Category: Takara

Bic Camera Ikebukuro Tokyo

The first stop on our robot hunt started at Bic Camera a consumer electronics retailer chain in Japan. We went to the Tokyo Ikebukuro location. They have a solid toy section. It’s like Best Buy if they had a toy department and the store was 7 stories high(If you look at the picture you can see what is on each floor if you can read Japanese. It seems like each building/floor has a directory before you even go in). It has a nice selection of the newer robots like Shinkalion, Sentai Doubutsu Zyuohger Cube robots(look like they are made of Legos), a few Soul of Chogokin, Transformers, Gundam figures and Gunpla, Kaiju and Sentai figures. Half of the stuff I have never seen before. They also had new versions of robots from older anime like Votoms, Macross, Kotetsu Jeeg, Getta Robo, and Z Mazinger which is more my style. They also had a line from the Tomica Hyper Rescue which is a part of the Tomica Town line. The robots transform into cars and combine into larger robots. So Super Cool stuff you can only find in Japan.

They also have a variety of other toys you would see in Japan(kids toys, video games, gashapon, Legos, girls toys, etc). Now how did we end up there? Dave wandered in on a previous trip since it was close to the hotel.

Here are the pictures of what we found out there.

Mecha from the Tomy Plarail Shinkalion line E3 Tsubasa 05 and Tsubasa 06 Takara Tomy 2016

Mecha from Shinkalion the 700 Nozomi 07 and Hikari Railstar 08 by Takara Tomy in 2016 at Bic Camera

Here are the mecha from the Tomy Plarail line – Shinkalion the 700 and E3 series. They are bullet trains that transform into robots and are slotted for a Japan only release(My cousin Dave found this particularly appealing. I think he picked up all 4 of these). Looks like they started coming out in 2015.  Tsubasa 05 & 06, Nozomi 07, and Hikari Railstar 08 by Takara Tomy in 2016. You can see a few videos on Shinkalion.com or more info in English on Animenewsnetwork here. If you want any of these, please pick them up from my Ebay links on the site! They help me keep my site running.

Shinkalion E3 Tsubasa 05 & 06, 700 Nozomi 07, Hikari Railstar 08, Takara Tomy Plarail line

Bic Camera Display of Votoms, Gundam, Jeeg, Mazinger, Destroid Monster, Valkyrie robots

We also found these Tomica Hyper Series Next Stage robots White Hope & Sonic Interceptor Walker Vehicle. If I was going to start collecting a new line it would be this one(I like these a lot more than the Shinkalion robots, I am not really a fan of train robots). I am afraid these are also Japan only releases but I am sure you can pick them up on my Ebay links. Takara Tomy has the complete line here.

Tomica Hyper Series Next Stage by Takara – Tomy White Hope & Sonic Interceptor Walker Vehicle figures 2016

Tomica Hyper Series Next Stage by Takara Tomy White Hope & Sonic Interceptor Walker Vehicle figures 2016

Tomica Hyper Series Next Stage Special Riot Police Takara Tomy 2016

Bic Camera Gunpla

Here’s another one I never had as a kid, Wreckgar – leader of the Junkbots of Junkion. He was first seen in Transformers The Movie and turns into a motorcycle. Seems like it was much more important for it to look like a motorcycle when it transformed than to look like the robot in the movie. The toy came out in 1986. By this time I wasn’t collecting Transformers. I did not really care for this character in the movie. But I picked it up a couple of years ago so I could complete the set of Generation 1 Transformers I actually wanted.

Wreckgar came out in 2010 Reveal the Shield which is far superior to the G1 release. And Target has a Exclusive version out right now Transformers Generations Platinum Edition Planet of Junk Clash that includes Hot Rod, Wreck-Gar, and Junkion Scrapheap figures which is pretty nice if you have $75 to shell out.

WreckGar 1986 Transformers Generation 1 Autobot Junkion

WreckGar from The Transformers: The Movie Leader of the robots from Junkion

Here is the Giant Gorg DX. The DX robot is actually pretty rare. I hardly ever see this one listed for sale. I bid a few times on this one in a few auctions and it was long time before I ever saw it listed again.

