January 21, 2026 - Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Offers Gashapon Items and Quality Figures for the Visitors to Purchase at the Prestigious Art of Manga Exhibition.
IRVINE, CA. – Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America (BNTCA) is proud to participate in the prestigious “Art of Manga” exhibition at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, delivering a unique Japanese experience to attendees. The exhibition has drawn over 175,000 visitors since opening in September 2025 and has been extended by a week due to popular demand.
Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by massive 60 Gashapon machines, each filled with popular manga (and anime) character products, Japanese culture-inspired miniatures, and adorable collectibles. These vending machines allow guests to enjoy the fun of spinning the handle and discovering capsule toys. In addition to the Gashapon machines, BNTCA is showcasing high-quality figures from popular manga titles featured in the exhibition.
About Gashapon
The concept of a small vending machine dispensing toys was imported to Japan in mid-60’s. Bandai entered the capsule toy markets in 1977 with Gashapon. The name is formed by two Japanese onomatopoeias; “Gasha” for turning the handle and “Pon” for capsule being dispensed. Now enjoyed by all generations, Gashapon offers a sheer variety of products including anime figures, food miniatures, realistic animal replicas, stationery items, and accessories. With global popularity and demand, Gashapon has been officially recognized by Guiness World Record as the largest capsule toy brand in the world.
About Art of Manga Exhibition
Presented by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Art of Manga exhibition spotlights manga—a genre of innovative Japanese comics and graphic novels known for evocative artwork. Currently on view at the de Young Museum, the exhibition explores the world of manga from the 1970s to today, featuring rarely displayed original drawings by major artists such as Tetsuya Chiba, Fujio Akatsuka, Rumiko Takahashi, Jiro Taniguchi, Mari Yamazaki, Hirohiko Araki, Kazumi Yamashita, Gengoroh Tagame, Fumi Yoshinaga, Eiichiro Oda, and Keiichi Tanaami.
(Photography by Gary Sexton)
Art of Manga Exhibition runs from September 27, 2025 to February 1, 2026.
Gashapon items can be purchased via token machines using credit/debit, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet only.
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About Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc.
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc. (BNTCA) is a leading innovator in toys and collectibles. Known for iconic brands like Tamagotchi®, Anime Heroes®, Gunpla and Tamashii Nations®, BNTCA offers unique toys, model kits, and premium collectibles that bring beloved franchises to life. As a group company of Bandai Namco in the US, BNTCA inspires creativity and passion, celebrating fandom and storytelling for collectors of all ages. For more information, visit bandai.com.
