Mandarake Microkan Interview! まんだらけミクロ館インタビュー!!!
I feel some serious 友情パワー (Friendship Power) every time I set foot in the Nakano Broadway because of one man... "Micro" Miyakoshi. Not only is Miyakoshi-san a bona fide ユデッキー (Yudekkii), the guy is arguably one of the greatest living Keshi-masters on the planet.
Miyakoshi-san serves as the Director of the Mandarake Microkan, and also acts as the Editor for the famous Mandarake Keshi publication, コンプREX. (Check out the latest issue of to see his genesis in action!)
Talk about Ultimate Muscle - The Nakano Microkan is the #1 Keshi store in Japan
I met Miyakoshi-san a few months back while perusing the halls of the Nakano Broadway. I showed him my prized Kinnikuman collection pics stored on my iPhone, and we have been brothers-in-keshi ever since. He has worked with me countless times online to find Kinkeshi and Kinnikuman items, and I cannot say enough nice things about him.
Micro Miyakoshi displaying some Microkan goods!
The Microkan is hallowed Kinniku ground in my books and has been the stuff of legend for years on English Kinnikuman and M.U.S.C.L.E. message boards and blogs. I am really excited that I was able to secure this interview and really want to thank Mandarake for their kindness and generosity!
Nama Niku: Can you tell me a little about the history of the Microkan?
Nama Niku: Can you tell me a little about the history of the Microkan?
Miyakoshi: The Microkan is one of the newer additions to Mandarake and opened on February 20th 2003 on the second floor of the Nakano Broadway. At first the Microkan specialized in selling key chains, stuffed animal and other similar type goods but we made a changed and shifted our focus to selling late 80's to late 90's toys such as Kinnikuman SD Gundam, Dragonball etc. This decision really shaped the new direction of the Microkan.
When I started working at Mandarake, only a few items such as Kinkeshi, SD Gankeshi and Dragonball Keshi were sold at the Microkan. I really immersed myself in all things Kinnikuman in hopes of expanding our Kinkeshi section. After this move we started expanding with other Keshi lines and Shokugan (Toys that are packaged with Candy).
We later moved to the 4th floor of the Nakano Broadway on Oct 1st 2005, where I had more time to study and really dive into the world of Keshi. I completely devoted myself to the world of Keshi which lead to the style and feel of the Microkan as you see it today.
When I started working at Mandarake, only a few items such as Kinkeshi, SD Gankeshi and Dragonball Keshi were sold at the Microkan. I really immersed myself in all things Kinnikuman in hopes of expanding our Kinkeshi section. After this move we started expanding with other Keshi lines and Shokugan (Toys that are packaged with Candy).
We later moved to the 4th floor of the Nakano Broadway on Oct 1st 2005, where I had more time to study and really dive into the world of Keshi. I completely devoted myself to the world of Keshi which lead to the style and feel of the Microkan as you see it today.
Nama Niku: Do you collect Kinkeshi yourself, and if so, what is your favorite figure?
Miyakoshi: I do not have nice Choujin like many customers of Microkan have but I collect Kinkeshi for sure. When I start working at Mandarake, I used to purchase Kinkeshi, and really tried to live around Kinkeshi to gain a feeling and understanding of what they were all about.
Nama Niku: What is the most exciting item you have come across while working at Mandarake?
Miyakoshi: That has got to be Silver Riki, which is one of the Four Phantom Kinkeshi that were never officially released (by Bandai) for sale. We really did not have any information on this figure but knew that it was one of the phantoms. It seriously showed up out of nowhere and gave me goose bumps when I saw it. It was like the heavens opened and he was just there.
Image Provided by Mandarake
I would also have to say Grader who is also part of the whole Four Phantom Kinkeshi mystery. While I see him fairly often, (I quite like him) as he is sporting a really stylish cloth hood....
Image Provided by Mandarake
Nama Niku: Muscle Kinkeshi were made in Japan by Bandai, but distributed overseas by Mattel. There is a lot of mystery in America about how they were made, and why only a limited number of figures were released overseas. In all your Kinkeshi research, have you ever come across any information about M.U.S.C.L.E.?
Miyakoshi: We have not really seen much of M.U.S.C.L.E itself you know. I didn't hear anything about the American version of Kinkeshi until they had been discontinued. This is the same with many other series and types of toys, as the popularity dies down, the items gradually stop selling (and you do not hear about them until after the fact). For me however I'm rather curious about how big the M.U.S.C.L.E. boom was in America at the time.
