Keshi
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Keshi (
History
Keshi is a toy genre with Japanese roots but is not limited to Japanese manufacture nor Japanese culture as the keshi were sold and became popular all around the world in the last twenty years, and some keshi lines were made in Europe or in China and exported.
This toy genre appeared in
The first keshi exported outside Japan appeared in the late 1970s in
However the keshi phenomenon sped-up worldwide in the late 1980s, early 1990s, with a wave of gum toy lines named
The same lines were also exported in Europe, sometimes under different names, e.g. M.U.S.C.L.E. became
Around the same period, Keshi lines were also marketed in
Modern keshi
In Japan, Keshi were still popular in the 2000s (decade), and "keshi days" are often organized in Mandarake stores where collectors can sell and buy used keshis.
Bandai America has launched the M.U.S.C.L.E.'s series' sequel in the United States market only in 2003 as a 20th anniversary celebration of the original Kinkeshi (M.U.S.C.L.E.'s original name) line. The new American keshi line is named Micro Muscle Wrestlers.
Western keshi
The popular
As a 20th anniversary celebration of its 1983–87 Kinkeshi line, the American branch of Bandai has launched the Micro Muscle Wrestler line in the
Keshi packages
The keshi are sold in transparent plastic capsules (1–5 figures), opaque bags (1/2), plastic pots (10-pack), partially transparent
Keshi types
Although vending machines keshi are often considered as standard size, three different material are used, hard gum, plastic or gum w/plastic parts. Even though dark salmon matte color mini figures are the quickest types identified as keshi in western countries, due to the famous M.U.S.C.L.E. line, there are actually a wide variety of gum from matte to bright, from translucent to transparent, from white to black, including the deluxe painted types.
Dekakeshi
Dekakeshi (デカ消し) are big size keshi released by the Marukoshi company prior to Bandai's popular lines.
Keshi
The standard keshi are 5/5.5 cm mini figures sold in transparent plastic capsules available in Bandai vending machines known as "gachagacha" (ガチャガチャ).
Chibikeshi
Chibikeshi (チビ消し) are mini size keshi released by Bandai.
SDkeshi
SDkeshi (SD消し) are
Full color keshi
Full color keshi are deluxe, hand painted, keshi. Originally made in Japan, these art keshi were later manufactured in China to reduce production cost.
Glowing keshi
Glowing in the dark western keshi lines or series made of
Famous keshi lines
Keshi list sorted by line starting year. (a keshi line running from 1980 to 1995 would be in the "1980–1990" section)
1980–1990
- Kinkeshi (Bandai)
- M.U.S.C.L.E. (Mattel)
- Cosmix (Action GT)
- Alien Wrestler (?)
- BeastFormer/LaserBeast (Takara)
- Laser Beasts (Hasbro)
- Les Dragonautes (?)
1990–2000
- Monster In My Pocket (Matchbox)