The primary reason for Yamato‘s smash success was the simple fact that it told a great story. But many other factors combined to make it the biggest thing Japanese pop culture had ever seen–including chocolate and bubblegum.

In the battle for constant visibility, there were few allies more powerful than the Ezaki Glico confectionary company. Dating all the way back to the early 1900s, their products are found on snack shelves around the world (look for Pocky in your local supermarket) and they were practically a monopoly in Japan during the time Yamato hit its peak; they had only tepid competition from Lotte, a candy company that had originally sponsored the first Yamato TV series, and Kabaya Foods Corporation which got into the anime licensing game in 1979.

Glico had a huge impact in the mid-70s with inexpensive tie-in products for Japanese idol stars, and they made the jump into anime licensing in October 1978 with Yamato 2 as one of its first properties. They struck gold with “fancy goods,” products that had been long been advertised in girl’s magazines. There were plenty of these for Yamato collectors, too. Glico products with a Yamato tie-in were very popular with children and were produced in great variety, using images from Farewell and Yamato 2 in all sorts of creative ways, as demonstrated in the gallery below…

Sticks of Glico’s Yamato bubblegum came in these wrappers, and for a stretch of months in 1978 and 1979, they also contained a variety of bonus items…

The first wave in the red wrappers contained plastic “pikari [shiny] plates,” released in 1978. They featured a raised character or mecha image painted gold or silver.

They could be added to a keychain or stuck to something via an adhesive strip on the back. “Mascots” became a mainstay in the late 70s when the audience for anime reached the age bracket where they would commonly carry a keychain, purse, or backpack. Today, they attach their “mascots” to cell phones.

The yellow wrappers indicated a cardboard “license plate” inside.

Released in February 1979, they had a rock/paper/scissors game on the back.

Each stick of gum also included a 3.3″ x 3.7″ insert with different features. The license plates came with color stills, one of four different maze games, or mini popup displays that could be blown around on a flat surface.

The pikari plates came with a series color story images wrapped around them, sort of like trading cards.

These “action plates” came with the third wave of bubblegum, circa May 1979. They featured a still image on one side, and a 2-step lenticular version on the other.

“Choco Glico” was a favorite, a box of ten chocolate drops with another small box attached. In this case, the extra box contained a “badge,” what we would call a pin. They came in multiple styles…

the first wave was a plastic “relief” type with a raised image released in February 1979.

The second was a “die cut” style with a reflective coating.

If you were looking for more “mascots,” several styles could be found in boxes of fruit-filled pretzels in fall 1978.

This style, featuring a portrait inside, was called a “dream mascot.”

Then there was the “pekari mascot,” with a raised image painted gold on clear blue plastic. The largest measured about 2″ x 1.5″

But wait, there’s more! These mascots were reflective…

…and these were metal, each about 1.5″ across.

Snack cakes called “Choco Cookies” came with other items.

Namely, large-format color slides (4.3″ x 4.9″) to be viewed against a light source.

Glico’s “Fruits Roll” came with something called a “pekari film calendar.”

They consisted of a pocket-size “mirror calendar” (covering spring 1979) with characters and mecha printed on a clear cel layer against a foil backing.

“Almond Candy” came with miniature trading cards.

This was a set of “ring cards” measuring 1.3″ x 1.7″ that could be collected and kept on a single metal ring.

Were stickers your game? Then you wanted Glico’s cone-shaped “Caprico Choco,” which came with a couple varieties.

One type, measuring about 1.4″ x 2.2″, came with fairly typical action scenes from Farewell to Yamato.

The other type, called “action seals,” offered dual lenticular images.

Depending on where you bought your Glico snacks, you could get bags to carry them home on. This style was made for “Almond Choco.”

If you had a modest appetite, these minibags were just the thing.

If that still wasn’t enough, these 6-inchers were ready to serve.

But if you decided to clean off the entire store shelf, no problem! There were two styles of duffel bag to do it right.

It’s likely that these and other Glico products were offered as prizes for those who consumed enough snacks to win them.

How cool would your table look with these cardboard Yamato coasters on it? You know the answer.

Day at the beach? Don’t forget your Yamato kite and beach ball!

Might be a good idea to pack this handheld fan, too.

Maybe you’ll find some soft serve while you’re there. Just keep an eye out for this Glico Ice Cream banner.

Cardboard pencil boards were quick and easy to make, and Glico pumped out five of them (all shown front and back).

This one came with a science lesson on the back that examined different travel times from the Earth to the Moon or to the Sun.

According to this handy reference, Yuki would take 10 years to walk to the moon whereas a jet liner could fly there in 20 months and a Saturn V Rocket could make it in 15 hours. On the other hand, Kodai could walk to the sun in 4,000 years, a jet liner could fly it in 20 and a Saturn V could get there in 250 months. You’re welcome.

And finally, something from the “what the” category. This “Space Panorama Jumbo Map,” a big plastic sheet plastic that appears to have served no purpose other than to give cutout characters something to lie on.

Continue to Glico products for Yamato III

Continue to Be Forever Yamato collectibles

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