I know you’ve seen them. Those little slot machines planted outside a GS 25 or grocery stores. Sometimes they’re next to vending machines. Other times they’re placed so randomly you wonder how anyone finds them. If you didn’t know already they’re called gachapon and the capsule toy vending machines originally come from Japan. The word itself is an onomatopoeia combining the word “gacha” which is the sound of a turning crank with the word “pon” the sound of the capsule dropping into the machine’s receptacle. Neat!
Don’t worry. You don’t have to wander from 7-11 to 7-11 looking for all the Gachapon machines you can find. Instead, just hit up your local Gacha Shop.In the last few months they have literally popped up everywhere on almost every corner. You can easily spot them by the bright blue store front and red and white Pokemon ball logo. Their popularity is undeniable. Step inside one and you’ll find row after row of capsule toy slot machines just waiting for your coins.
Once you exchange your KRW for coins you’re all set. Each Gachapon has a theme. Some of them revolve around anime, animation, and cartoons while others have to do with video games or comic book characters. The different toys you can find really run the gamut between super popular books and movies like Harry Potter to some weird obscure animal like creatures that I have no idea where they come from. Not only are they highly sought after in Japan but also all over the world as word spreads.
The toys are real collectibles. Some are so detailed and prized that collectors will spread hundreds just to get that last one of a set. This is especially true for those femme fatale characters that step right up to the edge of propriety. Of course since what you get is random people spend a fortune trying to get exactly what they want. Each vending machine can cost anywhere from 1,000 KRW to 5,000 KRW for one capsule. You can imagine how this adds up quickly. Thankfully the miniature toys are high quality with detailed painting and intricate accessories. Rare ones even sell for greater prices on the second hand market. Not everyone has the time nor patience to sit there and turn those cranks all day.
My friend Nicky and I spent hours at the Gacha Shop in Ipark. She was determined to get every one of the Harry Potter set and eventually she did! Of course she also had a ton of extras which I became the beneficiary of a few.
