How Capsule Machines Work: Capsules, Leaflets and 'Secret' Items
The machine, the capsule, the display card and the paper leaflet — the four parts every player should be able to read.
| Display card | The card on the machine showing the series name, the full line-up, the price and the target age — read this before paying |
|---|---|
| Capsule | Sealed two-part plastic capsule; colour may or may not hint at the contents — do not rely on it |
| Leaflet (mini book) | Small paper insert inside the capsule listing the whole series, including any secret variation |
| Secret item | An unlisted or rare variation included in some series; its existence is shown on the leaflet or card, its odds are not published |
Reading a machine in ten seconds
Check four things before you pay: the series name and line-up on the display card; the price per play; the accepted payment (coins, or cashless where fitted — this varies by store and machine); and the target-age mark. The line-up pictures are the contract: the capsule you receive will be one of the items pictured (plus a secret variation in series that have one). If the machine is empty or a capsule is visibly jammed, ask staff rather than shaking the machine — stores treat that as a rule of the floor, not a suggestion.
What is inside the capsule
Alongside the toy you will usually find the leaflet ('mini book'): a folded paper strip picturing every item in the series, the maker, and safety and material information. Collectors keep leaflets because they are the fastest way to identify a series later. Some larger items come in several capsules? No — each capsule holds one complete item as pictured; multi-part products are sold as separate series entries. Larger premium items may use bigger capsules and machines with wider slots, which is why premium machines look different on the floor.
About 'secret' items — stated plainly
Some series include a secret variation that is not pictured on the display card (it is usually acknowledged on the leaflet). Makers do not publish odds, and this guide does not publish estimates or strategies for obtaining one, and does not encourage repeated play to chase one. Treat any secret item as a bonus if it appears. Duplicates are a normal outcome of random sale; see the rules and manners guide for what can and cannot be done with them.
Sources: Bandai / Bandai Namco Gashapon official information and 50th-anniversary growth-strategy briefing (8 October 2026, reported by Mynavi News, Real Sound and Asahi Shimbun); Japan Capsule Toy Association (JCTA) market survey (figures cited via industry reporting — survey scope differs from Bandai's, so market size is given as a range); Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) visitor statistics 2025; official shop pages (Bandai official shops, Gashapon Department Store, #C-pla and other chains); Wikipedia 'Gashapon' (CC BY-SA 4.0, credited only, not a destination). Checked 5 November 2026.