Bandai (GASHAPON): The Largest Maker
Bandai — in the business since 1977, about 57% domestic share by its own survey, and operator of the official-shop network.
| Entered capsule toys | 1977 (50th anniversary in January 2027) |
|---|---|
| Domestic share | About 57% (Bandai survey, FY2025 market of over JPY 170 billion) |
| Release pace | Over 120 new series per month (company announcement, October 2026) |
| Official shops | 303 in Japan; 184 across 18 countries and regions; target 500 + 500 (October 2026 announcement) |
| Price band | JPY 200-1,500 for mainstream series |
What Bandai makes
Bandai's GASHAPON lines span licensed character figures (anime, games, tokusatsu), original miniature series, animals, food miniatures and practical items. The company's scale shows in distribution: dedicated official shops, a flagship department-store format with thousands of machines, and corners inside toy stores, game centres and stations nationwide.
Official shops and how to use them
Gashapon Bandai Official Shops stock current Bandai series and show stock on official channels; the Gashapon Department Store format concentrates thousands of faces in one floor (see the Ikebukuro flagship page). Overseas, the US official site runs a store locator (54 official-shop results at the time of the market research for this guide) and the brand's WORLD STORE list covers North America and Europe (UK, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France). A second Bandai Namco Cross Store including an official GASHAPON shop opened at Mall of America in Minnesota in October 2026. For hours and stock, always confirm on the official shop page — this guide does not state stock.
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.