Rare Junk: Japanese VHS

Rare junk. It’s a beautiful thing. For collectors, discovering the holy grail of your collection is a climatic, unforgettable experience. The extensive search has ended! That prized possession you’ve always wanted and have been hunting for years is finally yours. Rejoice! But once in a blue moon, you stumble upon an uncommon object in your collecting quest. An object that’s completely new to you. Sometimes these items are so rare, it’s like discovering a completely new species. You’ve never seen anything like it. No, this isn’t the holy grail you’ve been searching for, but it’s almost better - powering a new sense of accomplishment.

Rare Junk is dedicated to those unintentional, yet completely outlandish discoveries - ultra-rare TMNT items that you’ve never seen listed on eBay or at your local toy show. No action figures, only bizarre merchandise that decades ago found its way to store shelves all across the world.

They’re weird.
They’re rare.
They’re completely awesome.

Adjust your tracking, dudes. Consumer America was a mutant paradise in the 1990s with TMNT VHS tapes reigning supreme. Before it was declared dead media, the Turtles conquered the video cassette format in every way possible. From the standard cartoon episodes to strange PSAs for the Los Angeles subway system (yes, it's a real thing), the green machines were a VHS poster child. So it’s never surprising to discover old school tapes featuring the Turtles while scouring thrift stores and flea markets. There are so many out there, and I feel like I’ve come across all of them at some point in my travels. That is, until now...

International awesome! These imported VHS tapes feature episodes from the short-lived anime series that aired in Japan. If you’ve never seen it and don’t remember the show, there’s a reason for that - it never aired in America. You can easily find it online these days, so give it a watch. It’s a twisted and outlandish take on the Turtles, such a departure from anything the franchise had (and has) done. It’s almost hard to believe that this show existed at the same time as the original, American cartoon series. That’s what makes these Japanese VHS tapes so special. Their very existence is mystical, serving as both a time capsule and portal to an alternate, mutant reality. 

And I need to point out that the packaging is 👌

Both tapes are still sealed in a thin layer of foreign plastic. I don’t have the heart to open them, and instead, will just stare at them...maybe while eating pizza - pretending I’m at a fancy art exhibit, soaking in fine Japanese works and nibbling delicacies.

Much like the Michelangelo displayed on the back of this packaging, I’m giddy. Japanese Turtle Power will do that to ya.

I could go on and on about the awesomeness of these international VHS tapes. Clearly, I need a Turtle tape intervention. I'll just leave you with this, ピザ . The word pizza in Japanese! Well, at least according to Google Translate.

Be kind and rewind, dudes.

JAPAN - PART 5 Ending In Osaka

During a voyage to Japan, I relentlessly hunted for Japanese TMNT toys. What did I uncover? Pack your bags for a cowabunga-fueled trip to the Far East.

PREVIOUS ENTRIES

PART 1: Hello Tokyo

PART 2: Tokyo Continued

PART 3: The Final Days of Tokyo

PART 4: Calm In Kyoto

PART 5: ENDING IN OSAKA

Kyoto cleansed my conscious, but the city was a toy wasteland. The shrines and temples were spiritual centers for tourists, not comic con visitors. Osaka was the last leg of my journey, my last opportunity for Japanese toy discoveries.

JAPAN - PART 4 Calm In Kyoto

During a voyage to Japan, I relentlessly hunted for Japanese TMNT toys. What did I uncover? Pack your bags for a cowabunga-fueled trip to the Far East.

OTHER ENTRIES

PART 1: Hello Tokyo
PART 2: Tokyo Continued
PART 3: The Final Days of Tokyo
PART 5: Ending In Osaka

PART 4: CALM IN KYOTO

After seven time-warped days, my time in Tokyo reached its end. I made my way to the Shinkansen (bullet train) with my collection of Tokyo Turtle toys in tow.

