Buddhist Action Figures: Collect ‘Em All
Comments: 12
Is there anywhere else but Japan where you can walk into a convenience store and buy a full-colour collectible Buddhist Action Figure in a box … along with some chocolate-covered almonds?
I couldn’t resist, naturally, and now the mighty Kongourikishi stands guard atop an external hard drive against the pernicious demons of bad karma and data corruption.
Here’s the box. It says “Sekai no Shinwa” — Legends of the World. Below that, The Second series of Buddhist Mythology. Second series!
The red box at lower right says that there are 11 pieces in this series, plus a mystery one that they aren’t telling what it is. People will be scouring Yahoo! auctions trying to find that mystery piece.
The back of the box says these figures are not recommended for people under 12 years of age.
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Posted to Oh, the Humanity • 2003.04.28 (Mon) • 22:57
Comments
Posted by Curmudgeon 2003.04.28, 23:42
Awesome, but you’re going to need the other half-naked muscleman to complete the set. The buff Buddhist dude you’ve picked up has his mouth open, making the sound “ah”, the alpha of the Sanskrit alphabet and thus representing eternity. The other stud muffin pictured on the box has his lips closed in the sound for “un”, the omega of Sanskrit and signifying completeness. You’re only half-protected, I’m afraid. While you’re at, you should also get the four heavenly kings (shi-tennou) action figures to surround your computer and guard the cardinal directions. Remember, the most dangerous direction is north - that’s where viruses originate.
Posted by gomichild 2003.04.29, 00:12
runs to the conbini
Posted by jh 2003.04.29, 00:54
Curmudgeon —- Gee willackers, you know you’re stuff. Or have you been collecting these …? There’s an information card that comes with each figure, and the one I got backs up everything you said (apart from being only half protected, but then I should have know this).
The card even provides a diagram showing how you should arrange the figures … just as you said (again, they didn’t mention computers, but then they don’t need to, right? We all know what these are for).
Posted by Jake of 8bitjoystick.com 2003.04.29, 01:46
That one looks like Fujin the Shinto wind god.
Posted by Jesper 2003.04.29, 02:59
Are there any atheist collector’s items? :)
Posted by Witold 2003.04.29, 07:52
so nice… all we have available here in the States seem to be these here. Hmm… ; )
Posted by MistaSparkle 2003.05.09, 17:28
Which conbini did you pick those up in. I want my very own protective gods!!
Posted by j. brotherlove 2003.10.12, 01:41
dead @ “atheist collector’s items”
I’m not sure if this is cool or frightening. But I can see how the urge to grab one was irristesbale. Of course, now you HAVE to complete the set.
Posted by Gaijin84 2004.01.06, 06:58
If you’re in New York City, they have these in Toy Tokyo. Also - here is the link to the official site. I’ve bought about 6 of the boxes (you don’t know who you’re going to get, every one is weighted the same and have identical boxes). So far all I’ve gotten are 4 of the Five Fearful Kings series, but they are well worth it.
Posted by Trinlay 2004.10.13, 00:06
Oh MY Ghod(ess)! this is AWESOME… must get the whole set, of course including Buddha and Kannon and….
So what was this about desire & suffering again?!
drooling and stammeringly yours,Trin’
Posted by Trinlay 2004.10.13, 00:07
oh AND CHOCOLATE…. wow, Buddhist Icons AND chocolate….
Posted by stasio 2004.10.26, 19:44
stasio mysli, ze smierdzicie
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