on YJA - http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f57467636

Way out of my league but a pretty decent price (assuming no damage - I can't read japanese so I don't know the details on it).

Wow, it looks pretty damn good. Wish they showed the bottom of the feet, too.

Of course, I'd prefer to give it a smell test for paint touch-ups before I plunked down the cash. ;p

yeah - the condition it's in really impresses me.

I love learning new Martha Stewartish kaiju collecting tips.

never trust an auction that doesn't show the bottom of the feet -especially when they obviously know better. I can almost guarantee that there is writing on them.

That's a nice piece that's been up for a while. Definately suspicious that the feet aren't shown.

Just a tip for everyone, it's not $350.

Why might there be writing on the feet?
And if so, what does that do to the value of the figure?

alot of japanese kids wrote their names on the bottom of toys.

Among most collectors - it kills the value - especially among japanese collectors. it doesn't keep me from buying a toy but the market dictates that those toys should cost a lot less than "clean" ones.

I'm guessing a clean pink hedorah would go for $6k to $7k - hence this thread pointing out that there's a super-clean looking one on YJA for a cut-rate price. Way out of my league but i can still dream . . . .

Plus, this one has some particularly baffling (machine-translated) auction copy -- I think I get the gist of "There is some color aged bald," but "fall in the level of dirty toothbrush" is a stumper.

"Extremely rare, as well as fans of HEDORAMANIA aspire! ! BURUMAAKU PINKUHEDORA object at the time to finally release. Definitely a super-class items. There is some color aged bald, but I think beauty products. No complaints, no returns, please.

Updated: December 30, 3:09

黒ずみlumbar back of the neutral detergent and disinfectant alcohol or fall in the level of dirty toothbrush."

I think they mean take an old or used toothbrush with cleaner to clean it. I'll be honest...I like the names on the bottoms of the feet. It's weird to think that I have this toy that some kid in Japan once ran around with, dragging it by the tail/feet. I wonder if they ever think..."wonder what happened to my Hedorah I used to play with?" Probably would blow them away that a 34yr old gaijin from America has it on a shelf...

I like toys with names on them too. I have an OG mini Bullmark Hedorah that's been loved to death - name written on its back, cracked, discoloured etc. I love it though and have often thought about where its been.

Actually I think I'm going to go and write my name on all of my toys right now.

I prefer the figures with names written on the feet.

It adds some nostalgia to the figure and it makes it much cheaper. Since it doesn't bother me, it becomes a plus.

I do hate writing on the back of a figure. That's been a deal breaker for me.

I'll go further and say that I like paints rubs and want the toys to look played with - I really don't like perfectly mint vintage toys - I want them to have some wear and tear - it adds visual appeal IMHO.

I would agree with that. Also gives them character and history.

What's interesting is to watch collectors of contemporary toys protect them behind glass, usually passing on any contemporary toy with a visible imperfection.

Meanwhile vintage collectors seek out toys that are usually banged up with visible wear.

It's hard to generalize. Some people seek out "wabi sabi" in their toys, others are meticulous types who want their acquisitions to be perfect.

Fretting over names on the bottom of the feet is nothing compared to what some robot collectors are like.

This figure is nothing compared to several others he has auctioned. The seller is actually a famous old time collector in Japan from what i understand. I will say several of of his starting prices are super high though.

If you own the Godzilla Musuem book, you might want to compare. Notice the 3 small dots on the top right part of the head. Impossible to know for certain, but maybe.

This board rules! So much expertise can be brought to bear on an auction like this - it's like watching the CIA analyzing spy satellite photos in a LaCarre movie.

My five year old daughter plays with my kaiju stuff...the newer cheap stuff. Doesn't bother me, paint scrapes and the like.

I just robbed the Sunkus by my house so I am gonna bid on everything.

yeah , i agree this looks fantastic . i like the paint scheme on the hawaii better than the japanese version but a regular hedorah goes for more like $300 and its really the sculpt i like more than the color .

Name names!

Sorry i do not have he email with the name any more, I do not know him, just of him. You might have heard of him before as well. It is the same person that sold the yellowish king mai mai and now has listed a sashiller(sp) and mysteller seijin. I did cry when i lost his auction for the glow gudon, maybe some other day.