Bandai Flat Gashapon Machines, Tokyo

Row of Bandai gashapon machines dispensing anime collectibles for 500 yen in Japan.
Row of Bandai gashapon machines dispensing anime collectibles for 500 yen in Japan.

Bandai's Flat Gashapon machines dispense flat, card-style capsule toys for 500 yen a turn, a format the company introduced as a space-saving alternative to traditional round capsules. Bandai launched the original Gashapon system in 1977, and the machines remain a fixture of arcades, train stations, and hobby shops across Japan. Each unit typically holds a themed set tied to a specific anime or media franchise, with contents rotated every few weeks to keep pace with new releases. The machines run on a hand-crank mechanism rather than batteries, requiring only coins and a quarter turn of the handle to release a capsule.

Taken March 2023

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Tokyo
Transit infrastructure and urban life across central and western Tokyo districts
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