Bandai is a titan of the global entertainment industry, often recognized as the world’s third-largest toy manufacturer. Since its founding in 1950, it has evolved from a small Japanese textile spin-off into a massive conglomerate, Bandai Namco Holdings, that defines modern “otaku” culture through toys, video games, and anime.+1

The Ultimate Collector’s Guide to Bandai: From Gunpla to Global Shipping

Originally founded as Bandai-Ya, the company initially sold metallic toy cars and rubber swimming rings. Today, it is a pioneer of the “IP Axis Strategy,” meaning they control everything from the animation (through Bandai Namco Filmworks) to the toys and the video games for a single franchise.+1

In 2018, they formed Bandaai Spirits, a specialized division focused entirely on high-end collectibles and model kits for mature fans, separating “toys for kids” from “collectibles for enthusiasts.”

2. Who Buys Bandai Products?

Bandaai has successfully segmented its market to appeal to three distinct groups:

• The “Gunpla” Builders & Hobbyists: Primarily males aged 18–45 who enjoy the meditative process of building “Gundam” plastic models.
• The Nostalgic Collectors: Adults in their 30s and 40s who buy high-end “Tamashii Nations” figures from series like Dragon Ball Z, Saint Seiya, and Sailor Moon.
• The Next Generation: Children and families attracted to “entry-level” toys from Digimon, Ultraman, and Tamagotchi.
• Competitive Gamers: Fans of the “Bandai Namco” gaming arm, which produces hits like Elden Ring, Tekken, and Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO.

3. Famous Bandai Brands in the Market

Bandai owns or holds the master toy licenses for some of the most iconic names in pop culture:

4. Where to Buy Them

Depending on your location and the “rarity” of the item you want, there are several tiers of shopping:

Official & Premium Channels

• Premium Bandai (P-Bandai): The holy grail for collectors. This webstore sells limited-edition, “web-exclusive” items that are not available in regular retail stores.
• Bandai Namco Cross Stores: Physical flagship stores (found in Tokyo, London, and New Jersey) that combine arcades, toy shops, and capsule machines.
• The Gundam Base: Specialized massive stores (Japan, Korea, China) dedicated entirely to Gunpla.

Mass Retailers

• Global: Amazon, HobbyLink Japan (HLJ), and AmiAmi are the top choices for international shipping.
• USA: Target, Walmart, and GameStop carry “Anime Heroes” and basic Dragon Ball figures.
• Hobby Stores: Local comic book shops often stock “Bandai Spirits” products distributed via Bluefin.

5. Hot in 2026: Current Trends

As of early 2026, the market is currently buzzing over:

• PG Unleashed Nu Gundam: A massive 1/60 scale kit featuring internal LED lighting.
• Elden Ring Collectibles: Following the success of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, high-end figures of Boss characters are in high demand.
• Gundam Wing 30th Anniversary: A wave of “Endless Waltz” 4K remasters and accompanying “Metal Build” figures are currently hitting shelves.

When you’re a collector of high-end Bandai figures or limited-edition Gunpla, you often run into a major roadblock: geographical restrictions.

Many of Bandai’s most sought-after items are sold through Premium Bandai (P-Bandai), which has separate sites for Japan, the USA, and a few other regions. The Japanese site often has 50% more inventory than the US site, but they do not ship internationally.

If you are trying to buy Bandai from a store that doesn’t ship to your destination, you can use a parcel forwarding or reshipping service. Here is how the process works and how a company like DeliveringParcel.com can help you bridge the gap.

1. How Parcel Forwarding Works

Parcel forwarding (or reshipping) gives you a “local” footprint in the country where the store is located.

• Step 1: Get a Local Address. You sign up with a forwarder like DeliveringParcel.com to get a unique mailing address in the country of the store (e.g., a Japanese address for P-Bandai Japan or a US address for Amazon US).
• Step 2: Shop Normally. You go to the Bandai store, add items to your cart, and at checkout, enter the forwarding address as your shipping destination.
• Step 3: Arrival & Notification. The store ships the item to the warehouse/residential address provided by the forwarder. They notify you once it arrives and often send photos of the box.
• Step 4: International Reship. You pay the international shipping fee, and the forwarder sends the package from their warehouse directly to your home.

2. Why Use DeliveringParcel.com for Bandai?

While many large forwarding companies use commercial warehouses that are sometimes blocked by strict retailers, DeliveringParcel.com specializes in providing residential addresses. This is a major advantage for Bandai collectors for several reasons:

• Overcoming Store Bans: Some Japanese retailers block known “commercial” warehouse addresses. Using a residential address through a proxy or forwarder often bypasses these filters.
• Global Reach: They provide local addresses in the USA, UK, Japan, and across Europe, allowing you to shop from whichever Bandai region has the stock you need.
• Purchase Assistance (“Buy For Me”): If your local credit card is rejected by a foreign Bandai store, DeliveringParcel offers a concierge service where they buy the item on your behalf.
• Consolidation: If you buy a Gundam kit from one store and an S.H.Figuarts figure from another, they can consolidate them into one box to save you up to 70% on international shipping costs.

3. Top Tips for International Bandai Buyers

1. Check the “Release Date”: Bandai often sells items as “Pre-orders” that ship months later. Ensure your forwarder (like DeliveringParcel) offers long-term free storage (they typically offer up to 30–45 days) so you can wait for multiple items to arrive.+1
2. Customs Declarations: When shipping to countries like Pakistan or the UK, you will need to declare the value. Reliable forwarders assist with the customs paperwork to ensure your items don’t get stuck in transit.
3. Fragility: Bandai boxes (especially Gunpla) can be easily crushed. Always request extra padding or bubble wrap from your reshipper before the final international flight.

Comparison of Methods

By using a reshipper like DeliveringParcel.com, you can essentially “teleport” your shipping address to Tokyo or New York, ensuring you never miss a limited release again.