9 replies to this topic

[Soupie]

Hey, everyone, check out this AWESOME toy store I found in Manhattan, NY! It's right in the East Village (directions can be found on the Web site). I can't tell you how many times I've searched Manhattan looking in all the little stores for KESHI, but I finally struck gold!

The shop is owned by a collector who lives in Japan, but his very kind and friendly sister runs the shop in Manhattan! When I entered the shop and said, "Look at all these Keshi!," she jumped out from behind the counter and could barely contain her excitement! She said I was the first person since she opened the shop 6 months ago to say the word "keshi."

She was vaguely familiar with MUSCLE men, but wasn't sure how many there were and other details. I asked her if she knew of Naochin, and she said she would ask her brother. She said her brother and other collectors are in the process of trying to piece together the GUNDAM keshi -- trying to figure out the rare figures and stuff. (Sound familiar to anyone, haha. Hopefully he can help us with our MUSCLE mysteries! I'd like to know if Part 21 Satan Cross came with legs attached!!)

Anyhow, she said her and her brother were MOST interested in just sharing the LOVE of keshi here in America. She said she has been disappointed that toy collectors here don't seem to be crazy about keshi like they are in Japan. She said she would really like to make some connections with other Keshi collectors here in the US.

(She knew that I was excited though. Matthewfitz and Jkaris would have been going nuts too -- and Doc, but for a different reason .)

Anyhow, here are the pics. She said she didn't even have half of the figures on display!







(Does that box remind anyone else of the MUSCLE poster? )







I was SOOO excited to see Keshi in a store in Manhattan... but I think she was even more excited to meet someone who knew what they were!



Here's the Web address: http://www.toyzipangu.com/

And their ebay store: http://stores.ebay.com/TOY-ZIPANGU

Edited by Soupie, 06 August 2007 - 07:08 PM.

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

Man, that's what sucks about living down south! There are practically NO collectors shops that have any foreign toys. There's a store down here called Heroes and Dragons, but the only japanese stuff they have are like Gundams and those sexy anime chick statues. I've never seen even a Transformers Decoy in there. Awesome find man!

[WhiteLeo]

I see Battle Beasts in that 4th picture! Humm.... could we have a tie to Beastformers with her too????

Hey those Purple TF's do you remember if they had a soundwave? I wonder how much they were going for?

WhiteLeo

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

Well, the only thing I noticed that bugged me was their prices! Did you see how much they want for a common Kinnikuman Kinkeshi???

[Soupie]

URS, if you are talking about these, they are actually all re-release figures.

[Soupie]

I see Battle Beasts in that 4th picture! Humm.... could we have a tie to Beastformers with her too????

Hey those Purple TF's do you remember if they had a soundwave? I wonder how much they were going for?

WhiteLeo

I don't remember if there was a Soundwave, but she did say she had more that weren't displayed.

Also, she didn't have any Beastformers Super Deformed. She said she would ask her brother about them. Hopefully she can get some of them in the future!

[jkaris]

Well, the only thing I noticed that bugged me was their prices! Did you see how much they want for a common Kinnikuman Kinkeshi???

You have to realize that individual common kinkeshi in Japan cost a lot more than what we have been selling them for here. The way to score them for cheap is to buy large random lots. That is what I had always done with the store, so that MUSCLE sculpt keshi wouldn't have to be sold for more than $1 tops (since they wouldn't sell for more here regardless). But if you look at the YJP auctions, you will see plenty of MUSCLE sculpt figures going for anywhere from $2 to $20 each.

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

Well, the only thing I noticed that bugged me was their prices! Did you see how much they want for a common Kinnikuman Kinkeshi???

You have to realize that individual common kinkeshi in Japan cost a lot more than what we have been selling them for here. The way to score them for cheap is to buy large random lots. That is what I had always done with the store, so that MUSCLE sculpt keshi wouldn't have to be sold for more than $1 tops (since they wouldn't sell for more here regardless). But if you look at the YJP auctions, you will see plenty of MUSCLE sculpt figures going for anywhere from $2 to $20 each.

I was talking about their ebay store. They have buy it nows of $8 bucks on a single figure.

[Soupie]

Toy Zipangu currently has some SD Kinkeshi and other keshi listed in the ebay store: Toy Zipangu eBay Store.

I would imagine they'll have more in the future as well. Hopefully some SD Beastformers, too!

[Soupie]

Gilgar, myself, and at least one other member here have all dealt with the Toy Zipangu (which, by the way, means "Toy Japan") eBay store. We've all had great experiences, and Gilgar asked me to pass the following along:

I'm not sure if anyone else has dealt with Toy Zipangu, but wanted to share my experience. I can't post in the Toy Zipangu thread but wanted to mention how cool Tamaki was to deal with. I bought some SD kinnikuman from her on eBay that were very reasonably priced & the shipping was pretty cheap too compared to most.

You know I've always wanted to travel to New York and this may just be what I need to finally get me there. I'd love to see the toy store in person. Some of his stuff may seem a little pricey but it's still hella cheaper than buying off Yahoo Japan especially for single figures.

I agree! And, yes, definitely get up there and visit the store. In fact, let me know when you do, and I'll try to meet you up there!