Pokémon gashapon (also spelled gachapon) are capsule toys made by two companies. Bandai owns the Gashapon name, and Takara Tomy Arts sells its own Pokémon capsules under the Gacha brand. Both have Pokémon lines on sale in Japan this autumn. This guide sorts out who makes what, which current lines exist, and how to buy them outside Japan without paying for a fake.
Makers: Bandai and Takara Tomy Arts · Typical price in Japan: ¥300 per capsule · Higher tiers: ¥400 (Gemrize), ¥500 (Gashacolle) · Prices checked on official sites in October 2026
Who Makes Pokémon Gashapon?
Two companies. Bandai makes the Pokémon lines sold as Gashapon, a name it holds as a registered trademark. Takara Tomy Arts makes separate Pokémon lines under its own Gacha brand. Each company lists its lineup on its own official site, so a set from one will not appear in the other's catalog.
That split matters when you search. Collectors say gashapon or gachapon for any capsule toy, but the product names, sizes and shops differ by maker. If you are new to the format, what gashapon is covers the basics. For the companies themselves, see our profiles of Bandai and Takara Tomy.
Bandai Pokémon Gashapon Lines
Bandai's official Gashapon site lists several Pokémon lines in autumn 2026, each at its own price and capsule size. The site also notes that release timing can differ by region and by store.
Tsunagete Mascot (Pinch and Connect Mascot)
The Japanese name is つまんでつなげてマスコット. Volume 16 is listed for the fifth week of October 2026 and includes Wartortle, Blastoise and Slowbro. It comes in a ball chain version and a clasp version, which together make up the ten designs. The idea is to clip several together.
Gashacolle
Gashacolle uses a 90 mm big-size capsule shaped like a Poké Ball. The latest release listed (third week of September 2026) has a large Snorlax plus four figures of about 4 cm, among them Pikachu and Gengar. Bandai describes a two-way design: hang it on the ball chain, or use the capsule as a stand for the figure.
Gemrize
Gemrize capsules are assembled into a jewelry stand with a tray. The Pokémon 13 Summer set, listed for the fifth week of August 2026, picks Pokémon to suit the season.
Swing Collection
The Type: Water set is planned for November 2026, with the exact date still undecided on Bandai's page. It includes Vaporeon, Suicune and Piplup, among others. Bandai also lists a Type: Grass set in the same line.
Takara Tomy Arts Pokémon Gacha Lines
Takara Tomy Arts runs its own gacha business and carries the Takara Tomy Group logo. Its current Pokémon capsules are mostly one family, the 30th Anniversary Metal Charm Mascot, sold in regional sets. Every set below is ¥300 including tax, and each page links to a store list rather than naming retailers.
- The first 30th Anniversary Metal Charm Mascot set went on sale the week of 9 March 2026. It has seven designs and stands about 3.5 cm tall.
- The Kanto, Johto and Hoenn set went on sale the week of 25 May 2026 and was re-released the week of 12 October 2026. Its seven designs are Mew, Mewtwo, Ho-Oh, Lugia, Groudon, Kyogre and Rayquaza, at about 4 to 5 cm.
- The Alola, Galar and Paldea set went on sale the week of 28 September 2026. Its seven designs are Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma, Zacian, Zamazenta, Koraidon and Miraidon, also about 4 to 5 cm. The page mentions a silicone rubber attachment that works as a marker.
- A separate Ditto set, Tsuyafuru Charm Mascot, went on sale the week of 14 September 2026 with five designs of about 4 cm.
These are small charms, so they are a different kind of collectible from Bandai's figure lines such as Gashacolle.
Where to Find Them in Japan
Look for capsule machines in shops and stores that carry Bandai or Takara Tomy Arts lines. Both makers publish their own finders. Bandai's Gashapon site has a tool to look up where its items are sold, and each Takara Tomy Arts product page has a button listing the stores that carry that product.
Bandai's site also lists an online shop run through Bandai Namco's store, with preorders on some items. Not every series is sold there, so check the official product page for where a line is available before you plan a trip around it.
How to Buy Pokémon Gashapon Outside Japan
The official lines are listed on Japanese sites, so outside Japan you are buying from importers, resellers or proxy services. Search with the Japanese product name given above, since that is the name the maker uses. Then compare what the seller shows with the official page: the design count, the size and the release month.
Expect to pay more than the yen price printed on the official page, since the markup covers import and shipping. Our guide to buying gashapon outside Japan walks through proxies, shipping and customs step by step, and the gashapon series database shows how other franchises compare.
Spotting Fake Pokémon Capsule Toys
The official product pages are your checklist. They state how many designs a set has and roughly how big each one is. The Metal Charm Mascot sets list seven designs, so a seller advertising nine is selling something else. The same goes for a figure that looks far larger or smaller than the stated size. For the full method, read how to avoid fake gashapon.
Displaying Pokémon Gashapon
Several of these lines solve the display problem for you. A Gashacolle capsule doubles as a stand, a Gemrize capsule turns into a jewelry stand with a tray, and the Tsunagete line comes with a ball chain or a clasp. Keep the capsules. More ideas are in our gashapon display guide.