I really admire the fantastic color variations in the American versions which are missing in the Japanese Kinkeshi line. Crazy colors like purple, neon green and yellow are rather interesting and stimulate my senses. I am also curious about the French version of Kinkeshi (COSMIX) which include dangerous Ninjya molds. The world of Kinkeshi still holds a lot of mysteries...
Sorry I was not much help in that area... My path to Kinkeshi enlightenment still continues... (Miyakoshi has also hinted that M.U.S.C.L.E. may be getting a mention in the next issue ofコンプREX, there is quite a bit of mystery surrounding the M.U.S.C.L.E. exclusive Terri-Bull/Buffaloman sculpt).
Nama Niku: Kinkeshi are quite popular with overseas collectors. What is the best way for people overseas to order from the Microkan?
Miyakoshi: Well, we have the Mandarake Homepage which hosts out Mail Order site however we rarely have any of our Kinkeshi items listed on the website.
If you have specific Choujin that you are looking for, you can send us an email and we can check to see if we have any in stock. If you are looking for a ton of individual items it might be hard for us to look for everything, but I certainly would like to spread the word all over the world that we are more than happy to help!
(Mandarake English Contact Form)
We also feature a wide selection of Romando, CCP, and other Kinnnikuman figures for sale on our Mail Order site, so please check it out! (Kinnikuman Figure Page!)
Nama Niku: Lastly, why do you think Kinkeshi are still so popular today?
Miyakoshi: I think that the popularity of Kinnnikuman is due to the warmth and character of the figures which is something that we no longer see in this day and age. Also, the story still continues in Nisei which is a testament to the power of the Kinnikuman story. All these factors coming together I would say is the reason for the popularity continuing.
There are also so many Kinkeshi items in all sorts of colors to collect. Kinkeshi are cheap enough that kids can purchase them with their allowance money, and it is really a fun hobby. The figures themselves feature high quality molding jobs, which are just amazing. You really have to collect Kinkeshi to get a true feeling for what they are all about.
Microkan Information:
We are constantly updating information via the Mandarake website and Twitter, so please check it out!
The Microkan also sells コンプREX/Comp Rex which is a publication dedicated to all things Keshi.Comp Rex is available via mail order, so please pick it up if you do not already have it. The next issue of will be all about Kinnikuman, so please keep an eye out for it☆★
Nama Niku: At this point I would really like to thank Mandarake and especially Micro Miyakoshi for taking the time the time out of his busy schedule to speak with me.
There is an incredible article about the Four Phantom Kinkeshi and other rare Kinkeshi in Vol 1 of コンプREX. While I believe this issue is out of print, there still may be a copy of two kicking around the Microkan.
Mandarake's English website is extremely easy to use and they accept PayPal! Please enjoy the original Japanese interview as well!
Nama Niku: ミクロ館の歴史について教えてもらえますか？
宮越: ミクロ館はまんだらけの中でも比較的新しい部類の店舗で, ２００３年２月２０日に中野ブロードウェイの２階にオープンしました。
始めはキーホルダー・
そして私が入社して、始めはキン消し・ＳＤガン消し・
その後、２００５年１０月１日に４階に移転して、
Nama Niku: 宮越さん自身もキン消しを集めていらっしゃいますか？
宮越: キン消しはミクロ館のお客様ほどナイスな超人は持っていませんが、買ってはい
お気に入りのキン消しは、
Nama Niku: まんだらけで働いていて出会った、
宮越: やはり未発売キン消しで幻の４体のシルバーリキですかね。定かな情報もなく幻とされていたのに、現物がいきなり買取にきて鳥肌が立ちました！
ちなみにシルバーリキは買取２００，０００円なので、
おります♪
Nama Niku: Muscleキン消しは日本のバンダイ社が作ったものですが、
宮越: M.U.S.C.L.E自体ほとんど入荷しないですね。アメリカ版キン消しの販売が終わっ
Nama Niku: キン消しは海外のコレクターの中ではとても人気があります。
宮越: そうですね～。まんだらけのホームページには通販サイトもありますが、キン消しはほとんど掲載していませんね。
Nama Niku: 最後にキン消しはなぜ今でも人気があると思われますか？お忙しい中ご協力ありがとうございました。
宮越: 当時のキン肉マンブームと今のフィギュアにはない無彩色の温かみ・そして２世まで続いているキン肉マンという作品のパワーが、現在でも人気の理由だと思います★またキン消しはラインナップが多く・色バリエーションもあり、
《ミクロ館情報》
●まんだらけWEBサイト＆ツイッターで情報更新しているので、
して下さい★☆
http://www.mandarake.co.jp/
http://twitter.com/396kancho：
.
