Gachapon, or gashapon, are those beloved and omnipresent Japanese capsule machines you find everywhere in Japan! Rather than the low quality capsule toys you might remember from the front of American grocery stores, the contents you receive from an authentic gashapon machine aren’t cheap throwaways, but relatively high-quality, limited-edition goods! These awesome capsule goods are often related to pop culture, making them popular among collectors and casual fans alike, but you’ll also find miniature versions of everyday objects or “cuteness overload” style items where you might find your favorite animal sleeping peacefully (or acting bizarrely human).
Why is it called “Gachapon” / “Gashapon”?
In Japan, it’s common to have a pocket full of Yen coins rather than paper bills and this has spurred what is largely considered the best vending culture in the world! The name “gachapon” or “gachapon” is derived from the sounds made by the machine when you purchase a capsule: “gacha” or “gasha” referring to the sound of the coins being turned and “pon” the sound the capsule makes as it lands in the redemption area. And yes, it’s spelled two different ways but the reasoning is less interesting – intellectual property laws! Bandai owns the international trademarks for “gashapon” while Tomy popularized the more standard spelling of “gachapon” but, in general, these words refer to the same style of high-quality capsule toys.