Rating: 
Summary: A great book for collectors of Japanese toys.
Review: As a long time collector of Japanese vinyl monster toys, I'm so glad that we finally have a domestically published book for stateside collectors (until this great book was published, we collector-types had to rely on expensive and hard to find Japanese import books as reference tools). This book is beautifully put together by Jimbo Matison and follows the format of many of the Japanese toy collector books, i.e. each page consists of a single photograph of a toy placed in a fantasy setting (similar in format to the book on vinyl toys available from the Marusan USA website) with a "key" at the back of the book that gives the name of the toy, date of production, manufacturer information, etc. Rather than a comprehensive collector's guide that tries to list every vinyl toy ever made (like Sean Linkenbach's Godzilla collectibles book), this book takes a selective approach to showing these toys. There are "chapters" organized according to genre of toys (heroes, monsters, female characters, vehicles, etc.) with a sampling of both vintage and new toys in each category. This is not a price guide, rather, the toys are photographed and presented for their design and artistic appeal. There's a nice combination of toys from vintage manufacturers such as Bullmark and Marusan as well as modern companies like M-1 and Marmit. The only criticism I have is that I wish the book showed more toys! On balance, this is a beautiful, large format book with page after page of beautifully photgraphed japanese vinyl toys. You'll love this book whether you collect these toys or are just interested in their aesthetic appeal. Nice work Jimbo!
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL PRESENTATION OF A MARVELOUS COLLECTION!
Review: I can't believe the 2 kill-joys on this page. These are the guys I try to block from my ebay auctions when I can : picky, shrill & NO HUMOR (or soul for that matter). I've bought sold & collected tons of robots & space toys over the past 20 years or so, yet many of these characters I haven't seen at all except in the tiny little fliers accompanying some of the boxes. This is a MAGNIFICENT SELECTION! Posed, composed & shot with loving perfection! Every turn of the page is a delightful surprise. The only drawback is that it makes me want to start all over & fill my shelves with these guys. Argggh...oh no, not again. Gasp - all that dusting....
Rating:
Summary: A copy of my own!
Review: I first saw this book on a friend's coffee table. Once I'd looked it over, I knew I had to have a copy of my own. I am amazed at how many Japanese toys are included. I used to watch some of the Japanese shows when I was a kid (such as Ultraman - and yes he's included in the book), but I am awed on just how much I've missed. This book has peeked my curiosity to see more. What I find fasinating is the key in the back of the book which includes not only who currently owns each of the splendid toys displayed in the book, but also what year they came out. Some of these toys are older than I am! So Crazy Japanese Toys does a fantastic job of displaying each toy in full page pictures. Too bad there's not a chapter depicting hero vs. villian picturing the two characters duelling. Is there a sequel in the works?
Rating:
Summary: so crazy, so good!
Review: I must admit that I am no expert in the japanese toy field, but I LOVED this book as though I have know these toys for years! I came across it in a bookstore while I was looking for a gift to give to a friend that actually knows about this stuff. I had no idea there was such a comprehensive and specific book out there, I figured some book about rock and roll was what I would find, BUT NO! I found the PERFECT thing! SO CRAZY! I thought at first the layout of just pictures was a little odd, but the friend I gave it to said that is the old school way they put these things together. He absolutely loves it! (so do i, i got one for me too...) THANK YOU MISTER MATISON FOR GIVING US SOMETHING TO GIVE TO OTHERS THAT IS SO FUN, SO COOL, SO CRAZY AND SO GOOD!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Not so crazy after all...
Review: I wanted to like this book, I really did. Those of you expecting an in-depth look at Japanese toys (namely vinyl figures and robot/robot-like things) won't find much here to chew on. It's a quick ten minute flip through, and then you'll probably throw it on a shelf and forget about it. The pictures are pretty but honestly, the toys chosen to be included here are rather boring. Not crazy at all. There's a miliion interesting toys out there, and I'm left scratching my head as to why the handful of examples included here were deemed "interesting" enough for inclusion. That being said, it's not even a good "starter book" for newbies as the toys shown fail to ignite much interest or awe beyond the occasional titter. It's not a bad book per se, but it is in NO WAY "the" book which fans of the genre have been waiting so long to see...
Rating:
Summary: So Cool
Review: I'm not a collector or anything but I just thought these characters were so cool, most of them i've never seen before, all in close up details and really great color. I completely recommend it for the money.
Rating:
Summary: A copy of my own!
Review: I'm so happy to see a book that has a whole chapter dedicted to female heroines (and villains)! The chapter is called Rockin' Chicks. I never knew such great female characters existed. Only in Japan. The other chapters are fun too. Ultraman is in the Men In Rubber chapter. My brother and I watched Ultraman when we were kids. I totally forgot about Ultraman until I saw him in this book and all of the memories came back. (I actually bought this book for my brother but when it arrived, I decided to keep it for myself. Bad sister! Not to worry - I ordered him one too.) The photos are so vivid and the design is great. I recommend this book to anyone who knows all about these Japanese shows (like my brother who loved them) or anyone who has an imagination. I have a new heroine and her name is Mimina! Grat book.
Rating:
Summary: Rockin' Chick Power!
Review: I'm so happy to see a book that has a whole chapter dedicted to female heroines (and villains)! The chapter is called Rockin' Chicks. I never knew such great female characters existed. Only in Japan. The other chapters are fun too. Ultraman is in the Men In Rubber chapter. My brother and I watched Ultraman when we were kids. I totally forgot about Ultraman until I saw him in this book and all of the memories came back. (I actually bought this book for my brother but when it arrived, I decided to keep it for myself. Bad sister! Not to worry - I ordered him one too.) The photos are so vivid and the design is great. I recommend this book to anyone who knows all about these Japanese shows (like my brother who loved them) or anyone who has an imagination. I have a new heroine and her name is Mimina! Grat book.
Rating:
Summary: These Toys Rock !
Review: Just got this book and it Rocks ! The photos are richly reproduced, most in full page format. The innovative use of textured backgrounds paired with some of the craziest looking toys ever made, make this book a must for your coffee table.This book is pure , 100% eye candy to feed your imagination..it's no wonder many if not all the current hot designers and artists have been influenced by Japanese toys, old and new.
Rating: 
Summary: Yawn!
Review: This book doesn't show or say anything interesting. Pictures of very common toys and reissue stuff with no descriptions whatsoever. Definitely not a buy. I gave one star because I can't give 0.
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