Stores selling Transformers in Japan

[5FDP]

Very nice purchases heroic_decepticon!

[gamblor916]

Nice pickup HD, loved the clandestine video too!

[GoktimusPrime]

I was in Akihabara when Beast Wars was still out... and at that time I never saw these stores (and I was actively hunting Transformers). Either they weren't there or perhaps they were but didn't stock Transformers (and thus didn't garner my attention)... or maybe I was just unlucky and didn't come by these stores despite my efforts.

Here's me on one of my numerous TF hunting expeditions in Tokyo:

On this particular day I went to Ikebukuro where I'd just purchased Rhinox vs. Shadow Panther (the versus set is inside that blue plastic bag I'm carrying). Ah, memories.

[heroic_decepticon]

ladies and gentlemen, I am very happy to present my Tokyo G1 specific report in the following chapters, each packed to the rafters with photos (yes, I slipped one pass them more than once!)

Enjoy!

~ HD

PS: Goktimus Prime, would like to hear what you think the title of the "TV artbooks" in Chapters 4 and 5 should be translated as.

***

Chapter 1: In which the purpose is unveiled
Chapter 2: In which we visit the Mandarake Complex
Chapter 3: In which we visit Mandarake (Shibuya)
Chapter 4: Mandarake Complex Akihabara Redux
Chapter 5: In which we visit Mandarake Nakano
Chapter 6: The Acquisitions
Chapter 7: The Japan January 2010 "Best Of" Tally

[bboy-toransufoma]

VERY very nice...people'd have a hard time topping that...ok, I admit it...I'm jealous!

[Fungal Infection]

Some of the prices shown are actually quite reasonable compared to ebay prices. Might have to consider changing my holiday later this year to include a stopover in Tokyo..... By the way HD, which place would you say is better stocked and priced, TF-wise, out of Singapore and Japan?

[GoktimusPrime]

You found Transformers in Shibuya?!?!? AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGHHH!!! I searched everywhere for Transformers (just finding Beast Wars figures at the time would've made me happy) but I found _zip_. At the end of that day I really felt deflated and frustrated like this:

...although my friend who accompanied me was delighted as she bought bag loads of clothes and shoes, which I helped carry (might as well since I had NO shopping of my own to carry!) ... and this was just after completing a major exam at Tokyo Uni; my friend and I decided to do some retail therapy. I was thoroughly untherapised dammmmnnnnit!

(T_T) Either these stores weren't stocking Transformers in the 90s or I was just unlucky and didn't notice them despite the fact that Transformers was the _only_ thing I was looking for. <insert.swear.words>

[Zippo]

Very jealous of the finds you had.
Makes my trip to Singapore and what I saw there look pathetic..

Any larger pictures of the items in the stores - trying to look at the price tags.

[heroic_decepticon]

Very nice purchases heroic_decepticon!

Nice pickup HD, loved the clandestine video too!

VERY very nice...

Thanks guys!

Some of the prices shown are actually quite reasonable compared to ebay prices. Might have to consider changing my holiday later this year to include a stopover in Tokyo..... By the way HD, which place would you say is better stocked and priced, TF-wise, out of Singapore and Japan?

Yup. Like I mentioned, the prices are actually pretty reasonable. The C9 boxed Overlord with unused accessories and paperworks works out to be around AU$620. That's way more reasonable than some of the junk eBay sellers are peddling, not to mention their exorbitant asking prices.

I'd say that Robo-Robo in Singapore could match each Mandarake in terms of G1 TFs (but not the collective number of TFs available in all the Mandarakes combined). Today, other than Robo-Robo, I'd be hard pressed to find another shop in Singapore with such a concentration of G1 TFs.

So because it is relatively easier to access and with such a concentration of figures, I'd say, at this moment, that Japan is better stocked.

I think that you can write off Hong Kong. Jgon recently went to most of my recommended shops in HK and came up zlich on G1 TFs.

You found Transformers in Shibuya?!?!? AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGHHH!!! I searched everywhere for Transformers (just finding Beast Wars figures at the time would've made me happy) but I found _zip_. At the end of that day I really felt deflated and frustrated like this:

(T_T) Either these stores weren't stocking Transformers in the 90s or I was just unlucky and didn't notice them despite the fact that Transformers was the _only_ thing I was looking for. <insert.swear.words>

hey dude, don't be so pissed off. To be fair, maybe there really weren't any shops stocking TFs in the early 90s. After all, G1 just ended and TFs are not considered worth much back then, and therefore not worth their effort to resell on the second-hand market (in fact, up till around 2000, TFs in Japan were going for relatively cheaper prices compared to the rest of the world).

It's been 20 years since your 1990 trip. I don't think its unreasonable to suggest to your wife that its time for a re-visit! And this time, you will be armed with the knowledge of where to go.

Any larger pictures of the items in the stores - trying to look at the price tags.

The larger pictures are too ungainly for web-viewing purposes. Let me know which photo you are interested in and I can email you a larger pic.

[GoktimusPrime]

erm, I was in Japan in '97 (hence why I lot of my pre-Transmetal BW Transformers are Japanese). But yeah, I don't think G1 TFs were very popular there nor were many stores stocking them. I would like to believe that as it makes me feel better.