Ichiban Kuji & blind boxes · Complete Guide
Buy Ichiban Kuji and Blind Box Figures from Japan: Proxy Guide
Ichiban Kuji prizes and blind-box figures are some of Japan’s most collectible — and most frustrating to get from overseas, because they’re store-only, limited, and random. Here’s how to skip the lottery and get exactly the prize you want.
What Ichiban Kuji is
Ichiban Kuji (一番くじ) is a popular Bandai-run prize lottery sold at convenience stores, hobby shops and bookstores across Japan. You buy a ticket and immediately win a prize — there are no blanks. Prizes are themed around popular anime, games and characters, and range from large figures down to small goods like towels, mugs and rubber straps. Because each campaign is limited and only sold in Japan, the desirable figures quickly flow onto the secondhand market.
Prize tiers and the “Last One” prize
Prizes are ranked by letter tier, with the most desirable at the top:
- A / B prizes — the headline large figures; most sought-after.
- C, D, E… prizes — smaller figures and goods, descending in size/value.
- Last One prize (ラストワン賞) — a special prize given to whoever draws the final ticket; often an exclusive colorway, highly collectible.
- Double Chance — some campaigns offer a mail-in second chance for an extra exclusive.
When buying secondhand, listings will state the prize tier (e.g. “A賞”) so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Blind boxes, gacha and trading figures
Related but different: blind boxes and gacha (capsule toys) contain a random figure from a set. Popular lines (designer blind-box figures, trading figures, capsule series) drive duplicates and “chase” rarities. From overseas you have three options:
- Buy a sealed full set — guarantees one of each, no duplicates.
- Buy the specific opened figure you want from a reseller — best for a single chase or secret variant.
- Buy a sealed single box for the gamble — cheapest, but random.
How to buy the exact prize you want
- Identify the campaign and prize (e.g. the A-prize figure from a specific Ichiban Kuji set).
- Find it on a Japanese marketplace — resellers list won prizes on Mercari and Yahoo Auctions.
- Send the link to a proxy for a quote.
- Confirm condition — sealed vs opened, box state — before buying.
- Approve, pay, and have it forwarded to you.
What to check before buying
- Sealed vs opened — sealed prizes are safest; opened ones may have been displayed.
- Box condition — matters to collectors; ask for photos of corners.
- Complete contents — bases and accessories present.
- Authenticity — for very popular characters, bootlegs exist; favor high-rating sellers and compare to official images (see our figures guide).
Shipping, cost & customs
Total cost = item price + (domestic shipping) + proxy fee + optional services + international shipping + possible customs. Large A/B-prize figures come in big boxes, so volumetric weight and protective packing matter; small goods ship cheaply. Consolidating multiple prizes saves on shipping. Customs duties apply on arrival depending on your country.
Strategy: completing a set & timing campaigns
How you buy depends on whether you want one figure or the whole lineup:
- One specific prize — search for that exact tier (e.g. “A賞”) and buy it from a reseller. Simplest and usually cheapest per figure.
- A full set — some sellers list the complete prize lineup (often called a “コンプ” / complete set) in one go. More expensive up front, but cheaper than buying each separately and it guarantees no gaps.
- Split lots — sellers who drew many tickets sometimes break a campaign into part-lots; useful for grabbing several mid-tier prizes at once.
Timing matters too. Prices are highest right at launch, when demand peaks and supply is thin, then often settle in the weeks after as more drawn prizes hit the secondhand market — so unless you need it immediately, waiting a little can save money. The exception is the Last One prize and secret variants, which stay scarce. If you’re buying several large A/B-tier figures, plan for storage and for consolidated shipping, since the boxes are bulky. A proxy can watch listings and grab the right one when a fair price appears.
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Get a free quoteFrequently asked questions
What is Ichiban Kuji?
A Bandai lottery sold in Japan where every ticket wins a tiered prize (A, B, C…) plus a Last One prize. Popular prizes are resold on Japanese marketplaces.
Can I buy a specific Ichiban Kuji prize?
Yes — instead of drawing tickets, overseas buyers buy the exact prize from resellers on Mercari or Yahoo Auctions through a proxy.
How do blind boxes work?
They contain a random figure from a set. Buyers often pay more for a sealed full set or a specific opened figure to avoid duplicates and secure rare variants.
Are these figures ever fake?
Popular characters attract bootlegs. Favor high-rating sellers, buy sealed where possible, and compare against official images.