Japanese Transformers 1985 – 1987

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Maz

Why am I so expensive?

Have you ever wondered why collectors are always going on about Japanese Transformers? What makes people pay nearly twice as much for a Japanese TF compared to a US version of the same toy? Are they actually the same? “Drag”, “Stepper”, “Soundblaster”, aren’t those just really bad 80s bands? Well, I’m going to provide you with some answers!

Japanese G1 Transformers and their associated exclusive releases remain one of the hottest areas of vintage Transformers collecting. The hugely successful and popular original G1 Transformers were finally mass-released in Japan in 1985, compared to 1984 in the US and parts of Europe. In 1985, Japan not only received the first wave of 1984 moulds and figures, but also the 1985 characters and toys under the banner of “Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformer”.

The Takara releases of G1 Transformers exhibited some major differences from the US/UK Hasbro versions, most notably in terms of packaging and presentation, designation and in some cases the actual toys themselves and their names.

Look, no parts!

"Drag" (Huffer). Honestly. There's "Gong" too...

In general the Japanese packaging was smaller and more compact, and contained styrofoam inserts reminiscent of the Takara Diaclone and Microchange packaging that had housed the original versions of these moulds before Transformers ever came about.

Looking at the designations, 1-15 were the first Cybertrons (Autobots), 16-24 were the first Destrons (Decepticons), 25-30 more Cybertrons, 31-37 The Constructicons, 38-39 and 44-47 Cybertrons, and 40-43 plus 48 and 49 were Destrons. These made up the first batch of Japanese Transformers releases. After those initial slightly confusing designations, Takara split the two factions into C-50 and onwards for Cybertrons and D-50 and onwards for Destrons at the start of the 2010 line.

VSZ set, Skids & Sunstreaker vs Buzzsaw. Fair fight?

I was meant to be an Autobot

The Japanese exclusive releases are very sought after and they include a white/black version of Astrotrain, chrome-free version of Megatron with no stock parts, the VSX, VSY and VSZ sets which contained both Autobots and Decepticons in a giftset format and Reflector with its own artwork amongst other things.

C-121 Gurafi, C-122 Noizu, C-123 Dairu, C-124 Zauru, one horrified wallet.

D-101 Soundblaster and C-116 Twincast, basically Soundwave & Blaster but one cup size up.

The Japanese exclusives were not limited to just packaging and colour, but actual characters and moulding. The above 4 “Dinocassettes”, Soundblaster and Twincast were exclusive Takara moulds unreleased elsewhere and held huge market value for many years. Probably the most sought-after and expensive of the 1987 exclusives are C-108 Artfire and C-109 Stepper, repainted targetmaster versions of Inferno and Jazz respectively.

C-109 Stepper + Nebulon, C-108 Artfire + Fracas

In addition to the above, Japanese exclusive giftsets also provided another key area of collecting and desire amongst fans.

Goodbye Megatron giftset (Starscream - Megatron)

The Goodbye sets (Megatron and Convoy) not only included exclusive posters but interesting and sometimes different versions of the toys themselves. Japan also received mass-release giftset versions of Bruticus, Predaking and Abominus where the US didn’t, and as a part of the Headmasters series Takara also re-released the Diaclone Trainbots as Autobots individually and as a giftset for the combiner C-131 Raiden.

Takara exclusive C-131 Raiden giftset

Collector's cards. Can you spot "Butt" and "Wipe" ?

As well as the exclusive toys, recolours, moulds and giftsets, from partway through 1986, Takara started to include attractive collector’s cards with their Transformers releases.

Despite many reissues, this area of collecting remains popular and many of the above items have maintained their value over the years due in part to the highly displayable and collectible nature of the releases. Some in fact now have increased in value as their true rarity has become more apparent due to larger numbers of collectors focusing on Japanese Transformers. The more obscure items like non-exclusive JTFs in Takara packaging have come to the fore as well.

Of course, Japan did not receive everything, there were no vintage releases of Skylynx, Omega Supreme or Targetmaster versions of Cyclonus, Scourge, Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr to name but a few. Some things were also only available by mail order, like Ratchet, Gnaw and the Omnibots.

The exclusive packaging and artwork of these figures demonstrates the special appeal of Japanese Transformers and just why it is such a unique category. And to think, 1985 to 1987 is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Japanese exclusives and what really made them memorable and desireable…

Many thanks to Marco Salerno for Artfire/Stepper pics.

All the best
Maz