●ミクロ館では消しゴム系目録冊子【コンプＲＥＸ】
通販もやってますのでお持ちでない方はお見逃しなく!!!
次回は我らが「キン肉マン特集」なので、乞うご期待☆★
http://www.mandarake.co.jp/
There are also so many Kinkeshi items in all sorts of colors to collect. Kinkeshi are cheap enough that kids can purchase them with their allowance money, and it is really a fun hobby. The figures themselves feature high quality molding jobs, which are just amazing. You really have to collect Kinkeshi to get a true feeling for what they are all about.
Microkan Information:
We are constantly updating information via the Mandarake website and Twitter, so please check it out!
Website: http://www.mandarake.co.jp/ and Mandarake English Site!
The Microkan also sells コンプREX/Comp Rex which is a publication dedicated to all things Keshi.
Nama Niku: At this point I would really like to thank Mandarake and especially Micro Miyakoshi for taking the time the time out of his busy schedule to speak with me.
There is an incredible article about the Four Phantom Kinkeshi and other rare Kinkeshi in Vol 1 of コンプREX. While I believe this issue is out of print, there still may be a copy of two kicking around the Microkan.
Nama Niku: ミクロ館の歴史について教えてもらえますか？
宮越: ミクロ館はまんだらけの中でも比較的新しい部類の店舗で, ２００３年２月２０日に中野ブロードウェイの２階にオープンしました。
始めはキーホルダー・
そして私が入社して、始めはキン消し・ＳＤガン消し・
その後、２００５年１０月１日に４階に移転して、
Nama Niku: 宮越さん自身もキン消しを集めていらっしゃいますか？
宮越: キン消しはミクロ館のお客様ほどナイスな超人は持っていませんが、買ってはい
ますよ♪入社した頃は良く購入していて、
お気に入りのキン消しは、
Nama Niku: まんだらけで働いていて出会った、
宮越: やはり未発売キン消しで幻の４体のシルバーリキですかね。定かな情報もなく幻とされていたのに、現物がいきなり買取にきて鳥肌が立ちました！
ちなみにシルバーリキは買取２００，０００円なので、
おります♪
Nama Niku: Muscleキン消しは日本のバンダイ社が作ったものですが、
宮越: M.U.S.C.L.E自体ほとんど入荷しないですね。アメリカ版キン消しの販売が終わっ
たのも、情報を聞いた事はないですね～。シリーズ物の常で、
しかしあの日本にはないファンタスティックなカラーバリエーショ
憧れます♪紫・黄緑などマッドカラーが感性を刺激します。あと危険な忍者造形入りのフランス版キン消し[COSMIX]
お役に立てずすいません。。。キン消し修行の旅は続く‥‥。
しかしあの日本にはないファンタスティックなカラーバリエーショ
憧れます♪紫・黄緑などマッドカラーが感性を刺激します。あと危険な忍者造形入りのフランス版キン消し[COSMIX]
お役に立てずすいません。。。キン消し修行の旅は続く‥‥。
Nama Niku: キン消しは海外のコレクターの中ではとても人気があります。
宮越: そうですね～。まんだらけのホームページには通販サイトもありますが、キン消しはほとんど掲載していませんね。
Nama Niku: 最後にキン消しはなぜ今でも人気があると思われますか？お忙しい中ご協力ありがとうございました。
宮越: 当時のキン肉マンブームと今のフィギュアにはない無彩色の温かみ・そして２世まで続いているキン肉マンという作品のパワーが、現在でも人気の理由だと思います★またキン消しはラインナップが多く・色バリエーションもあり、
《ミクロ館情報》
●まんだらけWEBサイト＆ツイッターで情報更新しているので、
して下さい★☆
http://www.mandarake.co.jp/
http://twitter.com/396kancho：
.
●ミクロ館では消しゴム系目録冊子【コンプＲＥＸ】
通販もやってますのでお持ちでない方はお見逃しなく!!!
次回は我らが「キン肉マン特集」なので、乞うご期待☆★
http://www.mandarake.co.jp/
