Catching up on the past

If you're lucky enough to have visited Japan, and I've been lucky many times, then you'll be aware of the pop-up shops, events and cafes that blink across the country and offer lots of limited edition goodies. You'll also be aware of how aggravating it is when they sell out - those boards outside the shops covered in "sold out" stickers can be very frustrating indeed, especially if you've been in a queue for hours patiently waiting to get your hands on that water bottle or coaster you had your eye on as a perfect souvenir...

When I visited Japan last November, I was quite excited to find some Pokemon store exclusives for my daughter - Pikachu dressed up or accessorised to suit the location of the store, such as a train outfit for Tokyo Station, Skytree plushie or graffiti Pikachu from Shibuya. Alas, The Pokemon Company changed all that by the time I landed, and in their place... variation expression Pikachu's that were sanitised across all the stores, losing that magic little touch of "having been there". I was also a bit gutted to see that the Tokyo Capcom Store had been looted by Tokyo Game Show's visiting journalists. Slim pickings indeed.

We've all been there - you want it more when you can't have it :)

So the other day I noticed that Suruga-ya.com was having a free shipping campaign, no matter how small the order. This, it seemed, was a good chance to go back in time and nab those goodies I'd so desired on my trip. And there was no shortage of options...

I'd visited the Tokyo Skytree when they had their Macross Blue Moon anniversary event, though all I could pick up at the time was the limited edition coins - now I have the little shikishi boards that I missed the first time for $4 each. Bargain! The Yokohama Gundam Factory Gundam Cafe water bottle? Snagged for $20. Badges, figures, standees... it all became a little bit addictive to be honest, so much so that I followed my first order with a second only a few days later to beat the clock on the free shipping.

Not just any free shipping either - DHL Express, from Japan to my door in 4 days. Honestly, I don't know how they're doing it, that fee would normally double the cost of my order.

2 of my favourite mecha girls - rock star Mylene and Witch from Earth Sophie Pulone

None of the items I ordered were that costly, they were just souvenirs after all. Interestingly the site also lists the original prices so you can see exactly how much late tax you're paying - and in my case it was pennies - to get those treasures from a far away land. 

Suruga-Ya sells figures too, and here the story changes a bit, because some of their prices are very steep indeed. Taking the postage into account still doesn't make them cheap, but it's a good site to have on your radar, as they do seem to come across the good stuff more often than Mandarake, which is also a great source of quality second hand goods, alongside Amiami who also have their moments. 

Together at last! Morrigan I found at the Capcom store, Chun Li was long gone.

This probably sounds like a sponsored post, but it really isn't - I'd given up hope of finding some of this stuff (honestly I went all over Tokyo trying to find a unique bloody Pikachu!) but now I feel a little more comfortable missing out when I'm there next time. Maybe now you will too.

Second chances don't come around often. You might want to grab this one.