BODY: If you thought the Super Mario Bros. Movie merchandise wave was big, the Galaxy sequel is about to take it to another dimension — literally. Bandai Spirits' Ichiban Kuji lottery prize series for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie goes on sale tomorrow, April 24, across Japan.
The lottery-style prizes will be available at Seven-Eleven and Ito-Yokado convenience stores, as well as all four Nintendo retail locations — Nintendo TOKYO, Nintendo OSAKA, Nintendo KYOTO, and Nintendo FUKUOKA. Each draw costs 750 yen (approximately $5 USD) and guarantees a prize, with items themed around fan-favorite characters including Yoshi and the Lumas (Chiko).
Ichiban Kuji (一番くじ) is Bandai's hugely popular prize lottery system where customers pay a flat fee per draw and always receive something, with prizes ranked from the top-tier "A Prize" down through "Last One Prize" — a special award given to whoever draws the final ticket. The format has been a staple of Japanese anime and gaming merchandise culture for years, and high-tier prizes from popular franchises regularly sell out within hours.
The Galaxy-themed lineup arrives as anticipation builds for the sequel to 2023's blockbuster The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned over $1.3 billion worldwide. Nintendo and Illumination's follow-up shifts the action to outer space, drawing from the beloved Wii titles that introduced gravity-bending platforming and the adorable star-child companions known as Chiko in Japanese (Lumas in the English localization).
The insider take
Ichiban Kuji drops at convenience stores are a genuine event in Japan — regulars know to show up early, and popular series can sell through their entire allotment before lunch. The fact that Nintendo's own retail stores are included as vendors signals this is a premium collaboration, not just a standard konbini tie-in. For collectors outside Japan, expect aftermarket prices on proxy sites like Buyee and Mercari Japan to spike quickly on the top-tier figures. If you're in Tokyo, your best bet is lining up at Nintendo TOKYO in Shibuya Parco before doors open.
Originally reported by 映画ナタリー - 最新ニュース (Japanese).