I hate toy politics, flippers, and losing lotteries but toy makers don't tell me what to buy, so I won't tell them how to sell. If you want it and have patience it will come. I'm guessing it will be worth the wait if you really want it.

Oi David, what's with the 'freshly smacked ass'? has this been discussed somewhere?

The way these are produced mean an open run is pretty much a (crack) pipe dream!

I am going to keep dreaming with this crack, since at this point is all I have and it wont cost me almost a grand.

How are his toys produced any different from the other factories ?

He's got his own place, so it might be the case that he casts all of them himself.

That's definitely the case. But if he really wanted to he could. Not that he should or has to, but its no excuse. Most factories are a 2 person operation. So its possible to do a blank open run if he wanted to, all I'm saying. Nothing is impossible.

By the same token he could easily go the Bemon/NNN route . . . luckily he walks his own path and I doubt he'd be swung by (what could be construed as disrespectful) gaijin pressure!

Good point

I heard Gaijin Pressure was you porn name by the way

Classic.

He's been mixing it up and sometimes he does. At least all these selling options keep it interesting and we need to be vigilant if we really want the toys.

He pulls his own vinyl, paints them himself, and sells/ships them himself. And this is not what his vinyl shop primarily makes. The other two-man shops are full time toy producers.

if an american in america can produce made to order runs saying in any way shape or form that someone in japan WITH their own factory cannot do it is absurd(and maybe they don't WANT to do it but if that is the case you are on the wrong scene),also as other have mentioned companies can control the secondary market, anyone see any rose vamps or grody monsters flip lately? I for one am at a loss because if I had a rad toy to shill I would want one on every fuckers shelf "a chicken in every pot and a such and such on every self "

Nope...

The other shops are all not full time toy producers. Many also pull other items like fishing lures. I'm sure toys are a major part, but stil not all.

And like mentioned, besides pulling his own toys, many makers do exactly all that ( design, sculpt, paint , package etc..) And I'm sure if others makers could pull their own vinyl they would.

Also, many other makers work additional full time jobs and have families.

Okay, so yeah the "easier" open run idea would be to just have it be for blanks. Cuts out the paint labor for HS. But what if that's just something he doesn't want to offer to his customers, as in he isn't satisfied with just releasing blanks because wants the toys that go to customers to represent his work the way he wants to be represented, which might include paint. Also, given the current popularity of his toys, could you imagine the amount of orders he would get if he were to allow an open run? It would probably be a ridiculous amount. He seems to be a very busy person that works hard both in and outside of the sofubi toys industry. The only way I could see an open run being worth it for him is if everyone who ordered was patient as hell, and/or that his asking prices were higher than normal.

This. We're all lucky he is even making the toys.

What's the story behind these? Never heard of them before.

I think they were just promotional pins, not sure they were ever officially released or not. Maybe just a gift from Hirota to special customers and his friends.

There was a Mecha one made too. I don't know anything else about them except that I'd love a set.

They were up on mandarake the other day. Not the mecha one but the other one. I like them but I wouldn't purchase them considering they would just sit flat on the shelf.

I saw but passed. Plus for the price, to throw on my jacket and eventually get lost or jacked? Not worth it.

How much was it?

4000 yen each

Considering how uncommon it probably is to come across these pins I'd say 4000 isn't too bad. That's just me though.