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Marusan & Nitto question???
http://skullbrain.org/legacy/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=26152		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  REdYOdA [ Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Marusan & Nitto question???
Hopefully someone can help me out here with some vintage history...

I picked up the Nitto Giron in the bst and wanted to find out a little more about Nitto.

To keep this short...Marsuan is the first to produce kaiju vinyls, they had financial difficulties in 1968, changed for a short time to Maruzan...and then finally closed their doors. After reorganization...reopened as Bullmark in 1969. Other producers followed suit, Popy, Orange, Ark...etc.

When does Nitto come into the picture? I read somewhere (?) that Nitto were possibly the first to produce vinyl kaiju toys with Gamera figures...even before Marusan?

Thanks in advance any help!
Author:  Mark K [ Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
From what I gather, Marusan produced the first Gamera series sofubi. These were standard size Gamera, Barugon(1966) (as well as other Daiei properties such as Gappa, Guilala(1967), and Dai Majin(1966)) and middle size Gamera, Gyaos, and Viras(1968). All of these sofubi, while not impossible to find, command very high prices but have all been reissued over the years. Nitto (I think their full name was something like Nitto Scientific Company) was a plastic model maker who then acquired the Gamera series rights and began issuing vinyl toys in standard, middle, mini, pendant versions (all 1971), and the very cool kawada series (1978 to compete with the very successful Popy King Zaurus line). Nitto also made the Daiei Yokai Wars sofubi (1968). Nitto did not reuse the Marusan molds but made their own sculpts.

I also believe that, although Bullmark was founded by ex-Marusan staff, they were their own company. Marusan started up again in 1971 with their "original" series and also made some Ultraman Ace toys.

I hope someone will correct me if I am wrong. The dates are from the Nishimura book.
Author:  REdYOdA [ Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
Great Thanks so much Mark!

Just a couple of more questions though...

Is it correct that Nitto started producing vinyl toys in 1968 (w/Yokai Sofubi)...or before?
So the Giron would be a 1971 original sculpt by Nitto after aquiring the rights to Gamera characters?

I've got to track down the Nishimura book myself..and others if anyone has recommendations for vintage vinyl identification and history reference books. I love this stuff. 8)
Author:  Mark K [ Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
The earliest date I can find for Nitto sofubi is 1968 and it is for the Yokai Wars characters. However, Nitto was making plastic model kits of Gamera, Gyaos, and Barugon in 1966 the same year Marusan started out. They must have expanded their license when Marusan folded and poured out lots of new sofubi for the second kaiju boom in 1971.

and, yes, the mini Giron is an original Nitto sculpt from 1971.
Author:  REdYOdA [ Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
OK! So it appears Nitto jumped on the sofubi wagon around '68. I love the Yokai characters and would love to track down some of those originals!

You have been a big help Mark... it's greatly appreciated! The internet and SB are a great resource, but I hope to find more sofubi reference books down the road.

...and thanks a lot for the little refund btw, that was nice of you, I forgot all about that! 8) 8) 8)
Author:  turtletooth [ Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
Looks like Mark filled in all of the blanks here.

I have some of the Marusan Gamera stuff, but they are all reissues except for my Virus.

The Nitto minis are pretty easy to locate and can be pretty cheap depending on condition.

I only have one Yokai. They can get pretty spendy and some of them don't pop up very often (blue Oni).

Here are some of my Nitto minis:
Image

Nitto Abura Sumashi:
Image
Author:  Sanjeev [ Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
Incidentally, Guilala was Shochiku, not Daiei. Nothing more to add. :P
Author:  REdYOdA [ Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
Turtletooth, thanks!
That's a great little Yokai figure you have...fantastic condition! I'm definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for the Nittto Yokai stuff.
Author:  Mark K [ Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
I<3 vintage Gamera
This is my vintage Gamera shelf. All are originals except for the standard, middle, and 2 mini Girons and the Marusan Gamera, Barugon, and Gappa. I believe I have all the Nittos except for the Viras pendant. I have not seen that one in a few years and when it does come up it goes for several hundred dollars. The repro mini Giron with the red writing on the belly was autographed by Yuasa-san at a G-Fest several years ago.
Image

Notice the little Zigura pendant on the far right. I have never seen one of these in any book and was totally unaware of it ubtil I scored this one for really cheap on YJA last year.
Image

I was going to save this for a wrap up of my favorite scores from 2008, but it seems like it should go here. I completed my Nitto Yokai set this year. so there is one less person looking for them now.
Image

I also have all the Bandai Gamera series a lot of Marmits, ToyGraphs, etc. but that case is too spread out to get a good pic.
Author:  REdYOdA [ Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
Gulp! I am in total awe and admiration of your collection! You have a vintage collection to be proud of... and it looks like much more to be seen. :shock:

Fantastic hunting skills you have... I for one am glad you're off the Yokai trail!

Thanks for posting!
Author:  niba [ Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just sliped on my drool
Author:  turtletooth [ Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
Mark that's some serious Daiei goodness!

I love all that stuff.

Congratulations on completing the Yokai!! They look great all together.
Author:  ElvisFromHell [ Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
Outstanding!
Author:  Fire Dragon [ Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
Greetings to you all. :D I hope that someone can help me out with this. I was recently offered a Marusan Viras figure by someone who I have dealt with before a number of times for other vintage figures..and was told that it is 7" tall. My big concern is...how can you tell if it is vintage or a later-made repro? I know that the Gamera and Gyaos figures were reproduced by Tomy..if I remember correctly..but not sure about Viras. It does have "SAN" imprinted on the figure but I don't think that is enough to answer my questions. Can anyone supply me with the info that I need? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Author:  onibaba5 [ Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Marusan & Nitto question???
Mark, your Nitto Yokai set is fantastic!
Congratulations on completing it.
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