After the last couple of entries having resulted in borring people reading this blog with thoughts and impressions by this fanboy, how about little more variety with today’s? Actually given the talk about Telecards and their collecting a while ago, the focus or better phrased style of this little write-up won’t be something totally new or vastly unique, yet here I thought to get an entry on things concerning Stick Poster and collecting them a try for a while now (and yet never found the time to do so). As usual, here’s hoping that this attempt is providing a somewhat passable and maybe even informative read and so let’s see how the focus of today’s update works out.
+ What exactely *is* a Stick Poster and what about the fascination to collect them?
According to the Official AQUAPLUS Stick Poster page, Stick Poster are in dimension 182mm x 515mm which also leads to the name/title given to them, meaning they’re not sticky but rather in size and shape resembling a stick. Moreover nowadays Stick Poster is a registered trademark by AQUAPLUS Inc. whom also therefore hold the monopoly position on things regarding this sort of merchandise branch as a whole. However AQUAPLUS being at the pulse of time (and probably also because they’ve not been the ones that invented this Poster format themself) drew several restrictions under which the name and format of Stick Posters are allowed to be used. Under these restrictions fall the following methods of publication for Stick Posters:
- Free sale promotion goods (i.e. handed out free Stick Posters)
- Event short terms sales such as Comic Market (which is specifically noted among the events falling under the restrictions at the Official AQUAPLUS Stick Poster website)
- Doujin Goods (part of Sets which is a very common publication practice for them these days)
Stick Poster released under these terms or better phrased which fall under the above noted conditions are allowed to be sold and do not require prior inquiry from AQUAPLUS. Any other release plans for Stick Poster (that including mail order offer by companies, or distributions through companies) do require the approval by AQUAPLUS prior to their publication.
However as noted, Stick Poster at least poster in the dimensions as nowadays knwon as the registered TM by AQUAPLUS were part of the Japanese merchandise industry already before. At least since the mid 90′s when the so-called Poster Dream Price machines found their ways into the market, which soon gained vast popularity and were established at Japan’s Arcade / Game Centers as well as Anime shops thereafter. Demand on these especially has rise through Otaku and bad tongues say the reason behind this item growing popularity as collective goods among Otaku being that they “want stuff for their hobby that isn’t ordinary and no one else collects” (yep, one of the sites I gathered my information on things regarding Stick Poster history from actually put it that way ^_~). Anyways the real popularity under the name and format/media we use to know and collect Stick Poster these days now has been detected and registered by AQUAPLUS.
As for explaning the fascination or why one would start collecting these goods among Japan’s Otaku Hobby item line-up in the first place tracks me somehow back to the very same reasoning recitet on things concerning Telecards. Personally I’ve gotten into Stick Poster collecting more or less automatically through my Doujinshi collecting/purchases because goods like these became a very popular and established sort of items to either round up a Set with or add them as part of a Goods Set by Doujin Circles nowadays – I’d say while not as fixed established as probably Telecards are, due to the production costs compared with Telecards Stick Poster are a much more common goodie now even used by smaller/less popular Circles to attach to their publications. And then there’s the non logically explainable part represented as well, that makes the collector’s heart filled with joy once a new Set arrives that carries along Stick Poster or when a sought-for poster shows up and you are able to adore it in its full glory at last once “rolled out”. Maybe at least to some part the bad tongue sentiment also applies to explain the full popularity and fame this merchandise branch gained in recent years.
Among the most noteworthy events involving and aiming spotlight on Stick Poster as pop-cultural goods rather then truely geek only items was the recently conducted Stick Poster in Ugomachi project which has been held as part of the Akita prefecture Ogachigun Ugomachi summer festival on 28th June this year. For this part of the event a special collaboration between the area with beloved and famed artists among Japan’s (Bishoujo) Art industry such as Hinoue Itaru, POP, Nishimata Aoi, KEI or Sakurazawa Itu”mi has been executed with them having delivered illustrations publicated and featured on Stick Poster that were sold at local shops during the time and these poster illustrations were themed for the local sights of the area.
