Hello, I’m Kendall, and I connect collectors like you to their next Japanese toy obsession.

Are you searching for a news or fan site of gashapon and kawaii collectibles? Are you traveling to Japan and searching for tips on where to shop for unique souvenirs? Or perhaps you’re simply a passerby, enchanted by small, adorable trinkets. Either way, pull up a chair (preferably a tiny one—comically, preciously small!) and settle in.

Kawaii Capsule is the destination for you.

A Lifetime of Enchantment and Ephemera

I’ve been collecting kawaii ephemera since girlhood, captivated by Japanese mascots and their seemingly mystical personalities. In elementary school, my class was assigned pen pals from around the world, and I was paired with a girl around my age from Tokyo, Japan. Each letter arrived on stationery unlike anything I’d seen in rural Alabama: covered in precious characters, with lively, twinkling stickers and sweet handmade charms featuring Sailor Moon or Hello Kitty. My plain notebook paper paled in comparison, and I sheepishly drew in the margins with markers to imitate the magic I felt leaping from her pages. 

Since then, the fascination has lived on—a line I can trace throughout my life. A life filled with stickers, manga, Hello Kitty alarm clocks, and, finally, gachapon. However, as a career creative and new mother, life is more rigid these days. There’s less time for travel. There are fewer selfish moments in the day. There are fewer silly alarm clocks and, yes, less ephemera collected. 

But it doesn’t need to be that way. With proxy shipping from Japan and blogs providing tutorials, the guesswork can be taken out of hobbies. Global audiences and fans can easily collect from their homes with the click of a button. And I’m happy to share my tips and tricks with you, because as travel becomes more expensive, you shouldn’t lose out on the things that bring you joy. 

If you’re interested in gachapon, kawaii collectibles, Japanese ephemera, and other adorable, joyful content, consider subscribing to Kawaii Capsule. I update at least twice a week with relevant news and helpful guides. I’d love to have you as part of the community!

And if you’re looking to collaborate or trade gashapon display tricks, drop me a line any time.