The Christmas Toy and Collectibles Fair 2016!

Today I went to the annual Christmas Toy and Collection fair 2016. The fair is held at SM Megamall Trade Hall 2. I came early so that I won't mobbed by people, as today is the last day of the fair. The entrance fee is still at 100.00Php. Unlike the ToyCon last June which cost 500.00Php/ ticket. Although, the event is held at the bigger SMX Convention in Pasay City.

As I enter the Hall, I never thought that I will stumbled a Pastel kun head pillow from REFLEC BEAT! In my surprise, I didn't think twice and bought it right away for only 250.00Php!  I was happy that I found a BEMANI stuff on the event, a few booths away, I found a SigSig plush toy for only 50.00Php! It added excitement and no questions asked and bought it. I continued looking, there was a small booth which sells stuff and plush toys, as I looked to the items, another BEMANI stuff was found, a DJ YOSHITAKA! A few hours after, the seller who sells the Pastel-kun pillow posted their items for sale in their Facebook page and saw Erika, a character from beatmaniaIIDX. I tried texting them, but as of the moment, no replies from them.

This is the first time since 2008 that I have a wonderful experience in a Toy Convention, because everytime I participated that event, I am always empty-handed. I guess today is my lucky day. Bought some stuff I really like.

Asking my friend to buy me stuff in Japan (Part 2)

Last 2015, I asked my friend to buy me stuff in Japan. So this year, he visited Japan again and asked him the same. He went to Japan last November 2016, his stay is in Tokyo. Days before his departure, I gave him 13,000.00 Yen budget.

As he landed in Japan, we are in fluent communication on what are the BEMANI stuff he can see. According to him, there is a scarcity of BEMANI games in Tokyo especially in Akihabara, if available, the prices are expensive unlike outside Tokyo that are cheaper. During his 2 week stay, he managed to buy, a copy of beatmaniaIIDX14 GOLD for PS2, Otomedius Excellent for Xbox 360, and Time Hollow for Nintendo DS. He also bought a Hihumi and Celica Figure and lots of lots of Pocky of course! Most of his purchases he got it from BookOff or HardOff, a well known second hand shop Japan. Aside from scarcity of BEMANI games, special designs eAMUSEMENT cards are scarce as well. The only available is the generic silver and white-red colored card.

The stuff he bought are early Christmas gift to myself which I am very delighted to. My friend told me that he will visit Japan again on Spring 2017, I guess I should start saving on his next trip. It is funny that I never been to Japan, but my money does.

Postscript: Here are the pictures of the prices;

The missing piece: beatmaniaIIDX16 EMPRESS + PREMIUM BEST

Last week, I bought a beatmaniaIIDX16 EMPRESS + PREMIUM BEST for PlayStation 2, the last BEMANI game for the console. According to my friend, retro game shops in Japan sells this game for around 12,000 to 17,000 yen (¥) depending to the store. A two disc game with 198 songs overall ranging from the 1st beatmaniaIIDX to EMPRESS.

I bought this game to a seller here in the Philippines, he sold his copy for 3,500Php. The first owner was reluctant to sell, but eventually gave in and meet him up somewhere south of Manila. The game disc is in good condition, although game art has signs of old age.

The game completes my beatmaniaIIDX collection.