Keshi
Encyclopedia
Keshi aka keshigomu (消しゴム, for Keshi Gum) is the Japanese for eraser
. Modern reference to "keshi" is related to a collectible manga
/anime
character mini figure made of coloured hard gum. However, keshi is not restrictive to its etymology but a generic term as several gum types are used, from matte to transparent. Also, some lines, such as the "Cosmos Souls Keshi Gum" (コスモスザウルス消しゴム, kosumosu saurusu keshi gomu) uses plastic parts. Keshi figures are not necessarily based on Japanese comic book nor TV series franchises, since there are keshi dedicated to video games (Super Mario
, Zelda
, etc.) and some western lines are based on local mythologies and popular culture. A similar product is often mistaken with keshi, the pencil cap toy (ペンシル キャップ, penshiru kyappu) which appeared around the same period.
or in China
and exported.
This toy genre appeared in Japan
during the 1970s and became increasingly popular. Collectors would paint and expose Ultraman
, Fist of the North Star
, Dragon Ball, High School! Kimengumi
, Dai no Daibouken
, Dr. Slump
or even Kinnikuman
keshis (known as Kinkeshi
).
The first keshi exported outside Japan appeared in the late 1970s in Bonux packages, a Procter & Gamble
washing powder released in France
(and recently introduced in former USSR states such as Ukraine
). The Bonux brand was launched with the "cadeau Bonux" (the Bonux present) concept, a small value mini toy hidden inside the powder. Some keshi were part of these packages, including a 10-figure series of the, then, famous Monchhichi (モンチッチ). A monkey character created in 1974 by Koichi Sekiguchi and part of the first large scale, successful, exported Japanese anime franchises. The Bonux Monchhichi figures were 4.4/4.8 cm tall, chibikeshi styled, and available in seven different gums.
However the keshi phenomenon sped-up worldwide in the late 80s, early 90s, with a wave of gum toy lines named M.U.S.C.L.E. (Kinkeshi americanized), Fistful Of Monsters or Monster In My Pocket
in the United States
.
The same lines were also exported in Europe, sometimes under different names, e.g. M.U.S.C.L.E. became Exogini
in Italy and Cosmix
in France
. These franchises are actually composite bootleg lines including Kinkeshi/M.U.S.C.L.E., N.I.N.J.A.S. and Fistful Of Monsters, in the very same collection. Though, licensed lines appeared in Europe, including BeastFormer
localized as "Les Dragonautes" in France and Monster In My Pocket.
Around the same period, Keshi lines were also marketed in South East Asia, including South Korea
.
stores where collectors can sell and buy used keshis.
Bandai America has launched the M.U.S.C.L.E.'s series' sequel in the United States market only in 2003 as a 20th anniversary celebration of the original Kinkeshi (M.U.S.C.L.E.'s original name) line. The new American keshi line is named Micro Muscle Wrestlers.
line was created in the United States in the early 1990s as an answer to the massive success of the Japan imported M.U.S.C.L.E. (Kinkeshi). This line was exported in Europe and in Japan, where it is known as 米のモンスター消しゴム (American Monster Keshi Gum).
As a 20th anniversary celebration of its 1983~87 Kinkeshi line, the American branch of Bandai has launched the Micro Muscle Wrestler line in the United States
. Even though it is the sequel of the M.U.S.C.L.E. line (overseas version of the Kinkeshi Kinnikuman series), this Micro Muscle Wrestler are exclusively marketed in the USA.
boxsets (28), or the regular transparent plastic pack (3~6). Some lines have special packages like the Exogini
pyramid
ships (20/40) in Italy, or the 205-figure collector set released in Japan (Kinkeshi
). Some keshi are offered in washing powder packages, crisps or cereals bags. Catalogue color leaflets are included in Japanese capsule keshi, showing the series figures. Such series are named "PART", or its Japanese equivalent "パート" (pāto) and "ぱと" (pato), by Bandai and other brands.
matte color mini figures are the quickest types identified as keshi in western countries, due to the famous M.U.S.C.L.E. line, there are actually a wide variety of gum from matte to bright, from translucent to transparent, from white to black, including the deluxe painted types.
mini size keshi released by Bandai.
gum and similar to Playskool
's GLO Friends
contemporary mini figures line.
