Latest news with #Japan-exclusive
Hypebeast
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
A.P.C. Celebrates Japanese Food With "Gourmet Japonais" Apparel Collection
Summary a Japan-exclusive collection inspired by Japanese food culture. The capsule features a series of standard fit T-shirts, caps and a tote bag — all of which feature iconic Japanese food. The trio of white T-shirts are designed with graphics of onigiri, edamame and what looks to be rice dumplings, assisted by the A.P.C. Japon logo right below. Meanwhile, the navy blue newsboy cap follows the same onigiri graphic in white. Closing it out are a duo of navy blue and green tote bags featuring either the rice dumplings or the edamame design. Check out the collection above. The A.P.C. 'Gourmet Japonais' collection is available now on theofficial webstoreand A.P.C. stores.
Business Insider
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
I've made over $40,000 selling plush dolls I scoop from claw machines. Here's how I learned to beat the game and turn my hobby into a profitable side hustle.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mike Nay, a claw machine expert and plush reseller. It has been edited for length and clarity. What started as a pandemic hobby — messing around with a couple of claw machines I bought online — turned into a side hustle that's earned me over $40,000 in sales, so far. I source exclusive plush toys from arcade claw machines and resell them online through platforms like Mercari, eBay, and Poshmark. I sell between three and five plush dolls per day, averaging $20 per sale. However, I've sold more exclusive, collectible plushies for as much as $200. How I got started, and where the money is When I first got into claw machines, I wasn't thinking about revenue. I just wanted a fun distraction during lockdown. I bought my first claw machine from Alibaba for around $800, filled it with plush toys I won at arcades, and started learning all the tricks. People assume claw machines are all rigged or based on chance, but there's real strategy involved. I study the geometry of the plush, where it's positioned, the weight distribution, and the claw type. Each machine has different settings — operators can control the claw's grip strength and how often it actually pays out. Once lockdown restrictions lifted, I was back in the arcade, winning dozens of plushies that were taking up a lot of my shelf space. That's around the time I realized there was a lot of good resale value for these toys. At first, I listed a few on Mercari, which sold within hours. Once I noticed consistent demand, especially for Japan-exclusive plushies, I started to ramp up my sales. I've sold over 3,000 plush toys. Most costs me between $3 and $7 to win at arcades in chains like Round1 and Dave & Buster's. If I sell that item for $15 to $25, the ROI is significant, especially when I can win several in a single session. I usually walk into an arcade with $150 to $200 in arcade credits and come out with two large laundry bags full of toys. If the machines are paying out well, that haul can net me between $300 and $500 in resale value. On great days, I'll invest $400 to $500 in credits and earn between $1,000 and $1,500 in sales. I've trained myself to identify machines that are likely to pay out quickly. That way, I don't waste money on poor setups or high-difficulty wins. I don't typically pursue machines with a one-in-30 win ratio. I target the ones where I can usually scoop a prize in under five tries. I run market research like any online seller Before I head to the arcade, I check sold listings on eBay and Mercari to see what's trending. I follow other plush resellers online and stay active in Reddit communities where fans post about new arcade drops. Some plushies — like Round1 exclusives or limited-edition anime collabs — are highly collectible. I also closely track plush with cultural relevance, like any anime that has a new popular movie coming out. When I see those in machines, I'll spend more aggressively to grab them, because I know they'll move fast online. I treat my inventory like a retail business At home, I have a dedicated room, which I call the ar-cave (short for arcade-cave), where I have about 500 plushies that I've sorted in plastic bags by category: Pokémon, anime, holiday, video game, Squishmallows, etc. I also donate excess inventory to charities, especially around the holidays. If I win 10 plush in one session and can only sell six, I'll donate the rest. I've donated over 1,000 toys. It's good for the community and helps manage space. My long-term goal is to open a claw machine arcade The business has grown beyond what I expected. Between selling plush, running a TikTok channel called "ArcadeFriends," and getting recognized at arcades, this is now a meaningful part of my life and income. Eventually, I want to open my own arcade and stock it with curated plushies I know people love. I'll also set the machines so people can actually win. Until then, I'll keep running my plush side hustle, one claw at a time. Do you have a story to share about profitable side hustles? Contact the editor at jorwig@
