NihonBox is a Japan-based monthly box filled with the best and original goodies from JAPAN! Each box includes 7-10 items from the otaku and traditional Japanese culture like Japan-exclusive figures, plush toys, collectibles, food, as well as Japanese lifestyle accessories!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: NihonBox
The Cost: $33.49 a month + $5.50 shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: $3 off your first box!
CODE: ILOVENIHONBOX
The Products: 7-10 items from the otaku and traditional Japanese culture
Ships to: Internationally
Check out all of our NihonBox reviews and more Japanese subscription box reviews in the Kawaii Subscription Box Directory!
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Each NihonBox comes with a booklet.
There's a short synopsis on what this month is all about.
The back explains the origins of the popularity of Halloween in Japan.
The pamphlet then opens up to detail all of the items that came in your box this month.
Traditional Japanese Mask in Kitsune (Fox)
This is the first thing I saw when I opened the box and I was OVERJOYED! This mask is SO COOL!!! I immediately put it on to snap a pic and send to my friends in a group text. It's a really nice quality plastic with a thick purple elastic band that holds it on. The fox's face has been spray-painted on with red, black and gold colors in a traditional style. The mask is a nice snug fit on my small head, so I'm not sure how comfortable it'd be on an adult with a normal-sized head. It's surprisingly comfortable to wear with good visibility. I'm actually wearing it right now as I type this and LOVING. EVERY. SECOND. I popped over to Wikipedia to find out that they're often portrayed in Japanese folklore as intelligent beings that possess magical abilities. Very into it. Might hang it up in my house along with other masks I collect.
Halloween Pokemon Gashapon
Gashapon is what they call the vending machine dispensed toys that come in a little ball in Japan. I'm so glad they have a proper name! I had no idea. Anyhow, you'll receive one of five of Pokemon popping out of a pumpkin. I feel so lucky to have received the best one (in my opinion), Mimikyu! Truth be told, I have seen this Pokemon around and just thought it was some childish drawing version of Pikachu but was SO WRONG. You guys, this Pokemon is dark, and reading about it made me super sad! Basically, this Pokemon is a small little scary thing that no one knows the true form of and is rumored that seeing its true form will cause a mysterious illness. It made this sad Pikachu costume out of a rag to try and befriend other Pokemon and people because it's so lonely. MY HEART IS BREAKING. I am keeping this poor little thing close to me.
Bag Full O' Treats!
They've included this cute little orange trick or treat bag full of goodies.
Pizza Puff Snacks
I immediately started shoving these into my face and didn't realize why I loved them until I saw that they're pizza flavored! These lil puffs are super tasty!
Apple Flavored Collon
Collon is a little cream filled crispy snack, sort of like a wafer cookie. These happen to be apple flavored, so they are perfect for Fall! I love the cat on the package.
Peko Chan Cookie
I can't put my finger on the flavor of this soft purple cookie but it tasted sort of... milky? Hmmm. The booklet was no help!
Cola Gumballs
The packaging of these is TOP NOTCH. I have been really into vampires lately and I love this creepy dude on the package. The candies themselves are little blue cola-flavored gumballs. So good!! Bonus: They make your tongue blood-red!
Halloween Umaibo
Ughhh I can't escape these popular savory puff snacks! This one is CORN SOUP FLAVORED. Why? Sigh.
Kumamon Sweet Potato Fries
I am all about Japanese fry snacks like these, but am not the biggest sweet potato fan. These are extremely mild though, and I found myself continuing to eat them even though I didn't particularly like them. They come in three single-serving packets for portion control. The packaging is... ACES.
My Neighbor Totoro Mini Notebook
I love My Neighbor Totoro! It's probably one of my very favorite Studio Ghibli movies and Totoro is one of my favorite Japanese characters of all time! The front of the notebook features a scene where Satsuki (with Mei on her back) is waiting for her Dad to arrive home from work with Totoro by their side, waiting for the Catbus. The inside of the notebook features a grey illustration of puddles beneath the lined page. Super cute!
Dragon Ball Key Cover - Retail Value $6.43
Started (as many popular Japanese franchises are) with a Manga, Dragon Ball later became an anime series, as well as all sorts of other video games, card games, and collectibles. I don't know enough about Dragon Ball to know what this is exactly, but a quick Googling lets me know that this is the Dragon Radar. It slips over your key to make it way more special and stand apart from the others. This is best used to differentiate a key that may otherwise be confused for another!
Stuffed Slime Tissue Box Cover - Retail Value $23.99
As soon as I saw this slime, I remembered it, though not knowing what it was from! The booklet tells me it's from Dragon Quest, which I do not recall at all, but my brother played A LOT of video games back in the day, so it must be tucked into my memory somewhere. This plush is HUGE at 12 inches at its bottom, and about 10 inches high. The weird part? It's actually a tissue box holder, complete with a slit in the back for the tissues to come through. I have no idea who came up with this, but it's definitely a unique item! The bottom has space for you to tuck a rectangular tissue box into it, with elastic straps to hold it in place. This big blue slime plush is crazy soft and has large embroidered eyes and mouth. I think I'd much rather use this as a pillow than anything else.
Verdict: NihonBox was really fun this month! The kitsune mask is definitely the coolest thing, in my opinion, and I look forward to wearing it year round to freak people out. I was so sad to learn about Mimikyu, but now know that I must befriend him (though to never look beneath his rag costume). Most of the items were hard to find online, but the slime alone looks to be valued at $24, and the mask at least $11 (even though Ebay isn't super reliable).
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Unfortunately, no. The cutoff is the last day of the previous month to receive the current month. For instance, you have until the end of November to order December's box. They ship between the 5th and the 9th of each month, but it can take up to 20 days to receive it.
ACTIVE DEAL: $3 off your first box!
CODE: ILOVENIHONBOX
Value Breakdown: The box, plus shipping, costs approximately $39.00 and I received seven items (including all of the treats in the bag as one), which makes each worth $5.57.
What is your favorite item from this month's NihonBox?
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