POKéMON ZUKAN
Here's my collection of pokemon zukan figures!!
"Zukan" means "Pokédex" in Japanese, the Pokémon encyclopedia... and there is at least one figure for almost every pokemon! Zukan are 1/40th scale figures (with the exception of very large pokemon which are scaled to 1/50), and known for being very detailed and accurate.
Zukan first came out sometime during the R/S/E era (not sure of the exact year). Officially, they were only sold in Japan and later in the UK. They are gashapon figures, so they're normally sold in random little capsule balls, which cost around 200 yen each (about $2). However because the drops are random, and because some of these sets are quite old and hard-to-find, zukan can be VERY expensive. For example, the full set of Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, and Eevee can sell for ~$300, and Vulpix/Ninetales ~$200. There are also three lottery zukan that are true to the 1/40th scale despite being very large pokemon. They are Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Wailord. Each one can sell for hundreds of dollars (and no, I don't have any of those :P).
Pokemon normally come in a set with their whole evolutionary line. Pokemon that have pairs or counterparts are also sometimes paired together (like Zangoose and Seviper). But there are a few exceptions.
Most zukan come with bases, and some bases have clear pegs. The bases have the matching Pokémon's name written underneath (albeit in Japanese). Logically, a zukan set that is complete with the base is worth more money than a loose figure. As you'll notice, some of my figures are missing the base, since they are cheaper and I honestly don't care much about it.
"Zukan" means "Pokédex" in Japanese, the Pokémon encyclopedia... and there is at least one figure for almost every pokemon! Zukan are 1/40th scale figures (with the exception of very large pokemon which are scaled to 1/50), and known for being very detailed and accurate.
Zukan first came out sometime during the R/S/E era (not sure of the exact year). Officially, they were only sold in Japan and later in the UK. They are gashapon figures, so they're normally sold in random little capsule balls, which cost around 200 yen each (about $2). However because the drops are random, and because some of these sets are quite old and hard-to-find, zukan can be VERY expensive. For example, the full set of Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, and Eevee can sell for ~$300, and Vulpix/Ninetales ~$200. There are also three lottery zukan that are true to the 1/40th scale despite being very large pokemon. They are Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Wailord. Each one can sell for hundreds of dollars (and no, I don't have any of those :P).
Pokemon normally come in a set with their whole evolutionary line. Pokemon that have pairs or counterparts are also sometimes paired together (like Zangoose and Seviper). But there are a few exceptions.
Most zukan come with bases, and some bases have clear pegs. The bases have the matching Pokémon's name written underneath (albeit in Japanese). Logically, a zukan set that is complete with the base is worth more money than a loose figure. As you'll notice, some of my figures are missing the base, since they are cheaper and I honestly don't care much about it.