Figure Types
- Scale Figure (スケールフィギュア)
- A figure manufactured at a proportional ratio to the character's height. 1/8 (~20cm), 1/7 (~24cm), 1/6 (~28cm), 1/4 (~42cm). The scale determines size, detail level, and price.
- Nendoroid (ねんどろいど)
- Good Smile Company's chibi-styled figures, ~10cm tall. Interchangeable face plates and accessories. Affordable entry point (4,000-7,000 JPY retail).
- figma (フィグマ)
- Max Factory's articulated action figures, ~13-15cm. Posable with interchangeable hands and face plates. Lowercase 'f' is the brand convention.
- Prize Figure (プライズフィギュア)
- Figures from Japanese arcade crane games. Lower cost, simpler sculpts, but quality has improved dramatically since 2018. Banpresto, Sega, Taito.
- Garage Kit / GK (ガレージキット)
- Resin model kits sold unassembled and unpainted. Requires advanced modeling skills. Often produced in small batches at events like Wonder Festival.
- Pop Up Parade (ポップアップパレード)
- Good Smile Company's affordable fixed-pose line, ~17-18cm, 3,800-4,800 JPY retail. Shorter production lead times. No stand included.
- S.H.Figuarts (S.H.フィギュアーツ)
- Bandai's premium articulated action figures, ~14-15cm. Extensive articulation across anime, tokusatsu, Marvel, Star Wars. Web exclusives are common.
- Statue (スタチュー)
- Fixed-pose display pieces, often larger, heavier, and made from polystone or resin. Limited runs, premium prices. Prime 1 Studio, First 4 Figures.
- Trading Figure (トレーディングフィギュア)
- Small figures (~5-8cm) sold blind as part of a set. Sold in convenience stores and hobby shops.
- Bishoujo Statue (美少女スタチュー)
- Kotobukiya's female character statue line sculpted by Shunya Yamashita. Covers anime, Marvel, DC, Star Wars.
- Cast-off (キャストオフ)
- A figure with removable clothing or armor parts. Common in 1/4 scale figures. Always noted in listings due to NSFW implications.
Materials & Construction
- PVC (ポリ塩化ビニル)
- Polyvinyl chloride — standard material for mass-produced figures. Allows fine detail but susceptible to yellowing, tackiness, heat warping over time.
- ABS (ABS樹脂)
- Hard, rigid plastic used for structural parts and joints. Listed alongside PVC on box specs.
- Resin (レジン)
- Casting material for garage kits and high-end statues. Heavier and more brittle than PVC but holds extremely fine detail.
- Die-cast (ダイキャスト)
- Metal alloy (zinc) used in mecha/robot collectibles for weight and premium feel. Common in Soul of Chogokin and metal build lines.
- Sofubi (ソフビ)
- Soft, hollow vinyl figures made by roto-casting. Modern sofubi often produced by independent artists in limited runs.
- Pre-painted (塗装済み)
- Sold fully painted and ready for display. The default for retail figures.
Condition & Packaging
- MISB
- Mint In Sealed Box — factory sealed, never opened. Highest condition standard. Commands highest aftermarket prices.
- NIB
- New In Box — original box, appears new, but seal has been broken. Contents may have been inspected.
- Loose (箱なし)
- Figure only, no original packaging. Typically 30-60% of boxed price.
- A/B/C/D Grade (状態 A/B/C/D)
- Japanese condition standard. A (美品, near-mint), B (良品, good with minor wear), C (可, acceptable), D/Junk (ジャンク, major defects).
- Yellowing (黄ばみ)
- PVC discoloration from UV exposure or age. White/light parts turn yellow. Irreversible.
- Leaning (傾き)
- Figure tilting from intended pose due to heat, weight, or PVC softening. Common in dynamic poses with thin ankles.
- Sticky/Tacky (べたつき)
- Surface tackiness from plasticizer migration. More common in older figures and hot/humid storage.
- Window Box (ウィンドウボックス)
- Packaging with a transparent window to see the figure. Standard for scale figures and Nendoroids.
Market & Commerce
- Aftermarket (二次市場)
- The secondary market where items are resold after original retail availability ends.
- MSRP / Retail (定価)
- Manufacturer's suggested retail price at initial release. Japanese prices are listed tax-included (税込).
- Pre-order (予約)
- Reserving before release, typically 6-18 months ahead for scale figures.
- Proxy / Forwarding (代行・転送サービス)
- Services that purchase from Japanese domestic retailers for international buyers (Buyee, ZenMarket, FromJapan).
- Exclusive (限定)
- Available only through specific channels: event exclusive (イベント限定), shop exclusive (ショップ限定), web exclusive (ウェブ限定).
- Re-release (再販)
- A subsequent production run. Crashes aftermarket prices of the original.
- Grail
- A collector's most desired, hard-to-find item. Out of production, rare, expensive. Subjective — varies by collector.
- Shelf Dive (値崩れ)
- Price crash below MSRP due to overproduction, waning popularity, or surprise re-release. Buying opportunity.
- Price Premium (プレ値)
- Amount aftermarket exceeds retail. A ¥15,000 figure selling for ¥45,000 has a 3x premium.
Blind Box & Gacha
- Blind Box (ブラインドボックス)
- Sealed opaque box with one of several possible figures, unknown until opened. Core mechanic of Pop Mart, Sonny Angel, and trading figure lines.
- Secret (シークレット)
- A figure not shown on box art, revealed only upon opening. Typically the rarest and most valuable.
- Chase Variant (チェイス)
- A rare alternate version — metallic, pearlescent, or glow-in-the-dark variant. Lower pull rate.
- Full Set (コンプ)
- All standard figures in a series collected. Short for コンプリート (complete). Usually does NOT include secrets.
- Pull Rates / Odds (確率・アソート)
- Probability of each figure in a blind box. 'Assort' (アソート) = distribution ratio in a case.