UlasanAnime.com – The intricate world of anime fandom often revolves around the power-consumer dynamic, a facet that becomes even more pronounced when dealing with imported goods. This involves navigating foreign shipping, understanding different language websites, and adapting to unique business practices. Given how commercial anime fandom can be, this consumer aspect is deeply intertwined with the very nature of being a fan.
While not the sole way to engage with fandom, the challenge of acquiring desired items through these “shark-infested waters” can be a rewarding experience. The proliferation of internet shopping in Japan, though somewhat delayed, has now advanced to a point where it’s a viable, albeit complex, option for dedicated fans.
A significant hurdle in this type of consumerism is the lack of readily available information. This is particularly true for products like Ichiban Kuji figures. Banpresto’s merchandise line, introduced in 2007, operates on a lottery system. Retailers purchase entire sets and sell raffle tickets, often priced at 500 or 800 yen, guaranteeing a prize with each ticket. This model ensures that many items within the set are valued at less than the ticket price, while simultaneously including some items that are worth significantly more. Bandai recoups its costs by selling the complete sets, and retailers profit from ticket sales, which collectively (even with unsold tickets) are intended to exceed the set’s cost. This is the presumed operational logic behind Ichiban Kuji. For those interested in a specific example, an older write-up on Ichiban Kuji for One Piece readers is available.
However, a segment of dedicated figure collectors, the “otaku,” may opt to purchase entire sets directly. This strategy becomes appealing when just two or three figures within the set are particularly desirable. The cost of an entire allotment is often well under a couple of thousand dollars, making it a potentially smart move, especially if duplicates can be traded or sold. Typically, a set includes a few high-tier prizes (like A or B) and a larger quantity of lower-tier prizes (C, D, E, and so on), with each prize level offering various distinct items. This structure bears some resemblance to how trade figures are acquired.
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Similar to how some retailers mark up open-box trade figures, the same practice is applied to Ichiban Kuji sets. The break-even point for such markups is difficult to ascertain, as it heavily depends on the attractiveness of a specific set, the rarity of a particular figure within it, and its market demand. Crucially, since each Ichiban Kuji set features only a limited number of top-tier PVC collectible figures, their supply is inherently restricted.
Fortunately, due to the multi-product nature of Ichiban Kuji sets, they are not always marketed directly to hardcore PVC figure collectors. This means that collectors focused on specific figures might be unaware of sets containing items comparable to those 4000-8000 yen single-purchase figures. This lack of direct marketing is what makes it feasible to collect specific figures from Ichiban Kuji sets.
This situation is hardly a secret. Even within Japan’s domestic retail market, attractive figures from specific Ichiban Kuji sets are sold at significant markups, a practice that is amplified in export and import operations. This applies particularly when these figures are sold individually, establishing a de facto price ceiling.
Consequently, beyond the standard concerns of mail ordering, buyers face additional challenges. These include higher shipping costs, unfavorable exchange rates, the need for diligent bargain hunting, and issues related to availability, as individual figures often exist in a secondary market. Furthermore, there’s intense competition for limited quantities among buyers who rely on proxies or a select few online sites for their Ichiban Kuji purchases.
The question arises: why endure such complexities? The answer, in this particular instance, is simple: the 
2D waifu demanded it.
