Its time for the Mandarakes in Osaka….
These are not as straight forward as Jungle or Hero Gangu in my view…so first get the address from the Mandarake Website
here….We are going to Mandarake Shinshibashi Grand Chaos Store first…
a little tip: If you do not have a data plan in japan and using only WiFi in your hotel, input the address of your destination into google maps when you have WiFi…set off for your destination. as you are approaching the destination, activate google maps and you can see how far you are from your destination and you can navigate your way using google map. Google map takes your location fro your mobile signal, you will not have directions but its like a digital map with your live location.
Ok, now for Mandrake Grand Chaos….
This is the building with Bowling pin at the top.
from hero gangu, walk in the direction towards Jungle…walk until you reach a big river, once you cross the river, turn left and walk til you pass the Gilco man, until you reach a bridge for vehicles and you turn rightist's difficult to explain from here and you would have to have the map at hand or google map to navigate your way there….Note that you will see a building with a bowling pin before the river…THAT IS NOT THE BUILDING TO HEAD FOR..its has to be after the river...
Along the road towards Mandarake Grand Chaos…see the blue lights?
Yeah!!! Mandarake Grand Chaos Shop Front!
The G1 shelf…D-50 Takara Motormaster spotted!!
The D-50 Motormaster and a very nice Chromdome...
There's a Diaclone Sideswipe, one of the Diaclones i'm looking for…but too bad the box is missing a side flap and the styrofoam insert is pretty chewed up.
Next, Mandarake Umeda Store…get the address
here.
For this sure i can't really remember the directions, you really have to depend on the map and ask around…Use google map would due the best,,,
this is the look as i approach Mandarake…watch out for the big red signage with white words, it's possible that you may miss it amongst all the colorful shop sign ages and all...
This is the Mandarake Umeda shop front...
G1, G1 and G1…very expensive Takara Swoop spotted…heard its been there for a long time…looking at the price, it will still be there for abit...
Nice Liokaiser giftset spotted as well...
A not for sale Optimus Prime non-transferable figure..
Some cause for concern over here….i was quite surprised to find a complete set of Hasbro Dinobots there…and at a affordable price for the entire set…but after taking a closer look, they are KOs!!
to think that Mandarake carries KOs!!
As G1 collectors, it is very important that we do our research on KOs….fortunately i have done mine…a simple verification, Original Swoop would have the rub sign visible…Original Snarl would have the black box (with transformers wording) and the yellow box (with "Snarl")aligned…
You would not have been able to see the perforated line on the card back for Original Sludge...
Grimlock is the Dinobot BOMMANDER?!! Not!!
This, however, is original…but the price….
Came across Guest books where customers/shoppers can leave their signatures and messages on the books…at least 20 books spotted and all are with super drawings and sketches…i guess lots of artists are collectors and lots of collectors are artists!! here's a few shots of the pages i browsed...
and i also chanced upon a Mandarake magazine….flipped through and spotted a Diaclone Lucky draw Streak? Prowl? realized it would be placed on auction at Yahoo Japan by Mandarake….i shudder at what would be the closing price...
Ok, thats' all i have for Osaka Toy Hunting…hope my 5 cents worth of pictures and comments can help some other collectors in their quest!
