Hello everyone.
Today, I’d like to talk about something that confuses many foreign visitors in Japanese convenience stores:
👉 anime figures displayed inside stores.
Have you ever seen:
- large anime figures on top shelves
- smaller figures in the middle
- keychains, towels, or clear files below
all displayed together in one special corner?
Many visitors naturally think:
“Wow, these look amazing!”
“How much is this figure?”
In fact, many foreign customers at my store ask:
👉 “Can I buy this?”
However:
👉 in many cases, these are not regular products for sale.
They are usually part of something called:
👉 Ichiban Kuji (一番くじ).
What Is Ichiban Kuji?
Simply put:
👉 Ichiban Kuji is a lottery system.
Instead of directly buying a figure:
👉 you buy a lottery ticket.
Then:
👉 you receive a prize depending on the result.
Each ticket usually costs around:
👉 500–1,000 yen ($3–7)
depending on the collaboration.
Popular themes include:
- anime
- video games
- manga
- Disney characters
- idol groups
- movies
You may see famous series such as:
- One Piece
- Demon Slayer
- Dragon Ball
- Pokémon
- Evangelion
and many others.
Honestly:
👉 some lotteries become so popular that products disappear very quickly.
How Do You Play Ichiban Kuji?
Actually:
👉 the system is very simple.
Usually:
👉 you just tell the cashier:
“Ichiban Kuji, please.”
Then:
👉 you choose how many tickets you want to buy.
After that:
👉 you draw your ticket.
The result determines:
👉 which prize you receive.
In some stores:
👉 staff may draw the ticket for you.
Do not worry:
👉 if you are unsure, staff will usually guide you through the process.
Why Are There So Many Different Prize Sizes?
If you look carefully:
👉 the prizes are ranked.
For example:
A Prize
Usually:
👉 the largest and most valuable figure.
B–D Prize
Usually:
👉 slightly smaller figures or premium items.
Lower Prizes
Often include:
- towels
- keychains
- clear files
- cups
- acrylic stands
In other words:
👉 the large figure displayed at the top is often the rarest prize.
Is It Easy to Win the Big Prize?
Honestly:
👉 not really.
Most Ichiban Kuji campaigns contain around:
👉 30–60 tickets in total.
Usually:
👉 there is only one top prize figure.
That means:
👉 the odds may only be around 2–3% (sometimes even lower).
Because of this:
👉 serious collectors sometimes buy many tickets.
In rare cases:
👉 some people even buy all remaining tickets.
However:
👉 many stores now limit purchases.
For popular lotteries:
you may see rules such as:
“Maximum 5 tickets per person.”
This helps more customers enjoy the event fairly.
What Is the “Last One Prize”?
There is also something special that surprises many visitors.
In many Ichiban Kuji campaigns:
👉 the person who buys the final remaining ticket wins a bonus prize.
This is called:
👉 “Last One Prize” (ラストワン賞).
Sometimes:
👉 this prize is even more exclusive than the top prize.
Because of this:
👉 some collectors carefully watch how many tickets are left.
Why Is Ichiban Kuji So Popular?
Honestly:
👉 Japanese people love collectible lotteries.
Both:
- children
- adults
enjoy the excitement.
Many people think:
“Maybe this time I’ll win the rare figure!”
Even if they do not win the top prize:
👉 opening the prize can still feel exciting.
For many fans:
👉 the fun is not only winning,
but also:
👉 the surprise.
Should You Try It?
If you visit Japan:
👉 trying Ichiban Kuji once or twice can be a fun experience.
You may not win the biggest anime figure…
but:
👉 you might bring home a uniquely Japanese souvenir.
Especially if you love anime:
👉 it can become one of the most memorable parts of your trip.
Thank you for reading!
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