+ How about the pricing for Stick Posters?
Again drawing a comparisson with the other collectible devoted an entry on for this blog of mine, Stick Poster definitely range far below the price scale of Telecards. Of course the production and material used leads to this as well as the distribution methods for a little part as well (some Posters are feebies at company booth at events like SunCre, Comiket, etc.). However much like Telecards and collectibles in general, the pricing also tends to vary and definitely receives definition through the demand and how much fans are willing to spend on. Much like other merchandise prices for individual Stick Poster featuring illustrations by popular artists hence end up higher then those not having such attributes attached to. Yet even seperately sold and if it’s not a totally rare or hyped published item, Stick Poster prices could be narrowed to range from a minimum of a few hundred Yen up to the 1,000 to 2,000 Yen mark.
The real expensive element involved on proper collecting of them though comes into the play on things regarding storage and goods released *for* Stick Poster collecting – more on that later in the storage methods part of this entry.
+ How are Stick Posters released?
For this part of the entry I certainly can’t just “stick” to referr to the same ways and means of publication as written on things concerning Telecards and there’s moreover no comparisson between the release methods of Stick Poster to the beloved little plastic cards. This being mainly reasoned within the registered trademark status and therewith associated and above recited restrictions AQUAPLUS put up for the publication of Stick Poster.
However while it does require approval/inquiry of AQUAPLUS in order to publish these goods on a commerical base, that doesn’t mean no company ever has done so in order to receive the greenlight to officially release sets/collections. In fact it merely takes a visit at the Official Stick Poster page by AQUAPLUS to get an idea of how many collections have been brought of through official and commercial ways by approval and/or production/conjunction with AQUAPLUS themself.
Admitted the majority of these official collections though mainly cater to the interest and collectible will of Anime fans and/or fans of AQUAPLUS projects such as the popular ToHeart series, but official Stick Poster releases can also be found as part of official goods such as pre-order bonus that companies offer and attach for new products (i.e. Bishoujo Soft releases, etc.).
Moreover aside of official releases may lead to an one-sided theme representation among Stick Poster releases, this impression receives total disagreement once enhancing the specturm of Stick Poster publications on fields such as the Doujin industry of Japan. As mentioned alongside this entry, Stick Poster are allowed to be brought out as part of Doujin Goods or for short term events like Comiket, SunCre and their likes.
And the multiplicity of Doujin Circles are definitely aware of that and furthermore make usage of that condition to publicate Stick Poster – hence these collectibles range among a very common sort of goods for new Circle (goods) Set releases with even the very own staff members of AQUAPLUS such as aritst Misato Mitsumi (CUT A DASH!!) or Tatsuki Amaduyu (BLAZER ONE) enhancing and adding Stick Poster to their full sets. This release method of Stick Poster also showcases the creativity of artists and their Circles decided on coming up with these goods for their releases as aside of the more common practice to publish “merely” a new set (mostly these consist of two posters) of Stick Poster it’s I’d say thanks to the Doujin scene (at least I’m inclined to believe so) that different types of these such as the popular Clear Stick Poster (which is not made out of the same paper as normal Stick Poster rather then similar or same material like Shitajiki and/or Clear Files) have been brought up for the assortment of types available to collectors of these goods. Another such example being the especially designed/sized Set bags which you can carry along the Stick Poster among the other goods or Doujins a Circle put out among their Sets – here I merely refer as example of such already noted on this blog of mine to the recently posted entry regarding the HappyBirthday Comic1☆2 Set which includes such a special bag.
