dmooretoys
11-15-2005, 11:56 PM
I love chasing down foreign paperwork and one area I am really deficient on is the Japanese paperwork. A friend sent me a really cool Japanese secret file that I have never seen before. I would really like to know what this is from because I'm not entirely sure it is from the vehicles.
First, here is a link to an ebay auction that shows the typical vehicle insert:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Takara-Japanese-GI-Joe-WOLVERINE-1984-MIB_W0QQitemZ6014078763QQcategoryZ2467QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem
Now here are a few scans of some of the pages from this Secret File:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dmooretoys/detail?.dir=b0e6&.dnm=86d1.jpg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dmooretoys/detail?.dir=b0e6&.dnm=8db9.jpg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dmooretoys/detail?.dir=b0e6&.dnm=33a1.jpg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dmooretoys/detail?.dir=b0e6&.dnm=8cbf.jpg&.src=ph
This Secret File #1 is a total of 22 pages in length. What's really cool about it is some of the pictures shown are of vehicles that were never released in Japan. Has anyone ever seen a Japanese Flagg?
Any help with the origin of this file would be appreciated. Thanks!
Dan
dockingbay97
11-16-2005, 12:10 AM
I only have boxed versions of the FANG and Skystriker and sadly no Secret Files. I just have the brochures and mail away brochure.
I have never heard of the FLAGG being sold there but if there is anyone to ask, it is that seller knunt. He knows his stuff and is pretty friendly. I thought he used to use these boards but it has been a long time.
Bermuda Mohawk
11-16-2005, 05:01 PM
I love chasing down foreign paperwork and one area I am really deficient on is the Japanese paperwork. A friend sent me a really cool Japanese secret file that I have never seen before. I would really like to know what this is from because I'm not entirely sure it is from the vehicles.
This Secret File #1 is a total of 22 pages in length. What's really cool about it is some of the pictures shown are of vehicles that were never released in Japan. Has anyone ever seen a Japanese Flagg?
This booklet was issued originally as a prize/mail-in item. I have seen them packed into vehicles on 2 occassions when searching Yahoo Japan. I don't know if this was just run off, cause I know I have gotten plenty of items that have never had them, or more likely booklets won and then just thrown into boxes by the original owners.
The Japanese U.S.S.Flagg was about $600 and sold in very limited numbers. It was essentially the U.S. toy with stickers attached for the Japanese market.
I will have alot of info about the Japanese line once my site is going. There's some neat stuff that went on there in the short time the line was active.
Sephiroth
11-17-2005, 06:52 PM
I have a complete collection of all Japanese-released 3 3/4" figures and vehicles and that Secret File No. 1 was not packed with any of the items I bought. I did see an auction a long time ago for the phamplet that ended for $26 and I unfortunately forgot to bid on. There are a lot interesting things about the Takara Joes that a lot of people are unaware of like the molded Eagle and Cobra battle stands, Stalker being packed with some of the Dragonflies instead of Wild Bill, mysterious G-20, etc.
I was told by a Japanese GI Joe collector that five USS Flaggs were offered as contest prizes. I can't remember what type of contest it was, but from the page posted, it was possibly some kind of contest where you had to call to enter. I have never seen or heard of the USS Flagg being boxed/packaged for Japanese retail by Takara, even in limited quantities and certainly not anywhere near $600 or the equivalent yen price at the time. It is possible that some of the ones that were won in the contest were put up for sale. It is probably more likely that a few US versions were privately imported and sold.
Bermuda Mohawk
11-17-2005, 10:53 PM
I have a complete collection of all Japanese-released 3 3/4" figures and vehicles and that Secret File No. 1 was not packed with any of the items I bought. I did see an auction a long time ago for the phamplet that ended for $26 and I unfortunately forgot to bid on. There are a lot interesting things about the Takara Joes that a lot of people are unaware of like the molded Eagle and Cobra battle stands, Stalker being packed with some of the Dragonflies instead of Wild Bill, mysterious G-20, etc.
I was told by a Japanese GI Joe collector that five USS Flaggs were offered as contest prizes. I can't remember what type of contest it was, but from the page posted, it was possibly some kind of contest where you had to call to enter. I have never seen or heard of the USS Flagg being boxed/packaged for Japanese retail by Takara, even in limited quantities and certainly not anywhere near $600 or the equivalent yen price at the time. It is possible that some of the ones that were won in the contest were put up for sale. It is probably more likely that a few US versions were privately imported and sold.
Takara's own MSRP was 68,000yen. And it states clearly "200台限定販売", which says roughly "limited to 200 retail units." I don't know the exact rates that would have been in 1986-7, but I think $600 was a good enough esitmate. The telephone numbers you see in that booklet are pay service numbers kids could call and hear G.I.Joes tell them secret tips to fight Cobra, or inside info on how the Joe team operates. This was a very popular service offered by many companies. Takara evenetually released all the Transformers telephone messages on a CD in the 90's. I wonder if they even have the Joe messages anymore.
Just an added note. TRU Japan also sold U.S. packaged Joes in Japan during the 90's. I got a Firefly v.3 for 680yen.