Eraser
An eraser or rubber is an article of stationery that is used for rubbing out pencil markings. Erasers have a rubbery consistency and are often white or pink, although modern materials allow them to be made in any color. Many pencils are equipped with an eraser on one end...
. Modern reference to "keshi" is related to a collectible manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
/anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
character mini figure made of coloured hard gum. However, keshi is not restrictive to its etymology but a generic term as several gum types are used, from matte to transparent. Also, some lines, such as the "Cosmos Souls Keshi Gum" (コスモスザウルス消しゴム, kosumosu saurusu keshi gomu) uses plastic parts. Keshi figures are not necessarily based on Japanese comic book nor TV series franchises, since there are keshi dedicated to video games (Super Mario
Super Mario
Super Mario may refer to:*Mario , a video game series by Nintendo- Video games :*Mario, the star character of Nintendo's Mario series...
, Zelda
The Legend of Zelda series
, occasionally called Legend of Zelda or simply Zelda, is a high fantasy action-adventure video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is developed and published by Nintendo, with some portable installments outsourced to Flagship/Capcom, Vanpool, and...
, etc.) and some western lines are based on local mythologies and popular culture. A similar product is often mistaken with keshi, the pencil cap toy (ペンシル キャップ, penshiru kyappu) which appeared around the same period.
History
Keshi is a toy genre with Japanese roots but is not limited to Japanese manufacture nor Japanese culture as the keshi were sold and became popular all around the world in the last twenty years, and some keshi lines were made in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
or in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and exported.
This toy genre appeared in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
during the 1970s and became increasingly popular. Collectors would paint and expose Ultraman
Ultraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
, Fist of the North Star
Fist of the North Star
is a Japanese manga series written by Buronson and drawn by Tetsuo Hara that was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1983 to 1988, spanning 245 chapters, which were initially collected in a 27-volume tankōbon edition by Shueisha...
, Dragon Ball, High School! Kimengumi
High School! Kimengumi
is a manga series written by Motoei Shinzawa which ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1982 to 1987. The title literally translates to High School! Funny-face Club or High School! Weird Face Club. An anime TV series and movie based on the series were also released...
, Dai no Daibouken
Dai no Daibouken
, is an original manga based in the fantasy world of the video game series Dragon Quest. It was originally created as a two-chapter short story titled "Derupa! Iruiru!"...
, Dr. Slump
Dr. Slump
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It was serialized in Shueisha's anthology comic Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1980 to 1984 which were collected into 18 tankōbon volumes...
or even Kinnikuman
Kinnikuman
is a manga created by the duo of Yudetamago , which is composed of Yoshinori Nakai and Takashi Shimada. The manga was published in Shueisha's Weekly Jump, and received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen manga in 1985...
keshis (known as Kinkeshi
Kinkeshi
Kinkeshi is an extensive and popular line of collectible erasers, an instance of the modern Japanese popular culture institution of keshi...
).
The first keshi exported outside Japan appeared in the late 1970s in Bonux packages, a Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
washing powder released in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(and recently introduced in former USSR states such as Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
). The Bonux brand was launched with the "cadeau Bonux" (the Bonux present) concept, a small value mini toy hidden inside the powder. Some keshi were part of these packages, including a 10-figure series of the, then, famous Monchhichi (モンチッチ). A monkey character created in 1974 by Koichi Sekiguchi and part of the first large scale, successful, exported Japanese anime franchises. The Bonux Monchhichi figures were 4.4/4.8 cm tall, chibikeshi styled, and available in seven different gums.
However the keshi phenomenon sped-up worldwide in the late 80s, early 90s, with a wave of gum toy lines named M.U.S.C.L.E. (Kinkeshi americanized), Fistful Of Monsters or Monster In My Pocket
Monster in My Pocket
Monster in my Pocket is a media franchise developed by Morrison Entertainment Group, headed by Joe Morrison and John Weems ....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The same lines were also exported in Europe, sometimes under different names, e.g. M.U.S.C.L.E. became Exogini
Exogini
Exogini: i misteriosi alieni , is a famous bootleg keshi composite line only released in Italy around the late '80s, early '90s. The Sesto Fiorentino based GIG Spa company, did mixed three different imported keshi lines to create its own franchise...
