Bandai installs over 1000 new Gashapon machines in Nagoya

Mickey Mouse dressed as the sorcerers apprentice

Bandai is set to open two new official Gashapon specialty stores in Nagoya, with a combined total of over 1000 capsule toy machines.

Both new stores will be located within the large-scale shopping center “mozo Wonder City” in Nagoya City.

A new Gashapon Bandai Official Shop and a new Gashapon Department Store are both set to open on the same day in late April 2025.

The Gashapon Bandai Official Shop will house an impressive array of over 240 different Gashapon capsule toy vending machines, making it one of the largest of the Gashapon Bandai Official stores.

Bandai have released the design for the new Nagoya Gashapon Bandai Official Shop

It will, however, be dwarfed by the Gashapon Department Store that will be opened in an adjacent unit within “mozo Wonder City”.

Bandai have promised that the Gashapon Department Store will contain an overwhelming selection of products as it will be home to 890 gashapon vending machines.

The Gashapon Department Store due to open in Nagoya will host a huge number of vending machines

Gashapon, Bandai’s famous capsule toy brand, represents a growing sector within the Japanese toy industry.

These small, collectible toys, dispensed from vending machines, are celebrated for their diverse product lineups, and frequent collaborations with popular anime, manga, and video game franchises.

The appeal of Gashapon extends across generations, with enthusiasts drawn to the element of surprise, the collectibility of the figures, and the often high quality and detail packed into these miniature items.

The ubiquitous presence of capsule machines dispensing Gashapon toys is a familiar sight throughout Japan, from train stations and arcades to shopping centers and tourist destinations.

Capsule machines selling gashapon toys can be found throughout Japan

The capsule toy market in Japan has witnessed substantial growth in recent years, reflecting a broader trend of consumers seeking tangible and collectible merchandise related to their favorite entertainment properties.

This growth has led to an increase in the establishment of large-format specialty stores dedicated to Gashapon, strategically located within prominent shopping malls and entertainment complexes to cater to this burgeoning demand.

A store was recently opened in the Tokyo Character Street area underneath Tokyo Station, which features multilingual signage to appeal to tourists passing through the station.

In the same month, Hikone City in Shiga Prefecture also saw the opening of a new Bandai Gashapon store containing over 300 capsule toy machines, making it twice as large as the one in Tokyo.

This latest venture in Nagoya is a collaborative effort between Bandai’s Gashapon division and their Bandai Namco Amusement branch, leveraging the latter’s extensive operational expertise in managing expansive entertainment venues and capsule toy retail spaces.

The primary aim of this new store is to directly connect enthusiasts with the complete range of Bandai’s Gashapon offerings, providing a distinctive and immersive “Gashapon experience” that is exclusive to official Bandai retail locations.

The stores will serve as a showcase for the full range of Bandai’s latest capsule toy releases, ensuring that collectors and casual enthusiasts alike have access to the newest and most sought-after items.

The opening of two large-scale official stores in a major regional hub like Nagoya signifies Bandai Namco’s continued investment in the Gashapon market and their dedication to providing a comprehensive and engaging retail environment for fans.

The grand opening of the two new Nagoya stores is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 24th, 2025.

Source: PR Times