Mar 31 (Nikkei) - A unit of Japanese toymaker Bandai Namco Holdings is raising production and fighting scalpers to ease a chronic shortage of its Gundam plastic model kits, as demand for them soars among homebound fans.
At an electronics store here, shelves dedicated to Gundam plastic models, or Gunpla for short, were covered in out-of-stock signs and signs urging one item per customer.
"Popular items sell out within 10 minutes of us stocking them," a store employee said.
Gunpla, based on the Mobile Suit Gundam anime franchise, have been in short supply since spring 2020. Models that were easily available four to five years ago have become rare finds, according to the store.
Interest in plastic models has surged during the coronavirus pandemic as people pursue hobbies that can be enjoyed at home. Total shipments of plastic model kits in Japan increased by nearly 20% in the fiscal year through Thursday to 45 billion yen ($365 million), according to an estimate by the Tokyo-based Yano research Institute.
Gunpla are especially popular. "Demand is outpacing supply by 10% or more by shipment value," said Hiroshi Sakakibara, a director at Bandai unit Bandai Spirits, though he added the company's expansive lineup and a large resale market make it difficult to grasp the whole picture.