in Italy and Cosmix
Cosmix
For the annual Symposium on Art and Design for Immersive Media see For the Interstate highway improvement project in the state of Colorado, see COSMIX....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. These franchises are actually composite bootleg lines including Kinkeshi/M.U.S.C.L.E., N.I.N.J.A.S. and Fistful Of Monsters, in the very same collection. Though, licensed lines appeared in Europe, including BeastFormer
Battle Beasts
is a line of small 2" tall action figure toys, in the form of an anthropomorphised animal with body armor and a unique weapon. Several figures have their left hand replaced by a weapon of some kind...
localized as "Les Dragonautes" in France and Monster In My Pocket.
Around the same period, Keshi lines were also marketed in South East Asia, including South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Modern keshi
In Japan, Keshi are still popular in the '00s, and "keshi days" are often organized in MandarakeMandarake
is one of Tokyo's largest vendors of used anime and manga-related products. The store stocks collectibles, VHS tapes, DVDs, CDs, used manga, toys, and large numbers of fan-drawn dōjinshi, particularly those catering to a female audience.- Locations :...
stores where collectors can sell and buy used keshis.
Bandai America has launched the M.U.S.C.L.E.'s series' sequel in the United States market only in 2003 as a 20th anniversary celebration of the original Kinkeshi (M.U.S.C.L.E.'s original name) line. The new American keshi line is named Micro Muscle Wrestlers.
Western keshi
The popular Monster In My PocketMonster in My Pocket
Monster in my Pocket is a media franchise developed by Morrison Entertainment Group, headed by Joe Morrison and John Weems ....
line was created in the United States in the early 1990s as an answer to the massive success of the Japan imported M.U.S.C.L.E. (Kinkeshi). This line was exported in Europe and in Japan, where it is known as 米のモンスター消しゴム (American Monster Keshi Gum).
As a 20th anniversary celebration of its 1983~87 Kinkeshi line, the American branch of Bandai has launched the Micro Muscle Wrestler line in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Even though it is the sequel of the M.U.S.C.L.E. line (overseas version of the Kinkeshi Kinnikuman series), this Micro Muscle Wrestler are exclusively marketed in the USA.
Keshi packages
The keshi are sold in transparent plastic capsules (1~5 figures), opaque bags (1/2), plastic pots (10-pack), partially transparent cartonCarton
Carton is the name of certain types of containers typically made from paperboard which is also sometimes known as cardboard. Many types of cartons are used in packaging. Sometimes a carton is also called a box.-Folding cartons:...
boxsets (28), or the regular transparent plastic pack (3~6). Some lines have special packages like the Exogini
Exogini
Exogini: i misteriosi alieni , is a famous bootleg keshi composite line only released in Italy around the late '80s, early '90s. The Sesto Fiorentino based GIG Spa company, did mixed three different imported keshi lines to create its own franchise...
pyramid
Pyramid
A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a single point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three triangular surfaces...
ships (20/40) in Italy, or the 205-figure collector set released in Japan (Kinkeshi
Kinkeshi
Kinkeshi is an extensive and popular line of collectible erasers, an instance of the modern Japanese popular culture institution of keshi...
). Some keshi are offered in washing powder packages, crisps or cereals bags. Catalogue color leaflets are included in Japanese capsule keshi, showing the series figures. Such series are named "PART", or its Japanese equivalent "パート" (pāto) and "ぱと" (pato), by Bandai and other brands.
Keshi types
Although vending machines keshi are often considered as standard size, three different material are used, hard gum, plastic or gum w/plastic parts. Even though dark salmonSalmon (color)
Salmon a range of pale pinkish-orange to light pink colors, named after the color of salmon flesh.The web color salmon is displayed at right.The first recorded use of salmon as a color name in English was in 1776...
matte color mini figures are the quickest types identified as keshi in western countries, due to the famous M.U.S.C.L.E. line, there are actually a wide variety of gum from matte to bright, from translucent to transparent, from white to black, including the deluxe painted types.
Dekakeshi
Dekakeshi (デカ消し) are big size keshi released by the Marukoshi company prior to Bandai's popular lines.Keshi
The standard keshi are 5/5.5 cm mini figures sold in transparent plastic capsules available in Bandai vending machines known as "gachagacha" (ガチャガチャ).SDkeshi
SDkeshi (SD消し) are Super DeformedSuper deformed
Super deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children...
mini size keshi released by Bandai.
