Everyone has a first time, and the first time always feels the greatest, especially if you are doing something you have a passion for.
For me, this was my first scaled figurine.
Actually, it wasn’t the first in my collection, considering I bought a Revoltech Revy and an Evangelion Apostle-XX figurine before that. However, when we talk about figurines, I feel that only scaled figurines should be official categorized as figurines, while other stuff such as action figures and non-scaled small figurines should be categorized as toys.
I grabbed this twin figurine while during my first day in Akihabara, far back in mid-December 2006. I could still remember the first store I entered and made my purchase in. Laox. I was browsing through the multiple levels of the store, feeling an extreme surge of excitement with each level I scaled. After all, it was my first time in Akihabara, and the massive amount of figurines and otaku merchandise would make any newbie to the scene cream in his pants.
Ah, this brings back the memories…
Before I headed over to Japan, I watched Evangelion, and fell for Rei. And with that love, I came to Akihabara with the thought of getting myself some Rei figurines. This was the first one which I saw, and it was going at a rather reasonable price of around 6,000 yen. However, I tried to resist the temptation and moved on. It wasn’t long though, before I ran back and eventually made the purchase. That was the first purchase that tainted my soul. Followed by that purchase soon came more otaku dollars spent. Of course, the details of the rest isn’t important, since people only care about your first time. Your first love, your first kiss, your first whatever.
Thinking back, it’s been over a year since then. Time really passes in a flash, doesn’t it?
During that trip, I was travelling with my friend and his family as no one in my family could make any time for it. We both bought quite a number of figurines, and his grandparents started complaining and ranting on about how our purchases were a total waste of money. My friend’s cousin rebutted with a line that makes me laugh when I think about it.
Grandparents : “Stop buying such useless plastic stuff. It’s a waste of money.”
Cousin : “It’s not a waste of money. This are decorations for my room. And they are much cheaper than that vase of yours. Prettier too.”
Grandparents : “…”
Next time, you know what to do when your family complains about your figurine collecting hobby ^^
It is a pity that I lost my trip’s pictures when my computer screwed up, or I could have posted some rather nice photos. There were a whole lot of snowy sceneries from Hokkaido, not something which you would get to see often.
Share your experience when you first found your “Core Drill”!!!
Anyway, how about you? What was your first figurine purchase, and how did you feel at that time? Feel free to share your experiences as detailed as you want to! After all, I’m sure everyone finds it interesting to read about someone else’s first experience.
LOL to that conversation between your friend’s cousin and his grandpa. XD
LOL that’s a good response.
My first figure purchase was a 1/6 scale Asahina Mikuru in a black bunny costume… I couldn’t help but pay for the overpriced figure from the store and head home eagerly. I was dying to open the dust-covered box to
lickadmire my prize. My only problem was fitting her feet into the stand and making her stand without the support… but it didn’t work so I had to use the support =/I wish you could tell me that those two figurines in the first pic. come in scale 1:1.
My first Scale figure was the Banpresto Renji From BLeach. not sure if you can count it a scale figrue but he’s about a 1/8-1/7 size i’d say. It was Anime Expo ‘06 and i was so into bleach at the time and i loved renji (what was i thinking?). So when we walked into the vendors hall i was astounded by the amount of otaku related products but i was drawn to the figure booths first. This one booth had an overstock of renji and they were trying to get rid of him so i got him for a good price. I was so excited and from there i just kept buying more and more figures…
I have that figurine too!
lol… I’m gonna earn myself more scolding if I tell that to my grandma, not that she wastes her money on expensive stuff anyways XD
ah, now I’m having flashbacks of my first ever Japan trip~ XD How I wish for that again. I’ve never bought a figurine in my entire life though, unless that L-nendroid I bought will be counted as one :3
My first ever figure purchase was also done in Akihabara. Bought the Max Factory’s Tsukimiya Ayu, in order to pair with my first ever pre-order, Sawatari Makoto. Ever since that first pre-order, my money has been flying away at a constant rate or about 80-100SGD per month. I wonder how am I going to survive when I don’t have an income? (Going into Uni very soon) Guess I need a part-time job! I wish I could regret, but sadly I don’t. I’m sure more purchases will continue for a very long time lol (Got 6 pre-orders till July!).
Choo, IcyStorm > You guys should try that response when you have a chance =P
Bakaneko > Haha, if they were scaled 1:1, I would never be able to get them.
Dancing Queen > I see your hobby has grown a whole lot ^^
sentinel011 > Only cool people have this 1/8 scaled figurine of Rei and Asuka. LOL
usagijen > Hmm, you should stay pure from figurine collecting then. Once you are tainted, there’s no turning back.
Hirito > I’ve slowed down a whole lot, with only 4 preorders as of now. I used to buy and buy without thinking in the past, and thinking back makes me laugh at how ridiculous my purchases were.
Haha I am in that buy-and-buy phase maybe, or just out of it. But I only buy for figures I really want/like/interested in. I guess my first was probably School’s Rumble Yakumo, scaled, that is, from Good Smile Company. Was around 2005 when I bought it.
My first figurine is Amuro Ray… and he’s $6. Not the best figurine, but I agree with you that it felt nice.