At the mention of childhood toys, many of us may vividly recall the rows of gashapon machines lined up outside a HDB mama shop. Some might have called it a ritual to take a peek and even shake the machines in hopes of obtaining the sacred capsule we were eyeing.

Fast forward to 2024, blind boxes have taken the nation by storm. Utilizing the same concept as gashapon, blind boxes encase mystery toys which are usually part of a collection or series. Collections are based on cartoons or original designs, and typically feature rare figurines, also known as secret figurines, that are harder to find than others. Although blind boxes originated in Japan in the 1980s, these addictive packages only regained popularity among Singaporeans in 2022.

Good luck collectors!