What is a Chogokin Appraiser?
Let’s ask a professional about the world of this magical robot toy!
Chogokin is a fictitious material used for robot character toys made with die-casting,
which was adopted by a company called Popy (owned by the famous toy maker Bandai).
Naoyoshi Kozai is a top Chogokin Appraiser based in Japan.
As a Chogokin specialist, he has appeared in numerous
TV programs, magazines, films, and more.
After graduating from the gerontology program at
the University of Southern California in 2021,
Kozai has completed more than 60 lectures on topics
ranging from anti-aging, menstruation, pathology, and pharmacology.
Gerontology is a discipline that originated at the University of Southern California.
It is dedicated to maintaining the appearance and
spirit of youth even as you grow older.
How did you become interested in Chogokin?
Chogokin is a traditional robot toy created in Japan.
It was first released as a character toy based on an anime hero in 1974,
so it’s pretty rare. Chogokin is popular in Europe too.
You can find so many collectors internationally,
so I wanted to spread this culture even further.
Which product drew your attention the most?
The first Chogokin, “die-casting Mazinger Z”, means a lot to me.
I found a copyright sticker marked “Chogokin Z” on the package,
which was a major discovery.
For 45 years, nobody could treasure hunt for this version.
It was introduced on a major antiques appraisal TV show in Japan.
When do you feel the most joy from this job?
When do you feel the most hardship?
It’s amazing to see so many robot toys and network with fans from all over the world. However, when the value market changes,
the appraisal process becomes difficult.
When a film is re-released, the value of certain characters will grow.
Depending on supply and demand,
I need to find balance for appraising Chogokin.
What’s your goal and what are you passionate about now?
In 2021, I opened the world's first online “Chogokin Appraiser Room”,
where, mainly for media press, I share and display valuable Chogokin.
They are used for filming as well.
You can check them out on my website and Twitter account.
Thank you, Naoyoshi.
You are a Japanese national treasure and we cannot wait to see your latest discovery!
https://Twitter.com/kozai_chogokin
