When Matthew and Susie Gillikin traveled to Japan in the autumn of 2023, they fell in love with not just the culture and beauty of the country, but gashapon toys. These collectible, capsule-enclosed toys are dispensed from coin-operated vending machines and are known for their surprise element and variety. There might be anime figures, unique household items, plushies or keychains and the “gasha” (crank) and the “pon” (pop) of the machines make it even more fun.
At a Glance:
- Inspired by a 2023 trip to Japan, the Gillikins fell in love with gashapon vending machines.
- Their concept debuted with 51 machines at Gem State Comicon in Boise in 2024.
- The arcade focuses on community events, Japanese culture and giving back locally.
“These original implementations captured our souls,” Matthew explained. “Gashapon machines are everywhere in Japan – on street corners, bus stops, convenience stores, libraries. Anywhere people might pass, you will see these white machines dispensing a moment of joy. This experience was magical to us and profoundly changed what we wanted to bring to the world.”
After they returned home, the couple started researching how they could bring gashapon to the United States. They had to navigate licensing and distribution rights but eventually were able to bring 51 imported gashapon vending machines to Gem State Comicon in Boise in April 2024 as “Chibi POP Toys!”…