Gundam Gunpla Japan Proxy Shopping Guide · Grades, Limited Kits and Lotteries
How to buy Gundam Gunpla model kits from Japan through a proxy shopper. Compare SD, HG, RG, MG and PG grades, Gundam Base and Premium Bandai exclusives, lottery sales, box condition and shipping.
TL;DR
- ✓ Grades run roughly SD, HG, RG, MG and PG, with different scale and detail. Confirm before ordering
- ✓ Popular and limited kits often use lotteries or queues, so a shopper cannot always get them
- ✓ Gundam Base and Premium Bandai have exclusives, and some ship within Japan only
- ✓ Kit boxes are large, so ask about packing and shipping cost, and request box photos
- ✓ Shoppers living in Japan generally pay consumption tax; tax-free is for short-term visitors
Done reading? Get a Japan shopper to buy it for you
Free sign-up takes about a minute. Browse vetted shoppers and message them right inside Michi.
Gunpla (Gundam plastic models) come in many versions and limited editions in Japan, and popular kits can sell out quickly. For overseas buyers, a shopper based in Japan is often the only practical way to get them.
1. Know the grades
- SD: super-deformed style, easy to build and a good entry point.
- HG (High Grade): the most common line, with the widest range and easier pricing.
- RG (Real Grade): small but highly detailed, with a more complex build.
- MG (Master Grade): larger, with a detailed inner frame, for builders who want more detail.
- PG (Perfect Grade): the largest and most detailed, and the most expensive and bulky.
When ordering, give the series, the mobile suit name, the grade (such as MG or HG) and the version (Ver. variants matter).
2. Where to buy
- Gundam Base: official shops with Gundam Base exclusives, including limited colours and sets.
- Premium Bandai (P-Bandai): Bandai's official online shop for limited items, mostly pre-order, and some ship within Japan only, which is why a shopper is needed to receive them.
- Hobby, toy and electronics shops: regular releases and reprints.
- Second-hand and out-of-print kits: second-hand hobby shops or Mercari. See our Mercari proxy guide.
3. Lotteries and queues
Hot reprints and limited kits often go through lottery or limited release, and purchases per person may be capped. A shopper can enter a lottery or queue for you, but:
- You may not win. Agree beforehand what happens in that case (refund of the deposit, or another channel).
- Rules differ by shop and depend on the shopper's area.
- For pre-orders, watch the deadline and release date.
4. Box condition and shipping
- Kit boxes are bulky, so international shipping can cost more than the kit. Ask the shopper about packing options without crushing the box.
- Collectors care about box corners and seals. Ask for photos of all sides and the base.
- For second-hand kits, confirm whether it is built, whether parts are missing, and whether stickers or decals are used.
- For import rules in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia, see the customs guide. For forwarding versus direct shipping, see this comparison.
5. Tax and fees
Japan's tax-free shopping is for short-term visitors. Shoppers living in Japan generally pay 10% consumption tax, usually already in the quote. Each shopper sets their own proxy fee; see the pricing guide.
FAQ
Can a shopper get limited kits for me?+
It depends on how the item is sold. Lottery and queue items are not guaranteed, so agree beforehand what happens if you do not win.
What is the difference between MG and HG?+
MG is larger with a more detailed inner frame; HG has a wider range and is easier on the budget. State the grade when ordering.
Will shipping the box be expensive?+
Boxes are bulky, so shipping can be high. Ask about packing, and compare forwarding with direct shipping.
How do I avoid mistakes with second-hand kits?+
Ask for photos of the box, parts and stickers, and confirm it is not built or missing parts before paying.
Live in Japan? Earn as a Michi shopper
Apply to become a shopper: set your own fees, pick the orders you want, and take requests from customers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, the UK and beyond.