Full color keshi
Full color keshi are deluxe, hand painted, keshi. Originally made in Japan, these art keshi were later manufactured in China to reduce production cost.Glowing keshi
Glowing in the dark western keshi lines or series made of phosphorescentPhosphorescence
Phosphorescence is a specific type of photoluminescence related to fluorescence. Unlike fluorescence, a phosphorescent material does not immediately re-emit the radiation it absorbs. The slower time scales of the re-emission are associated with "forbidden" energy state transitions in quantum...
gum and similar to Playskool
Playskool
Playskool is an American company that produces educational toys and games for children. It is a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and is headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.-History:...
's GLO Friends
Glo Friends
Glo Friends are small glow-in-the-dark toys in the shape of insects and other small creatures that were made by Hasbro's Playskool division in the mid 1980s . Books were also made by Ladybird to accompany each Glo Friend...
contemporary mini figures line.
Famous keshi lines
Keshi list sorted by line starting year. (a keshi line running from 1980 to 1995 would be in the "1980~1990" section)1980~1990
- KinkeshiKinkeshiKinkeshi is an extensive and popular line of collectible erasers, an instance of the modern Japanese popular culture institution of keshi...
(BandaiBandaiis a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
)
Japan
- M.U.S.C.L.E. (MattelMattelMattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
)
United States - ExoginiExoginiExogini: i misteriosi alieni , is a famous bootleg keshi composite line only released in Italy around the late '80s, early '90s. The Sesto Fiorentino based GIG Spa company, did mixed three different imported keshi lines to create its own franchise...
(GIG)
Italy - CosmixCosmixFor the annual Symposium on Art and Design for Immersive Media see For the Interstate highway improvement project in the state of Colorado, see COSMIX....
(Action GT)
Early Modern France - Alien Wrestler (?) United States Italy
- M.U.S.C.L.E. (Mattel
- BeastFormer/LaserBeast (TakaraTakaraTakara Co., Ltd. was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955, that merged with another prominent Japanese toy company, Tomy Co., Ltd., on March 1, 2006 to form Takara Tomy, also known in English as TOMY Company Ltd....
) Japan
- Battle BeastsBattle Beastsis a line of small 2" tall action figure toys, in the form of an anthropomorphised animal with body armor and a unique weapon. Several figures have their left hand replaced by a weapon of some kind...
/Laser BeastsLaser BeastsLaser Beasts is the name of a line of small 2" tall action figure toys and were produced by Hasbro and Takara starting in 1988. Each Beast is an anthropomorphised animal with body armor that came with a unique weapon...
(HasbroHasbroHasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
) United States - Les Dragonautes (?) Early Modern France
- Battle Beasts
- Fistful Of Monsters (?) United States
- ExoginiExoginiExogini: i misteriosi alieni , is a famous bootleg keshi composite line only released in Italy around the late '80s, early '90s. The Sesto Fiorentino based GIG Spa company, did mixed three different imported keshi lines to create its own franchise...
(GIG) Italy - Cosmix (Action GT) Early Modern France
- Exogini
- N.I.N.J.A.S. (Mattel?) United States
- Exogini (GIG) Italy
- Cosmix (Action GT) Early Modern France
- Exogini (GIG)
1990~2000
- Monster In My PocketMonster in My PocketMonster in my Pocket is a media franchise developed by Morrison Entertainment Group, headed by Joe Morrison and John Weems ....
(Matchbox) United States
- Monster In My Pocket (?)
- Monster In My Pocket (?) Early Modern France
2000~2010
- Micro Muscle WrestlersKinkeshiKinkeshi is an extensive and popular line of collectible erasers, an instance of the modern Japanese popular culture institution of keshi...
(Bandai of AmericaBandaiis a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
) United States - Fistful of Power! (Moose Enterprises) United States
Australia - GormitiGormiti“Gormiti: The Invincible Lords of Nature” , later changed to "Gormiti: The Lords of Nature Return!", is a toy property based primarily on 2-inch tall non-articulated mini figures with a trading card game play aspect...
(GIG) Italy