Since it was not the most popular anime, I am thinking this piece came out in limited distribution. I actually watched a few episodes and it was pretty solid. I found review of it online here so I may get around to watching the whole series later. It’s about a boy who makes friends with a big blue robot in the South Pacific on mysterious Austral Island. A large international corporation GAIL pursues them as they search for treasure on the island.

Big Blue is pretty cool. It does not transform, but I really like the idea of a big blue robot aside from Tetsjujin 28. The DX version is so much better than the ST version I have. This ST robot is really disappointing based on the ST versions from Popy which came out at the same time which seem superior to DX versions in many cases. The proportions, detail and, quality really show on this piece. It really makes me wonder if the same company made both of them. Articulation kinda sucks on Gorg, but I really don’t expect much on robots from the 80’s. I just want a good looking robot with die cast metal. Based on what I see. The Giant Gorg DX has it all.

Giant Gorg DX 1984 Takara from anime Giant Gorg(巨神ゴーグ Kyoshin Gorg?) 1984 1/48 scale

Giant Gorg DX 1984 Takara 1/48 scale from anime Kyoshin Gorg(巨神ゴーグ) 1984

Robot Super Trucks – Trucks to Robot – Transformers Insecticon Kickback Decepticon bootleg robot

I found Robot Super Trucks in Fatima Portugal.  Thought it was interesting enough to post. It’s a Kickback Generation 1 Transformer bootleg Insecticon with a different color scheme instead of the typical purple and black. Glad to know the old molds are still being put to use.   Sorry the images are sideways.  I can’t figure out how to rotate them on my phone.

Anyway this is the Robot Super Trucks. I figure this maybe an Autobot reference. I can see a few of these on eBay occasionally, but it is hit or miss. Maybe Takara sold the molds for some extra cash. I kinda wished I had picked this one up.

These robots do not look half bad for knockoffs. I am just not a fan of the colors or I would own this now. I am kind of kicking myself for not picking this one up.

Robot Super Trucks – Trucks to Robot – Kickback Transformers Insecticon Decepticon bootleg robot

Twincast G1 Encore 22 Takara Tomy 2012 with Nightstalker and Stripes

Here’s a Japan-only issue of Blaster redone in blue and yellow -named as “Twincast.”  I bought this because I didn’t have any of the Autobot tapes.  I thought he was worth it for 80 dollars since he came with two of the Autobot tapes. I’ve also included a picture of Blaster for comparison.

I have finally taken him out of the box, along with the two tapes that came with him (“Nightstalker” and “Stripes.”)  I never had any of the tapes as a kid and I’ve casually looked for them online but they are so expensive for what they are – I usually see them for about 30 dollars each!  So, I decided to buy this encore, Japan-only re-issue to get Twincast and two tapes.  I believe there are 10 Decepticon and Autobot tapes. 

Blaster – G1 1985

Here’s a loose version of the Decepticon camera – “Reflector.” This is another one I never had as a kid but I was fortunate to pick him up loose for under 30 dollars. The color scheme in the toy looks different from the cartoon as the cartoon shows him as purple/green.

Reflector Transformers Generation 1 Hasbro 1985 Decepticon

Reflector Transformers Generation 1 Hasbro 1985 Decepticon in camera form G1

Dinobot Slag 1985 Transformers Generation 1 Autobot

Here’s another loose Transformer that I just purchased – this one’s “Slag” – one of the 5 Dinobots. As a kid, I had Sludge, Grimlock, and Snarl.  I now have the Dinobot Slag and I’m trying to see if I can complete the set and get Swoop, but he seems to be the hardest to get and the most expensive because you rarely find him in good condition.  I’ve noticed he usually has a broken beak or wings.  When I do find him in good condition, he’s at least $70-80 loose and 100+ in box.

Slag in Generation 1 Transformers cartoon

Generation 1 Dinobots by Hasbro Slag, Sludge, Grimlock, Snarl from 1984 Autobot G1

Generation 1 Dinobots by Hasbro Slag, Sludge, Grimlock, Snarl from 1984 Autobot G1