Gachapon in Japan: My Struggle with Kurimanju Senpai

If you've ever visited Japan, you might have seen rows of gachapon (capsule toy) machines in train stations, shopping malls, and even random street corners. These machines dispense small collectible toys inside plastic capsules, and they have become a fun, addictive part of Japanese pop culture.

Gachapon machines feature characters from anime, manga, video games, and even everyday objects turned into adorable miniatures. Each turn costs anywhere from 300 to 500 yen, and you never know which character you’ll get—making it an exciting but risky game!

Hunting for Chiikawa... But Only Getting Kurimanju Senpai!

I’m currently obsessed with the Chiikawa gachapon series, hoping to collect Chiikawa or Hachiware, the main characters from the popular Japanese franchise. But somehow, every time I turn the crank... I only get Kurimanju Senpai.

Yes, the round, brown-topped character who loves drinking beer and eating snacks.

I don’t dislike Kurimanju Senpai—he’s funny and cute—but I’ve already pulled multiple variations of him! As you can see from my photo:

There he is, in different poses—drinking beer, holding snacks, and just chilling. At this point, I might as well start a Kurimanju Senpai collection instead of chasing after Chiikawa.

Why Are Gachapon So Addictive?

Even though I keep getting the same character, I can't stop playing! Gachapon has this unique thrill of randomness, similar to opening a mystery box. You never know what you’ll get, and that element of surprise keeps people coming back for more.

Some machines even have rare or secret characters, making the hunt even more tempting. And since gachapon are limited edition and change frequently, you might never see the same series again once it's sold out.

Would You Try Gachapon?

If you visit Japan, I highly recommend trying gachapon at least once! You might get lucky and pull your favorite character... or, like me, you might keep getting the same one over and over again. Either way, it's a fun experience and a great souvenir to take home.

Have you ever tried gachapon before? If you could play, which kind of characters would you want to collect? Let me know in the comments!