(SPOT.ph) They say life is a box of chocolates. You'll never know what you're gonna get. It's like trying your luck with Gashapon—a token-operated capsule toy vending machine, and a popular trademark of Japanese toy manufacturer Bandai since 1977.
Capsule toys are everywhere in Japan, in a few spots all around the world, and even a few anime merch stores in the Philippines. And soon, you can head over to a Gashapon store at the Mitsukoshi Mall BGC in Taguig.
Tanhuanco Andaluz or T+A, a start-up architecture and design studio based in Manila, shared a glimpse via social media of their renders of Gashapon Manila. It appears the firm is in charge of the store's design, sharing that it is soon to open on the second floor of the Mitsukoshi Mall in Bonifacio Global City. According to a response in the comments section, the store is looking to open its doors in November.
Ready your tokens! You can soon crank the coin mechanism and get one, or really, lots of toys, from the rows and rows of back-to-back units, as seen in the artist's perspective.
Each Gashapon is full of capsules containing popular figures from Japanese manga, video games, or anime. There are miniature food and keychains as well. They're essentially random purchases, resulting in the exact thrill that has people coming back to these toy-vending machines.
People usually keep trying their luck until they get the figures they want or trade them. But either way, RIP to your wallet, really. No word yet on official pricing at this upcoming store, but the toys usually cost anywhere between ¥100 to ¥2000 (roughly P38 to P760.81), depending on the quality of the items.
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