From katsu to numa : The language of Japan’s capsule-toy obsession
A casual hobby can quickly become a costly rabbit hole, introducing new rituals and a variety of vocabulary along the way.
From katsu to numa: The language of Japan's capsule-toy obsession
You insert a 500 yen coin (gohyaku-en dama) into the capsule toy machine and turn the knob, eliciting a familiar sound: gacha gacha pon! It has been more than six decades since capsule toys (kapuseru toi) were first introduced to Japan from the United States. These machines are colloquially known as gashapon, gacha-gacha, or simply gacha, with the latter three sounds echoing the mechanical cranking and the capsule's release.
However, the appeal of gacha extends beyond the tangible reward. As the craze has intensified, so too has the vocabulary employed to discuss it. If you were to inquire among Japanese acquaintances, "What have you been obsessed with lately?" (Saikin nani ni hamatteru?), they might respond with "I'm into capsule toys" (gacha ni hamatteru).
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