The pulse of the city rushed me towards the train station. I hurried through the streets in a rapid fury. But, why was I racing against the clock? I had no set agenda. Next on my itinerary, Kyoto - a mellow and restful place. I slipped into a calm state of mind in preparation.

My pace slowed as the velocity of Tokyo zoomed by. But as if the toy quest wasn't ready to let me go, what suddenly appeared right before me? One final Tokyo toy store.

JAPAN - PART 3 The Final Days of Tokyo

During a voyage to Japan, I relentlessly hunted for Japanese TMNT toys. What did I uncover? Pack your bags for a cowabunga-fueled trip to the Far East.

OTHER ENTRIES

PART 1: Hello Tokyo
PART 2: Tokyo Continued
PART 4: Calm In Kyoto
PART 5: Ending In Osaka

PART 3: THE FINAL DAYS OF TOKYO

The globe kept spinning and the days carried on. A few nights of sleep extinguished the brutal jet lag of my 13 hour flight. Now, I was deep into the city of Tokyo - exploring every facet of the urban ecosystem.

By the fourth day, I was drifting among the hordes of people who crowded a local street market in the Ueno ward.

I roved through, eying whole octopi and other bizarre snacks that were available for consumption. My mind had officially migrated to Japan, abandoning the desire to sniff out toys.

The narrow alley opened to a blur of cars on a busy street. As I waited at the crosswalk, something grabbed my attention...

Multi-storied TURTLES.

JAPAN - PART 2 Tokyo Continued

During a voyage to Japan, I relentlessly hunted for Japanese TMNT toys. What did I uncover? Pack your bags for a cowabunga-fueled trip to the Far East.

OTHER ENTRIES

PART 1: Hello Tokyo
PART 3: The Final Days of Tokyo
PART 4: Calm In Kyoto
PART 5: Ending In Osaka

PART 2: TOKYO CONTINUED

The second day of my trip, I exited my hotel with a mission - dive into the world of Japanese art. Museums are a relaxing way to explore a city, feel inspired, and best of all, stay cool when temperatures flare. The Hara Museum of Contemporary Art provided all of this. I wandered through the hushed rooms, gazing upon every installation in awe. Each piece was a rousing window to the imaginative mind of its creator.

Riddled with inspired energy, I left the museum. The comfort of air conditioning instantly vanished as the suffocating heat took control. I battled, but ultimately lost to the sweltering temperatures. The sun blasted so bright, even dogs wore sunglasses.

I swam through the swamp of humidity and arrived at the Akihabara ward. This section of Tokyo is a video game mecca. I took myself on a self-guided walking tour through this museum-like district.

JAPAN - PART 1 Hello Tokyo

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They train, battle, and protect on a daily basis. They are champions of good - living up to their title of "Heroes in a Halfshell." And their reward? A life in the sewers.

We normal humans work easy jobs in comparison. We sit at a desk for 8 measly hours a day, battling no evils, and yet we still demand time off. The Turtles never get that chance to escape. Vacation opportunities don't exist for mutants.

But, me? I'm no Ninja Turtle. Traveling is my favorite. I enjoy exploring the globe, experiencing different cultures, and chowing down on exotic cuisine. But most of all, I love hunting for toys. The thrill escalades when you're battling the language barrier and converting the currency in your head, all in the mayhem of a foreign land.

Recently, I ventured to Japan - a country steeped in culture and toys. It's also the birthplace of ninjas. That's right, NINJAS. If it weren't for Japan, the Teenage Mutant NINJA Turtles would be radically different, possibly nonexistent (*shudders*). The country plays a crucial role with our beloved characters and their origins.

I was relentless in my quest for Japanese TMNT merchandise. I combed the crowded streets of Tokyo, wandered the spiritual shrines of Kyoto, and navigated the twisted alleys of Osaka - all for the sake of Turtle Power.

Pack your bags for a radical, 5-part cowabunga-fueled trip to Japan. No passport required, dudes.