Ichiban Kuji

Operating as Bandai Spirits' massively popular premium lottery system in Japan, Ichiban Kuji (literally translating to "Number One Lottery") is a cornerstone of the anime figure hobby. Rather than buying a figure outright, fans purchase tickets at convenience stores or hobby shops for a guaranteed prize, ranging from towels and art boards at the lower tiers, to the highly coveted, masterfully sculpted "A-Prize" and "Last One Prize" figures. For hardcore in-box collectors, genuine Japanese Ichiban Kuji releases are fiercely hunted for their exclusive packaging and the authentic, colored licensing stickers (like the Toei Gold sticker) that prove their direct-from-Japan origin.