Hypebeast
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
The Air Jordan 5 "Tokyo23" Returns This Year
Name:Air Jordan 5 'Tokyo23'Colorway:Yellow/Multi-ColorSKU:IO3372-700MSRP:$210 USDRelease Date:September 27Where to Buy:Nike Jordan Brandhas proven that no grail in its archive is above being re-released. We explored this shift in strategy in afeaturelast year and the trend is set to continue with 2011's Japan-exclusive Air Jordan 5'Tokyo23'making its return this fall for theAir Jordan 5's35th anniversary. The return of the Air Jordan 5 'Tokyo23' was rumored previously and has now been confirmed with a first look at this year's version of the shoe surfacing. As expected, it stays true to the 2011 original by featuring a bright yellow suede upper that is complemented by white and gray detailing at the netting, lacing system, and tongue. A special Kanji version of the lateral heel's '23' callout is also present with black embroidery. According to the original rumorreportfrom zSneakerHeadz, two version of the shoe possibly exist, perhaps in a similar manner to this year'sUNDEFEATEDx Air Jordan 4. At the time of writing, Jordan Brand has not shared any updates regarding the return of the Air Jordan 5 'Tokyo23.' Stay tuned for updates, including official images of the pair, as we currently expect it to drop on September 27 via Nike SNKRS and select retailers at a starting price of $210 USD.
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Music lovers urged to check old CD collection for albums worth up to £8k
With the rise of digital streaming services, CDs and vinyl records were quickly rendered obsolete, but they are now making a comeback as people return to physical media in droves CDs and vinyl records, once considered relics of the past due to the rise of MP3s and global streaming services, are making a surprising comeback. Nostalgia is proving to be a profitable business, with people flocking back to physical media in droves. This means those old discs gathering dust on your shelf or in your car could now be worth a small fortune. Collectors are willing to shell out hundreds, even thousands, for rare CDs from artists like David Bowie to Michael Jackson. These coveted CDs were often released in limited quantities or exclusively overseas, while others were recalled for various reasons. Take for example, Bruce Springsteen's The Future of Rock and Roll, a promo-only compilation released in Japan in 1988, is now extremely rare and can fetch around £1,100. One eBay user is currently listing their copy for £907. Prince's My Name Was Prince follows a similar story, reports the Express. Only 50 copies of this Japan-exclusive collection were made in 1993 to promote the 12-track album The Hits/The B Side. Its rarity makes it almost impossible to find, with collectors ready to part with up to £5,000 for a copy. Paris Hilton's brief stint in the music industry may have ended years ago, but her debut album Paris is now highly sought after. This is all thanks to famous London graffiti artist Banksy who, in 2006, secretly distributed around 500 fake copies of the album in 48 UK shops. He swapped the original booklet with his own artwork and replaced the disc with one featuring Danger Mouse remixes. These rare CDs can fetch prices anywhere from £750 to a jaw-dropping £8,000. The first Now That's What I Call Music 4 album was released in 1984 and marked the first Now album on CD, but only 500 copies were made. Sadly, the 15-track compilation was reissued in 2019 so it's not incredibly rare, but original discs can still command between £200-£400. Only 150 copies of Coldplay's 1998 EP The Safety were up for sale, with the remaining 350 supposedly given to family, friends, and label executives. It's now one of the most valuable CDs from Chris Martin's band and lucky music fans who have one can reportedly flog it for around £1.5k. Nirvana dropped a single titled Pennyroyal Tea in April 1994 as an alternative version of the song of the same name on their 1993 