Toy animal kingdom

Thai collector instigates Japanese Kaiyodo migration

STORY BY CHOMPOO TRAKULLERTSATHIEN, PHOTOS BY WANCHAI THONGDUANG

Somchai Wongchangpun is neither an animal behaviourist nor anatomist. He holds no degree in zoology.

 

Yet, with his trained eyes, he is able to describe the anatomy of animals, whether domestic or wild, in minute detail and, more importantly, with great accuracy.

 

Though he has never set foot on any foreign land famed for their rare or exotic creatures, he can easily unlock the mysterious world of unfamiliar breeds, and, like academics in the field, identify their species in the blink of an eye.

 

Currently, a myriad of endangered animals, migratory and native birds, wild animals, small and giant reptiles, aquatic creatures, and even some extinct species are under his legal possession. They always look “gleaming” and “healthy” since his priority in life is providing them with attentive and tender care.

 

“Now I have some 10,000 animals under my charge. I’m so happy to be part of my small kingdom. Each breed carries its own fascinating beauty and distinct personality. I can’t imagine what it will be like living without them,” he mused.

 

Somchai loves spending time with the animals he loves, ranging from the majestic Macaw, the beautiful Alaskan crab, the slimy land snail to the Giant Salamander. In fact, he can even assemble all different parts together quickly and turn them into the wonderful toys identical to the live originals. Even those with elaborate body parts such as swimmerets, antennae or countless limbs are no problem for him – he remembers every single part and can assemble them deftly with his skilful and caring hands.

 

“I know all their body parts and enjoy playing with them all,” declared Somchai, smiling.

 

Thanks to the Japanese miniature models known among collectors as Kaiyodo, Somchai has been able to find a strong connection with other living things. And like a walking encyclopedia, this Kaiyodo enthusiast now holds a wealth of information. He is now the country’s veteran Kaiyodo connoisseur and his collection of rare and unique samples is sought after by many avid Kaiyodo collectors.

 

“What first started as a hobby has now become my passion. Kaiyodo is like a gateway to another vibrant community where I can learn more about animals of different species. I am now completely hooked,” he said.

 

At first glance, a Kaiyodo removable model, which is a replica of a domestic or wild animal, is like an ordinary toy equipped with no hi-tech mechanisms. But to Kaiyodo connoisseurs, the thumb-sized models are extraordinary because they feature the impeccable scale replicas which capture the right proportions, colours, details, and shapes of the live prototypes, making them superior to other playthings.

 

More significantly, Kaiyodo also serves as a source of knowledge since important information about certain breeds including their lifestyle, behaviour, habitat, diet and lifespan is also clearly elaborated in a small leaflet that is included with a Kaiyodo package. “Through the pocket-sized textbooks, collectors – me included – can enrich themselves of the historical and zoological background of certain species they love to collect,” said Somchai.

 

Actually, Kaiyodo is not produced directly for sale. It is a kind of giveaway that often accompanies several kinds of commodities including water, beer, chocolate, chewing gum and snacks. Kaiyodo is used as a sales promotion gimmick and it can successfully help increase total sales of particular products.

 

About 90 per cent of Kaiyodo are modelled on native Japanese animals. Others include Siamese cats of Thailand. New series are released annually on the condition that rare species are produced in small portions while the common breeds come in larger numbers. This can prompt many buyers to buy more in search of rarer samples.

 

According to Somchai, Kaiyodo has enjoyed its enormous popularity among Japanese collectors for several decades and the fad has never dwindled. At the moment, the popularity of Kaiyodo in Thailand is growing more and more intense since an increasing number of collectors are captivated by the eye-striking petite models.

 

“The fun part of collecting these tiny models is that you can interact with them. Most collectors enjoy dismantling each part of the animal’s body and then reassembling them. So the challenge is to put the right part to the right place,” he said.

 

“To me, it is not a common collectible toy but an extraordinary one that gives me hours of great fun whenever I feel the urge to play with it,” added Somchai.

 

Apart from the leisure aspect, Kaiyodo also has an educational element. The Science and Technology Ministry recently used them as a model to produce educational aids and one model represents a full life cycle of the butterfly.

 

“Through the Japanese models, the children can learn more about Japan’s indigenous animals. One series features marine creatures from the Japanese sea. The other presents wild animals in one forest reserve,” he said.

 

In fact, what first started as an enjoyable hobby has now become a lucrative business. After spending several years collecting Kaiyodo, Somchai now wants to share his passion with like-minded people. A friend who runs a business in Japan has been helping him auction Kaiyodo from the local manufacturer. He manages to get hold of about 800 pieces a year, and through his Kaiyodo shop at JJ Mall, his products have become hot commodities among toy devotees and pet lovers who eagerly anticipate each new series and are willing to pay through the nose for rare items.

 

“Some animal lovers are happier to keep Kaiyodo pets rather than real ones since they require much less care. One of my clients who is a cat and dog lover always comes to see me,” he said.

 

Birds and fish are also popular among Thai Kaiyodo admirers. The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac and some auspicious animals like roosters, cranes and pigs are also in great demand. The price of Kaiyodo varies from 10 to several thousand baht.

 

Somchai was first exposed to Kaiyodo models a few years ago when he came across a small parrot and a bantam at a toy shop. Due to their delicate features and eye-catching appearances, these two replicas managed to make him part with his money, and not a small sum at that.

 

“Two models that caught my attention looked exactly like their real life counterparts. What amazed me was that they were so small yet all of their body parts were removable,” he recalled.

 

After the bird and the bantam, Somchai began to welcome more and more animals to his menagerie.

 

“I thought I would stop at those two models but it turns out that the more I see them, the more I like them, and now I realise that I really can’t stop,” he laughed.

 

Somchai conducts research on his new collections by reading books, asking experts, and watching his most favourite television programmes.

 

“I spend three hours a day watching animal documentaries. It is necessary to know about their lives, otherwise they are like strangers to me,” said the avid collector.

 

Recently, Somchai won the bidding for a rare sets of dancing frogs, a process that took six months. In addition, he also owns a lovely series called Beloved Pets, which are now popular among pet devotees.

 

“The dancing frogs are one of my most beautiful and rare items. That is why their prices are exorbitant. They are popular in Japan and Hong Kong, and are now the latest trend in Thailand. Normally, we are six months behind those two countries in terms of trends because their collectors have more purchasing power. But it doesn’t bother me at all. I collect for fun, not for competition,” said Somchai.

 

Though now his collection is considered one of the best in Thailand, Somchai is always looking for new acquisitions.

 

“I am still looking for many species, especially those native to Japan because they are produced in smaller numbers. I am waiting to add the Giant Salamander to my collection. If possible, I want to collect all species on the planet because I want to know about them all,” he said.

 

In the future, Somchai plans to open a small museum where people can appreciate the animals of the world up close. Now his Kaiyodo shop temporarily serves this function because part of his collection is exhibited there.

 

“Collecting Kaiyodo models makes me see value in other living things. Now some animals are known through Kaiyodo models. In fact, I don’t want to collect any extinct creatures. But I want to collect all species still existing on the Earth. If we don’t join force to correct the situation, our children will get to know some animals only through Kaiyodo,” he said.