Christmas is little over a week away and little kids across Japan have asked Santa for their favourite new Kaman Riders belt, but sadly for them, that dream will probably be crushed.
The DX version of the Fourze Driver, containing the toy belt and four switches, sells for roughly 6,825 yen ($87/£56), but since it’s release in September, it’s been in over the top demand, but in short supply. “We received 15 of them in late November, but they were all gone in just one day,” a toy shop salesperson in Niigata said, reported The Asahi Shimbun. Another toy shop operator in central Niigata said he receives phone calls every day asking for the toy belt. “The last time I saw one was in October,” he said. “I even buy used ones, but few have come into circulation several months after the release.”
Bandai have even had to hold lotteries on its online shop to assure the fair distribution of the scarce toy. In Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, a toy shop owner said customers are desperately shopping everywhere. He feels especially sorry for grandparents who promised their grandchildren the DX Fourze Driver for Christmas, “It is heartbreaking to see them leave in disappointment,”.
Last year, Kamen Rider OOOs belt was also in short supply, but Bandai had increased production of this year’s model to meet demand, but it has not been enough. “It is selling a lot more than we expected,” a member of Bandai’s PR team said.