Purchasing Stick Poster (sets) these often come housed either in plastic wrapping to maintain a good state of preservation during the delivery process, bag like the noted such or which is also a popular packing method cases. These cases are basically tiny cardboard boxes wherein the posters are included much in the same rolled-up manner as you’ll get them in plastic wrapping (the only type of Stick Poster that you usually won’t get rolled-up are Clear Stick Poster because those wouldn’t be able to be rolled due to the firm material they’re made out of). However because some of those cases featuring art or illustrations (Doujin Circles like to include the poster art often on the design of the cases) on the outside as well, they’re the sort of packing presentation collectors won’t easily throw away because of them being quite “collectworthy” as well (and in fact at times offers for Doujin sets including Stick Poster that are still housed within those cases end up at higher prices due to this being not only attributed to good condition of the set as a whole rather then collectors being interested in getting ahold of the cases as well).
Aside of Doujin Circle to publicate these, Doujin events also are used for companies and shops like K-BOOKS to distribute Stick Poster as part of their booth freebies (and as everyone who’s attended any kind of market knows certainly best – once you get some free stuff you’re willing to spent some money on the priced one as well ^_~).
Summing up this section of this write-up there’s certainly monotonousness among Stick Poster releases, it merely requires to enhance the perspective to testify there’s a colorful and huge range of these goods and fans definitely won’t be running into a shortcoming of new publications.
On a note regarding purchase options for Stick Poster there’s to my knowledge at least no (online) shop that specialized on this merchandise branch (in contrast to Telecards as example). Maybe that’s also because of the restrictions or maybe Stick Poster despite the popularity gained still hasn’t established itself as such a profitable genre of goods that would make it worth to run a specialized shop for. So pretty much the only routes to do some Stick Poster shopping is either through auctions or on things regarding officially released collections once again AQUAPLUS’ Official shop (which includes a Stick Poster category).
+ How to properly store and display Stick Poster?
Much like it’s the case with other collectibles, there are naturally also means of storage and display available for collectors of Stick Poster. Of course theoretically you *could* merely stick / hang them up and decorate your interior house walls with, but here we’re talking about Otaku and even worse collectors *j/k* and if there’s one thing we dread the most it’s the precious collectibles catching dust and even more inexuseable if these precious items get damaged in the process. Personally I don’t know any of my fellow Stick Poster collecting friends that display their posters this way left alone would consider to do so.
And right there AQUAPLUS appears on the stage again, offering proper methods of storage and display for the goods they registered as trademark. Hence much like in case of the Stick Poster themself, there’s little way around to do some shopping through them in case you plan on getting a proper Stick Poster collection started, as AQUAPLUS also in these regards are about the only producer of goods for the goods ^_~ The downside of this being of course that if there is no handy item for us Stick Poster addicts published by AQUAPLUS then such an item does not exist and the same applies to when it comes to availability of existing items – Refills being the first and foremost that spring to mind. If you still insist on displaying or framing your Stick Poster seperately then for example there are methods such as Stand Sets, Clear frames and their likes available – all at a relative high price which apparently AQUAPLUS is permitted to do so due to the monopoly position they inherit on this branch of merchandise to begin with.
To most Stick Poster collectors though a much more trusted way of storing and at the same time offering display method for their collection is the so-called Stick Poster Collection Binder. Despite this in direct comparisson of pricing against such of frames and Stand Sets might initially appear to be settled higher the Binders yet truely pay off on a long term. These are specially designed in the same dimension as what they’re supposed to house. AQUAPLUS manufactures new such Collection Binder for which they collaborate with well known (Bishoujo) artists that are contributing illustrations featured on the front of the Binder. The one I currently have in usage is (as shown on the picture taken of) for example illustrated by Naru Nanao on the front side (with the back merely having the Stick Poster Collectors Binder writting/logo on the backside). And because a loose Binder won’t help you storing the Posters these come along with 10 Refills enabling storage for 20 Stick Poster in total (storing 2 per Refill). So what are Refills? These are transparent sheets also especially designed in the dimensions to enable storage and also display of a Stick Poster within. Of course with merely ten such Refills coming along a newly purchased Binder and collector’s usually not stopping once their collection reached the 20 poster mark, one easily finds him/herself running out of space – especially if you’re into official released collections or Doujin published Stick Poster (with the two posters per Set being a common release practice for Circles) you’ll pretty soon run out of Refills. The solution for this problem? Well actually the answer for that problem is quite simple – purchase more Refills.
