Anime | One Map by FROM JAPAN

Naruto Action Figures: Celebrating 15 Years of Ninja

Since the debut of its one-shot pilot chapter in August 1997, Naruto has spanned over seventy volumes and seven hundred chapters as a manga franchise. It’s no wonder that, with over 200 million copies sold, Naruto has become the third most popular manga series in the world, just behind the likes of One Piece and Dragon Ball.

The overwhelming success of the Naruto series resulted in an anime adaptation, multiple animated films, and a plethora of merchandise—the most popular of which are the Naruto figurines and action figures.

In commemoration of the series’ ending, let’s take a look at the best of the franchise’s figurine lines, examining some of the most detailed, masterfully crafted, and must-have pieces to add to your Naruto collection.

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G-Shock x Gundam: The Best G-Shock Watch 2014

(Image Source: weekly.ascii.jp)

G-Shock is undeniably one of the biggest names today when it comes to highly fashionable watches. What makes it a popular choice is the fact that apart from its uniquely stylish aesthetics, it is also very durable and a timepiece that any gender and any age can use. The brand’s owner, Casio, keeps the G-Shock name interesting by continually coming up with editions that mirror the interests and cultures of today’s generation in a way that blends seamlessly with the watch’s cutting edge advancements in technology. The G-Shock x Gundam GD-100 Model happens to be one of the company’s great Japanese pop culture creations.

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Japan’s Anime Nails: A Look at the Ultimate Naruto Nails and More!

Japan’s youth culture has never shied away from strange and fascinating fads, including the use of nail art as an extension of their often extreme fashion statements. Recently, a new style of nail art has become the form of expression for the country’s otaku who can afford it—anime nails!

anime nails

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One Piece Figures: More than Just Collectibles

One Piece is widely recognized throughout Japan as the most popular manga currently available, which can easily be understood due to its compelling story line and well-written characters. The series has never stopped building momentum since its early days in 1997, and has now become a worldwide sensation selling more than 345 million volumes. And of course, with any popular franchise, the demand for licensed merchandise is never far behind.

Monkey D. Luffy Figures
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Where to Find One Piece Merchandise from Japan

One Piece is the most notable sign that manga is still alive and popular even as overall sales of manga has been on a downward trend in Japan. In 2010, One Piece broke the record when it sold 3 million copies of its first edition. Volumes 64 and 65 sold more than 4 million copies and required a second run due to the demand. The overall sale of One Piece copies is 40 million, making up 6 percent of all manga sales. Other mangas like Naruto and Full Metal Alchemist don’t even come close to the kind of sales One Piece enjoys.

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One Piece x G-Shock: The Perfect Collaboration

G-Shock watches, which offer high resistance to vibration and gravitational shock, are geared toward people with intense, highly active lifestyles, like sports, hiking, and military use. Since the G-Shock began in 1983, it has been an in-demand watch. Less than 10 years after its first model was launched, Casio has sold over 19 million units worldwide. Last year G-Shock celebrated its 30th anniversary, and one of the reasons for its longevity is that the brand regularly issues limited edition timepieces and collector’s watches.

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