January 8, 2025 (1y ago)
Sofubi are Japan’s soft vinyl figures—bright, weird, and deeply collectible. They mix classic kaiju vibes with modern art toy culture, and thanks to limited drops and niche events, fans around the world are hooked
Sofubi look like toys, but they’re really art collectibles for adults—meant to be displayed, not played with.
Sofubi started in the 1950s as cheap alternatives to wood and tin toys. The first soft vinyl doll appeared in 1953, and by the ’60s, brands like Marusan and Bullmark were pumping out Godzilla and Ultraman figures. In the ’90s, Harajuku street culture flipped sofubi into designer art toys made in small batches for collectors.
You’ll find sofubi at events like Wonder Festival and Design Festa, in shops like Mandarake and Jungle, or online through Mercari and Yahoo Auctions (usually via proxies). Most releases are lottery-based, which keeps demand—and resale prices—high.
The Anti–Funko Pop: Funko Pops are mass-produced and everywhere. Sofubi are handmade, limited, and actually feel special.
Peak Weirdo Art: No safe superheroes—just radioactive monsters, melting zombies, and psychedelic mutants. Rough, analog, and unapologetically strange.
Old-School, Risky Craft: Hot liquid vinyl, metal molds, spinning by hand. It’s dangerous, toxic, and very old-school. That’s why it feels unique—and costs $200, not $20.
Hype Is the Game: Most drops use raffles just to earn the right to buy. Retail: ~$150. Resale: $1,000+ if you score a grail