Stores bring Japanese merchandise to Jakarta<\/p>\n
Lovers of Japanese animation, toys and other pop culture
\ncreations do not have to travel to Tokyo to fill out their
\ncollections. Shops across Jakarta are stocking up on original
\nJapanese anime, figurines and music.<\/p>\n
The must-have items include gashapon, or small resin
\nfigurines, comics, animated movies and Japanese pop or rock
\nmusic, known as \"J-pop\" and \"J-rock\".<\/p>\n
Hobby Japan at Ciputra Mall in West Jakarta has been serving
\nanime fans since 1999.<\/p>\n
\"Some people say that it (collecting anime figures and movies)
\nhas become a trend recently, but I have been collecting since the
\n1980s,\" Jhonny Wijaya, the owner of the shop, told The Jakarta
\nPost on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said the most popular collectibles recently were figurines
\nfrom various Japanese cartoons, such as Gundham and Dragon Ball.
\nThese figurines can cost anywhere from Rp 25,000 to Rp 1 million.<\/p>\n
Figurines from older cartoons like Voltus V and Command Rider
\n(known as Black Steel Knight here) are also big among some older
\ncollectors, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Our customers vary in age from elementary school students to
\npeople in their 40s who want to remember their favorite childhood
\ncartoons,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Hobby Japan website, www.hobbyjapanonline.com, gives
\ncustomers, mostly university students, access to a list of new
\narrivals and the prices of collectibles offered at the store.<\/p>\n
Muchammad Santaka, an owner of Astro Hobby in Blok M Plaza in
\nSouth Jakarta, said Japanese collectibles were suitable for
\npeople of all ages.<\/p>\n
\"The difference is that Japanese collectibles are more varied
\nthan Western products. There are collectibles made for children,
\nteenagers and adults. The problem is Indonesians think that all
\nof them are for children,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Santaka said some Japanese collectibles became valuable, with
\nsome older items worth millions of rupiah.<\/p>\n
\"A first series Voltus figurine produced in the late 1970s can
\nbe worth Rp 3.5 million because it is considered an antique.\"<\/p>\n
Resky Pradyansa, a high school student who collects Japanese
\nanimated movies and J-rock, said his hobby helped him understand
\nJapanese culture.<\/p>\n
\"The animated movies and the characters in them talk about
\nfighting for the truth, friendship, love and sacrifice,\" he said,
\nadding that he tried to buy the latest animated movies every
\nweek.(006)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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