What's Nuevo???

New junk I just got around to scanning

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Hobby Japan EX, Summer 1998

Hobby Japan magazine is kinda like the bible of Japanese toys. A few times a year, they'll publish an "Extra" issue. This year, the summer HJ EX is especially wonderful, with pages and pages full o' dolls. Highly recommended, if you can find it. Otherwise, as a public service, and in direct violation of numerous international copyright laws, I've scanned in the doll pages for you here. Enjoy! Oh, and if you can help ID any of the mystery dolls here, I'd be most grateful. Selected commentary from Corky "Aloha, Shinji!" Visminas.

Page 1

Top row: Kotobukiya "Active Styling" action figures. That's Utena on the far left, and the EVA girls on the far right. Atena is to the right of Utena, and I believe those are the Battle Athletess gals in the middle. Middle: More unidentified Kotobukiyas. Bottom: Various Marmit Etoko-chan dolls. Etoko-chan is kinda like a well-endowed Marmit mascot.

Page 2

This page is all Marmit items. Top row: Marmit Rei and Asuka, and the new jointed body Rei dolls. Middle row: I'd just have to take a guess on all these. The gal on the left might be "Mako-chan," and the redheaded doll in the middle seems to be named Megumi. Bottom row: Well, that must be Lum on the left, and the doll on the far right is evidently named "Ramia." UPDATE: Corky sez, "the second doll from the right is the URUSEI YATSURA character named Benten. The dolls in between her and Lum are also URUSEI YATSURA characters, but I'd have to cheat and go to HobbyLink Japan to get their names." UPDATE #2: Corky sez: "The redheaded URUSEI YATSURA doll by Marmit in the pink dress is Ran. The girl in the purple dress is Shinobu."

Page 3

All of the dolls on this page have Takara bodies, though I don't believe they're all produced by Takara. Top row: Samurai Spirit dolls on the left, unidentified in the middle, and "Tokimeki Memorial Collection Dolls" on the right. Love that green hair! Middle: Nadesico dolls on the left, more unidentified dolls on the right. UPDATE: Corky sez, "The 2 dolls on the right are, I believe, from something called EBEROUGE, which I'm not sure what it is--possibly an RPG or videogame. These same dolls turned up in HOBBY JAPAN a few months ago." Bottom: Virtua Fighter dolls on the left, Last Bronx on the right.

Page 4

These are all Tsukuda Hobby 14" scale dolls. Top row: Sakura Wars. Iris (a new doll) is to the left. Middle: Vampire Miyu is on the left, more Sakura Wars on the right. Bottom: SCREAM!!! That's Miyu's pal, Rava, on the left, and I believe a Sentimental Graffiti doll to the right.

Page 5

Top: Yellow Subarine dolls Urd, Belldandy, and Belldandy in her new blue dress. Middle: Minmay in Chinese and performance outfits, You're Under Arrest dolls, and Pretty Sammy. Bottom: A way cool, but unidentified doll is on the left, Sakura Wars Charadolls in the middle, and Utena Charadoll on the right.

JeNnY StUfF

Uno Kanda

Uno Kanda is one of a series of Jenny celebrity "friends," in addition to Starlight Yoshiki (the androgynous X Japan drummer) and Yuki Amani. I like the Austin Powers-like mock 60's look of this doll. Groovy, baby!

Keiko

This is a Noix de Rome special doll. (Here's a peek at the doll inside it's distinctive green Noix box. Do you like vinyl? do you like French maid costumes? Then you'll dig Keiko.

Sailor Moon!

Tuxedo Mask

This "melonhead" Tux is from the Sailor Moon S series. For some reason, they changed the head mold between the S and SuperS seasons. As far as I know, this is the earlies Tux doll.

Usagi's school fuku

This is a boxed school uniform made for the Sailor Moon R series. Usagi is of course Sailor Moon.

Ami's school fuku

Since Ami (aka, Sailor Mercury) attends the same school as Usagi, her uniform is very similar, though you'll notice they've given her a slightly different book bag, shoes, and bow.

Makoto's school fuku

Makoto (aka, Sailor Jupiter), is supposed to be too big to fit into the normal school uniform. That's why she wears this distinctive brown sailor suit.

Minako's school fuku

Minako is of course Sailor Venus. Notice that unlike Ami and Usagi, she has a tie, not a bow on the front of her blue uniform

Various anime stuff

Minmay in Chinese Dress

This is Yellow Submarine's second Minmay doll. I cringe before getting another Minmay anything, but just couldn't resist this doll's elaborate hairdo.

Sonokong Hikaru

This unusual Magic Knight Rayearth doll is from Korea. It's manufactured by Sonokong, and would appear to be a licensed product. I like the way the doll is presented in the (slightly squooshed) box.

Ryu and Katse keychains

Gatchaman! It's not just for breakfast any more. Here's some cute Tatsunoko SD keychains of Ryu and that evil Berg Katse.