Tokyo's most iconic neighbourhood. They're all taken from the fourth edition of our 101 things to do in Shibuya, a pocket-sized guide that comes complete with a detailed map to help you find everything...

 To see the things to do in Shibuya, go here.

Kaiju Toy-Buying In Tokyo

Above, the entrance to the Broadway Mall in the Nakano section of Tokyo.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the things that attracts fans of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movies to Japan is to fill in gaps in their collections of character toys and movie memorabilia.

There are two sections of Tokyo that are my favorite sources for collectibles.

The Nakano section of Tokyo is one major source for monster goods.  Near Nakano's JR Chuo Line station (north exit) is the Broadway Mall.  In the mall (in the upper floors) are several stores of Mandarake.  Each store specializes in genre collectibles.  One store would specialize in manga.  Another would specialize in toy collectibles.  I last went there in December 2010 and purchased a porcelain figure of "Nipper," the RCA Victor dog ("His Master's Voice").

Over the years, I've made many purchases of Godzilla and Gamera-related toys at Mandarake.  (See page 26 in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.)

Also, the Broadway Mall (third floor) has another store that specializes in kaiju toys and collectibles, Robot Robot.  Both Robot Robot and Mandarake sell used as well as new toys.

More recently, I found a toy store right on Nakamise Street in Asakusa that sells kaiju collectibles.  And, on a side street off of Nakamise Street, is another toy store where I've purchased kaiju toys.  It is right next door to a McDonalds restaurant (photo below), which makes finding it easy.

The nice thing about purchasing kaiju toys in Japan is that the prices are reasonable, whereas, U.S. importers greatly jack-up the prices.  There are other places in Tokyo where fans can buy collectibles.  Akihabara is a mecca for otaku.

For Ultraman collectibles, the Rox department store in Asakusa is the place to go.  A statue of Ultraman stands at the store's entrance (photo below).

And, in the Setagaya district of Tokyo, Ultraman goods can be found at the Ultraman Shopping District (Ultraman characters adorn storefronts and lamposts). See page 22 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

For more information on the Broadway Mall, go here.

"50 Reasons Why Tokyo Is The Greatest City In The World"

Above, the Tsukiji Fish Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along with the Wako Department Store in Ginza, the National Diet Building, the Yurakucho Mullion complex and other kaiju-related sites featured in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, Tokyo has other things for travelers to see and do.

CNN Go.com has a list of "50 Reasons Why Tokyo Is The Greatest City In The World."

Included on the list are the railways, Tokyo Sky Tree, Shibuya Crossing (featured in Godzilla and Gamera movies), Imperial Palace, Yodobashi Akiba (and other Akihabara electronics stores), Tsukiji Fish Market, Mandarake Complex, manga-kissa (or "comics café") and many others.

The Godzilla statue in Hibiya made the list:

34. Behold the least impressive statue of a giant monster

Standing in the shadow of the film company that unleashed Godzilla on the world, this bronze effigy of the giant creature in Hibiya park towers a whopping ... half-meter high. We suppose a life-sized 70-meter version would have been prohibitive, but half a meter? At least the pedestal raises it above eye level.

At least there's the man-sized Godzilla statue at Toho Studios to savor if the one in Hibiya doesn't impress.

To view the list, go here.

"His Master's Voice"

Above, Nipper in my bookcase.

During December's trip to Japan, I made a stop in the Nakano section of Tokyo to the Broadway Mall to talk to the book buyer at Mandarake about The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.


While there, I spotted a figurine of Nipper, the symbol of RCA Victor. You're probably familiar with Nipper and the slogan, "His Master's Voice." (See the History of Nipper.) I was sorely tempted to buy it on the spot, but decided to wait.

After my side trip to Niigata, I returned to Tokyo and headed back over to Nakano. I didn't see anything kaiju that caught my fancy, but I decided to pick up Nipper. It was only about $20.00.

Above, the entrance to the Broadway Mall in Nakano, Tokyo.

Nipper now proudly sits in a bookcase next to my Lucky Cat (that I bought on a previous trip to Japan) in my living room. The only thing I need is a gramophone to go along with Nipper.