Gachapon

Gachapon is a Japanese term for capsule toy vending machines and the toys they dispense. The word combines gacha-gacha, the sound of the crank, with pon, the sound of the capsule dropping, and can refer to both the machines and the resulting items. In English, gachapon and gashapon are both used, with regional preference varying.

Typically, a customer inserts coins, turns a crank, and retrieves a sealed plastic capsule containing a small toy or figure. Capsules are usually about 2 centimeters in diameter. The toys cover mini-figures, keychains, charms, and other trinkets, often themed around anime, manga, video games, or licensed characters. The items are commonly released as part of a series and distributed in limited runs, creating varying degrees of rarity.

Originating in Japan in the 1960s, the concept was popularized by manufacturers such as Bandai, which produced the first widely available capsule toy machines. Today many companies produce gachapon sets, sometimes under licensed IPs. Machines are commonly found in arcades, toy stores, department stores, shopping centers, and transit hubs.

Gachapon has influenced collecting culture beyond Japan, contributing to the global popularity of blind-box and loot-box style merchandise. While most gachapon are inexpensive and intended for casual collecting, some series include rare or limited-edition items that attract dedicated collectors. Digital variants and online capsule toy services have also emerged, offering virtual or mail-order gachapon experiences.