BANDAI SPIRITS
Bandai Spirits Co., Ltd. is the specialized hobby, high-end collectible, and prize division of the Bandai Namco Group, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Established to cater specifically to mature fans, adult figure collectors, and plastic model builders, the company produces world-renowned brands such as Gunpla, S.H.Figuarts, Metal Build, and Ichiban Kuji.
Cronologia
Panoramica
Bandai Spirits Co., Ltd. (株式会社BANDAI SPIRITS) is the specialized adult-oriented hobby, collectible, and prize manufacturing subsidiary of the Bandai Namco Group.
Formally incorporated on February 15, 2018, and operational starting April 1, 2018, the enterprise was created by spinning off Bandai's Hobby Business Department and Collectors Toy Business Department into a dedicated entity tailored to mature fans and hobbyists.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the company operates key production and development hubs, including the famous Bandai Hobby Center located in Shizuoka. Positioned as a global leader in the high-end collector market, Bandai Spirits manages four main divisions: Bandai Hobby, TAMASHII NATIONS, Banpresto, and the Lot & Innovation Division. Its comprehensive portfolio ranges from snap-fit plastic scale model kits to die-cast robotic figures, life-sized replica props, and ticket-based lottery items. Bandai Spirits maintains a major global direct-to-consumer footprint through flagship retail locations in key markets such as Tokyo, Shanghai, and New York.
Storia
The corporate lineage of Bandai Spirits extends back to the founding of Bandai-ya in 1950. Key historical milestones began when Bandai acquired a manufacturing plant in Shimizu in 1969, leading to the creation of the iconic CHOGOKIN Mazinger Z die-cast figure in 1974 and the 1980 debut of 1/144 scale Gundam plastic model kits (Gunpla).
Over the following decades, the company established core Gunpla assembly grades (HG, MG, PG) and launched mature-focused figure brands like Saint Cloth Myth (2003) and the TAMASHII NATIONS umbrella (2007). To better serve the growing worldwide adult collector demographic, the Bandai Namco Group restructured in 2018, establishing Bandai Spirits Co., Ltd.
Growth continued swiftly in April 2019 when Bandai Spirits absorbed prize figure manufacturer Banpresto Co., Ltd. and integrated the Ichiban Kuji lottery line. Subsequent operational highlights include launching the customizable 30 Minutes Label model kit series, opening permanent flagship stores globally, acquiring plush toy manufacturer Sunrise Co., Ltd. in 2022, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Chogokin brand in 2024.
I PEZZI DI BANDAI SPIRITS
Reputazione
Bandai Spirits enjoys an outstanding international reputation among collectors and modelers for superior engineering, mold accuracy, and high quality control. In the plastic model kit sector, the company revolutionized the hobby through multi-color injection molding technology at the Bandai Hobby Center, producing intricate snap-fit kits like Gunpla that require no glue or paint for assembly.
In high-end action figures and die-cast collectibles, TAMASHII NATIONS is considered an industry benchmark. Lines like S.H.Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou are acclaimed for crafting figure proportions from genuine anatomical skeletal designs, while Metal Build collectibles are prized for combining heavy die-cast metal joints with dynamic aesthetic redesigns. With the global integration of Banpresto and dedicated flagship stores in major global metropolises, Bandai Spirits maintains a trusted standard across both affordable prize figures and luxury collector lines.
In 2026, Bandai Spirits is expanding into tabletop wargaming with Gundam Assemble, featuring 5cm paintable plastic Mobile Suit miniatures.
