Top 5 Toys - Akiba Masahiro

Akiba Masahiro of Gumliens has sent through his awesome Top 5 list! A couple of toys that I have never seen before in here, I definitely want to learn more about them!! Thanks Akiba!

5) Coijyarus by One up. (13th Ver.by Takepico - Noriya Takeyama x Pico Pico)

"Monster collaboration of writer of cool two people. The idea was to visualize a monster Japanese carp (koi) that is the best. There are colour variations of various carp(koi), an upscale pet. These look great as a full arrangement. Colouring to GID base of Mount Kobo I like in particular."

4) Mummy Kaiju Pharaos by Imiri Sakabashira

"The colouring Mount Kobo that is taken care of in gumtaro kaiju soft vinyl. It's thought I'd burned the eyes from when I saw once, but it did not help but buy to see the real thing in the exhibition venue. I think it's a exquisite cartoon monster underground and ultra monster such as fused."

3) Nauga by Uniroyal

"Nauga monster of Orange. It was a little expensive, but I look forward to buy. Presence that can not fade forever. I do not know how much was healed in this smile. I will think of this colouring Nauga my best thing. Doting parent."

2) Wooden Cat by Nekonoko & Kenzi Murabayashi

"Collaboration work of two artists. Both personality also I love the style, of course, buy. Colour, shape, while simple, deep, tickled the mind. By the way, in the planning at this time, Gumliens has collaborated with Konatsu http://konatsuya.ko-natsu.jp/ maker of Negora."

1) Frog by Sekiguchi

"Stuffed frog that I picked up in a toy wholesaler in Asakusabashi before 23 years. We called this as "Pakeru". I have never seen a toy frog as cute as him ever. Color, texture, looks all are fantastic! I love him."

Top 5 Toys - Josh Thorsen

Josh comes out of Brisbane, Australia and is the head of Teens On Acid, a streetwear brand and artist collective. Here are his Top 5 picks!!

5) Tim Biskup X T9G Rangeas (TXT Movie Version)

"I only just found out (as I was typing) this was limited to 50 pieces..what the fuck. I should not have been able to buy this piece for what I did. I just shit the bed. I'm not even in a bed, but there's poo everywhere in a bed..somewhere...best figure I own. that's it. that's all."

4) One Piece Big Chopper Figure

"uuuuggghhh i'm still ...just 50 of that Biskup Rangeas? I found this Chopper on my last Nakano Mall visit. A 20cm happy as shit Chopper for $15AU? gimme."

3) Big Hasheem by Santastic Gangu

"a random Nakano Mall cabinet pickup. A favorite character of mine that i had already obtained a vinyl figure of (6 inch). But there he was, in the back of a cabinet stuck between gasha in Nakano Mall. It amazes me how certain characters sell and others don't. There are 3 inch random packaged Kidrobot figures selling for 3 times as much as this guy at any given store, and why? I just don't understand it. Oh yea, he's over 20cm tall. Most people would know him from that KAWS crossover..i guess. Unless they watched Tokyo Tribes 2 in 2006."

2) Astro Boy by Billiken

"my tallest figure. my vinyl son."

1) Dr Slump Arale PVC Bootleg

"amazing bootleg of Toriyama's Dr Slump character, Arale. About 40cm tall, and as much as the Biskup Rangeas consumes me, i think this is my FAVORITE piece. She may not be official but she is huge, she is perfect and I'll destroy anyone who tries to take her away from me."

Top 5 Toys - petitetoilonrouge

petitetoilonrouge has been collecting toys for fifteen years or so, helped by many years spent in Japan and Greater China. He used to run camiondepompier in Montreal and was too broke to keep any toys for himself. Nowadays, he indulges. A bit too much..

5) Kaws x Pushead Companion by Medicom

"I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Pushead’s art (or Kaws’), but his toys, including the Siamese Captains and the Cococroc, are among my favourite. When I first started collecting vinyl toys, the KvP Companion immediately became a grail. I was terribly, terribly poor then, and even though I got my hands on one at some point, it was cruelly for someone else. Fate was kind and some years later, I found yet another one and it remains one of my favourites even though my collection has grown exponentially. The sculpt and marbled green vinyl are truly unique. There’s an insane amount of detail and is definitely sculptor Cosmo Liquid’s masterpiece."

4) Axeface by Monstrehero

"Another toy I initially missed because I hesitated a minute too long when it was offered to me, I was distraught upon later learning it was a one-off. I had learned of the buyer's identity from the seller though, and when I asked him a few years later if he was ready to let it go, he kindly sold it to me. I love the swirly amber effect of the resin in the axe/beak, and the skull on the back of the figure (not pictured... can I send more than one picture?). Clear toys hold a special place in my heart."

3) Mu Racer by Toygraph

"I picked this up randomly, probably as an add-on to another purchase, and it marked the beginning of my love story with racers... and the end for now since it seems my love is shared by many and my wallet isn't as deep as theirs! I love how the driver looks just so... content! Strolling around on a nice Sunday afternoon, he just happens to be a Mu Diver (whatever these are!)."

2) Sleeping Killers by Gargamel x Bwana Spoons (Koi by Koji Harmon)

"Another story of love and frustration, I first got a lot of those to sell at a store I was running back in the day. Again, I longed to keep one for myself but couldn’t afford it. Years later, it is one of the few sculpt on which I am complete (completism is an ugly disease kids, don’t do it) bar a few micro-runs. In this particular case though, completism feels right. I can honestly say that there are only a handful of versions I don’t deeply love. The Koi, painted by Koji Harmon, is maybe my favourite. It looks so comfortable it makes me want to smile... and nap."

1) Death Star by LEGO

"A crazy huge model which I have now built four times (once per move since I got it?). Its inventiveness, playability (my kids adore it!) and of course the nostalgia it inspires are priceless. Its only problem is its gigantic size. Most definitely not easy to display."