Figures: Characters and People in Miniature

Sculpted characters — the category most visitors picture first, from anime heroes to historical and original figures.

What defines the category

Figure series reproduce a character at pocket scale, usually pre-painted, sometimes in several parts that click together inside the capsule. Quality markers to judge on the display card: number of paint colours, whether faces are printed or painted, and the stated height — premium-band figure series use larger capsules and more parts.

Collecting notes

Figure series are the most likely to have a secret variation and the most actively traded second-hand, so opened singles are easy to find in resale districts if you want one specific character. Keep figures out of direct sun; PVC paint fades and softens with heat, and car dashboards in summer are the classic accident.

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.