album In Utero. It was later pulled following Kurt Cobain's death the same month. A few copies are still floating around and now sell for around £1.5k-£2k. Michael Jackson memorabilia has always been hot property, especially after his sudden death in 2009. However, the most sought-after disc is the single 'Smile' due to its mysterious disappearance. This CD, released exclusively in Austria in 1997 and later discontinued without a reissue, has made the remaining copies worth a staggering £1k-£1.5k. David Bowie's 'Sound + Vision' is another gem not to be missed. This 1989 compilation, one of only 350 ever produced, reportedly fetched over £4k on eBay in 2013. This collector's item boasted 49 tracks, a video disc, a 72-page booklet, and was housed in a basswood and birch box. Subsequent editions released in 1990 are currently trading between £70-£350. So, it seems it's time to start rummaging. Complete list of CDs that collectors are on the hunt for: The Future of Rock and Roll (Bruce Springsteen) My Name Was Prince- Japan-only compilation (Prince) Paris- 2006 Banksy/Danger Mouse edition (Paris Hilton) Now That's What I Call Music 4 The Safety EP (Coldplay) Pennyroyal Tea (Nirvana) Smile (Michael Jackson) Sound + Vision (David Bowie)
Japan Today
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Randy's Donuts Japan announces grand opening date for Tokyo, Japan-exclusive sweets
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24 Earlier this year our sweets sensors began happily tingling at the news that Randy's Donuts will be coming to Japan, and not just as a limited-time pop-up promotion either. The Los Angeles landmark donut chain, known for its tasty treats and colossal donut signs, is opening its first-ever shop in Japan. We now we finally know when it'll open, and we've got a sneak peek at some of its Japan-exclusive items too. May 15 is the date to mark on your calendar for the grand opening of the Randy's Donuts Shibuya Daikanyama Branch. That lengthy name is because while the shop is in downtown Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, it's closer to the fashionably laidback Daikanyama Station than perpetually hustling and bustling Shibuya Station. Situated in the Log Road Daikanyama plaza a short walk north from the station, Randy's will, of course, have its customary giant donut signage in place, and a total of 40 seats both inside and on its terrace for those choosing to eat in. They'll be baking their donuts in-store daily, promising some 40 different flavors priced between 300 and 600. Among the earliest offerings will be two Japan-exclusive creations, the first of which is the L.A. Blue Custard Cream. Randy's says the color is meant to bring to mind the sky on a sunny day in Los Angeles, but between the stylized rendering of the city's initials and the specific shade of bold blue, it's pretty obvious that the cream-filled donuts are also meant make people think of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who, thanks to the presence of Shohei Ohtani and other prominent Japanese baseball stars on the roster, are Japan's favorite Major League Baseball team by a very wide margin these days. Also exclusive to Randy's Donuts Japan will be the Strawberry Chocolate Texas. 'Texas' is the term Randy's uses for its jumbo-sized donuts, which at 380 grams are almost four times as heavy as their standard-size donuts, and boast a circumference of 16 centimeters. Merch-wise, the Shibuya Daikanyama Randy's will have commemorative tumblers for its lemonade drinks, showing the Tokyo store… …and T-shirts with an LA ▶ Tokyo marking on the sleeve. It's also worth pointing out that Randy's Donuts is referring to this as 'branch number one' for Japan, hinting at more locations opening up in other parts of Tokyo or the country at a future time. Location information Randy's Donuts (Shibuya Daikanyama branch) / ランディーズドーナツ（渋谷代官山店） Address: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Daikanyama-cho 13-1, Log Road Daikanyama L2 所 在 地：〒150-0034 東京都渋谷区代官山町13-1 LOG ROAD DAIKANYAMA L2棟 Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Website Source: PR Times, Randy's Donuts Japan Insert images: PR Times, Randy's Donuts Japan Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Japan Super Budget Dining – What's the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Mister Donut? -- Pastrami donuts? Krispy Kreme Japan has crazy palate-cleanser after all that Valentine's choco -- Japan's do-it-yourself cat donut-decorating kit lets you make all kinds of sweet treats【Photos】 External Link © SoraNews24