But as simple as that may sound it prooves to be a much harder task to be carried out, because Refills are ironically not among the selection line-up of AQUAPLUS produced Stick Poster items that are always available. In fact since I’ve gotten into collecting these goods, I merely witnessed twice that AQUAPLUS offered Refills seperately for order via their shop. These seperately sold packs of Stick Poster Refills contain 10 sheets each at a price per pack of 1,995 Yen (incl. tax). As you can imagine with the popularity of Stick Poster collecting, the demand in such Refills was apparently high enough in that they sold out pretty much everywhere (online) the day after these have been published (and that’s also including shops that carry products by AQUAPLUS as well like Amazon.jp).
Refill packs sometimes show up “secondhand” (still sealed and all so actually in new condition) at places like the Yahoo! Auctions Japan, but here it should be noted that most seller know exactely about the limited availability / shortage and hence definitely won’t offer these (left alone put them up with “buy now” option) at the already high but still compareable good price of 1,995 Yen. In fact having gone for Refills that route already, I purchased two packs (20 sheets) at the almost same price I could have gone for two new Binders.
That brings us right to another option in case you’re running out of Refill sheets with the Binder you have in use – purchase a new Binder, since (as noted) each new such comes along with 10 new Refills. That’s quite a costly pleasure given that a new Binder ranges at 3,000+ Yen, but pretty much the only option if there’s no other chance to get ahold of Refills. Here’s hoping that AQUAPLUS will soon start to manufacture the Refills on a greater scale, though I somewhat have my doubt on that – given that this way around they can make quite considerably more profit and cash-off on collectors.
Another option for Stick Poster storage available as it’s been pointed out to me recently by Natsume_Maya are the so-called Stick Poster Case which WhiteCanvas offers for purchase as it’s been released for their goods line-up back at Comiket72. However these cases seemingly (I did not try to order them yet – though it should be noted that WhiteCanvas actually ships overseas) are mainly ment for storage rather then display of the posters unlike the Refills for Binders. Given that the cardboard boxes Stick Posters are released in are also refered to as cases, there’s the possibility (and given the price of mere 500 Yen per case not unlikely I’d say) these are just the very same but seperately available cardboard boxes (cases) for storing rolled-up Stick Poster inside.
And of course there are lots of other additional goods made available via AQUAPLUS for collectors of Stick Poster such as original bag to store and always carry along your Binder with for “mere” 5,229 Yen (incl. tax). So speaking of storage opportunities for things concerning Stick Poster collecting tracks me ultimately back to the pricing involved on this hobby as previously noted. While the goods themself – the posters – are not the truely cost intensive part of this merchandise branch, it does soon become expensive once reaching this part of the collector’s duty. While here I specifically want to note that I certainly do not try to talk someone out this hobby at all, one should be aware that much like in case of other forms of collectibles, Stick Poster collecting contains and brings along costworthy elements as well (despite getting “blinded” by prices of Stick Poster themself is certainly tempting). Maybe though this sounds all worse then it actually is – while personally speaking especially being a Doujin addicted fanboy as well, here I found myself having 10 sheets of Refills soon filled with posters, one may will get by with this amount of Refills longer and it’s not that one would need to drop each and every month 3,000 Yen for a new Binder anyways.
Before concluding today’s entry let me add the usual note that here’s hoping this resulted into a halfway passable and maybe to some degree informative write-up. Much like as with all content posted on N-Fields by yours truly – feedback, critism, etc. is always welcomed (though yeah I know, the comment feature does not work). All in all Stick Poster collecting is much like any other form of hobby wonderful yet comes along with slightly no so bright or let’s leave it at calling it cost intensive elements as well (as if there’s any collecting habbit wether Otaku aimed or not that would truely be for free ^_~). Repeating myself with what previously phrased, the collector knows best that its very much worth the time and money invested once a new sought-after Stick Poster finally shows up to bring some more joy to the oneself as well as enrich the collection.
0verflow
