NihonBox Subscription Review + Coupon – November 2017

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 of what this month is all about: Momiji (Japanese Maple)!

The back talks about Autumn in Japan.

The pamphlet then opens up to detail all of the items that came in your box this month.

Miso Momiji Soup Bowl

This little bowl measures 4.5 inches in diameter and is the perfect size for miso soup at the beginning of a meal. It's made of plastic and has a deep cherry faux wood finish with golden Momiji (Japanese maple) leaves across the front. I am actually in need of a huge bowl for ramen, but this small one will be good for snacks or non-meal soups.

Momiji Manju x 2

Mmmm- I really enjoy sweet red bean paste so these Momiji-shaped steamed cakes that are filled with it are a nice treat! The cake stayed moist until I opened it and was a perfect touch of sweetness to go with my morning black coffee (although I'm sure tea would have been more fitting).

Porcelain Kokeshi with Momiji Background

Kokeshi are traditional Japanese dolls that can be commonly found in gift shops. They've included a porcelain version donning a crimson kimono which matches the included background of a Momiji-filled landscape outside of a bedroom's sliding doors. The doll stands about four inches high and will bring a lovely and tranquil pop of color to whichever room you choose to display her in.

Pokemon Moncollé GET Figure

Here we have a blind box Pokemon figure that has a QR code which unlocks the location of the corresponding Pokemon in the Sun and Moon Nintendo 3DS games. I'm not sure if this is compatible with US systems, but is still a cute figure to pop on a shelf. I was lucky enough to receive Pikachu, the beloved main character from the franchise. Pika himself is only a little over an inch tall and comes with a ramune candy to sweeten the deal.

Pikachu Curry Kit

Food presentation is a big deal in Japan which you can tell based on all of the different products that exit simply to mold rice or seaweed into fun and creative characters. This kit is to be used for Japanese curry or soups and comes with a mold of Pikachu's head as well as stencils for his features and thematic shapes. To use the mold, you just have to pack some Japanese sticky rice into it and carefully remove to keep its shape. You can then use the stencils to stamp shapes out of egg, seaweed, or any other ingredients that are to be included in the dish like you would use a cookie cutter.

Majin Buu Mini Figure

I'm not familiar with Majin Buu, but the pamphlet tells me that he's from the Dragon Ball franchise and that his merch is hard to come by. This plastic charm stands almost three inches high and has moving arms and legs that dangle from his body while he hangs from a ball chain. I picture this guy hanging from a rearview mirror in a car so that his limbs jumble about while driving the city streets.

One-Punch Man Fist of Justice T-shirt

Huh- the pamphlet made no mention of One-Punch Man, but luckily Anna knew who this was! The story that began as a webcomic follows Saitama, our superhero who has an unnatural strength and can defeat evil villains with one punch. Unfortunately, his unparalleled strength eventually bores him and he wanders the land trying to find a worthy opponent. This NihonBox original features One-Punch Man standing with his fist in the air and the wind blowing through his cape confidently in orange and maroon ink against a black tee. The sky and trees behind him make a large fist vignette as well so you can display your love for such a courageous (yet bored) hero. The tee itself is a sturdy yet soft cotton with thick ink on a Daluc Standard brand shirt.

3D Totoro Puzzle

I, of course, squealed with delight upon seeing this puzzle! I don't think I've gotten anything like this 3D puzzle before, which comes in 11 pieces to form a 2 1/4 inch figure of Totoro! It was really easy to put together and I'm surprised how well it stays without falling apart at all. Each piece is a rubbery plastic that snuggly fits into its rightful place. Once assembled, you'll find the star of the Studio Ghibli classic, My Neighbor Totoro, hustling with a bag of acorns across whatever surface you choose to have him brighten.

Verdict: I didn't love NihonBox this month as much as last, but it always has a really eclectic mix of video game, anime, manga, and traditional Japanese items (plus some snacks!). For $39, I received eight items that are somewhat practical (the bowl, the tee, and the red bean cakes), but mostly just fun character trinkets for displaying. The Totoro puzzle was by far my fave and I'm excited to pass the Pikachu stuff on to friends who will appreciate them in different ways.

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 December to order January'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 eight items which make each one cost about $4.88.

Do you subscribe to NihonBox?