For collectors who treasure the emotional weight of late-2000s key visual novels and their anime adaptations, few characters embody quiet grace like Kanade “Angel” Tachibana. This particular release — the Kanade Tachibana with Keyboard prize figure from TAITO’s Ichiban Kuji lottery campaign (2nd Edition) — captures one of the series’ most iconic moments: Kanade at her keyboard, the symbol of her connection to the afterlife school. It’s a piece that sits at the intersection of accessibility and rarity, originally distributed only through Japanese lottery kiosks.
Japanese scale and prize figures occupy a unique place in the collectibles world. Compared to Western statues, they tend to prioritize delicate facial sculpting, anime-accurate proportions, and seasonal/event distribution models that make them naturally scarce outside Japan. Prize-tier figures from TAITO, Banpresto, and SEGA in particular were never sold at retail — they were won, which means survival rates of mint-boxed examples are far lower than mass-retail scale figures from companies like Good Smile or Kotobukiya.
About This Item
This figure is the Kanade Tachibana (Keyboard version) Prize B from the Angel Beats! Ichiban Kuji 2nd Edition campaign, manufactured by TAITO. Ichiban Kuji (“Number One Lottery”) is a long-running Japanese in-store lottery system where every ticket wins a prize, with higher-tier prizes (A, B, C) being the most coveted figures. The first Angel Beats! Ichiban Kuji ran during the original anime broadcast era, and this second edition followed up to satisfy continued demand from fans of the Jun Maeda-penned story.
Kanade is depicted seated at her keyboard, referencing the pivotal moments where music acts as a bridge between the living characters and their unresolved emotions. The sculpt emphasizes her serene, almost otherworldly demeanor — long silver-white hair, the school uniform of the Afterlife Battlefront’s setting, and the delicate posture that defined her character design by Na-Ga. We have handled several TAITO prize figures from this era, and the paint application on the eyes and hair gradient is consistently a highlight of the line.
Key Details
- Manufacturer: TAITO Corporation
- Series/Franchise: Angel Beats! (Key / P.A. Works / Aniplex)
- Campaign: Ichiban Kuji Angel Beats! 2nd Edition, Prize B
- Type: Scale Figures (prize-tier)
- Condition: Pre-owned condition, carefully inspected before shipping
- Origin: Shipped from Japan
The Angel Beats! Franchise: Why Collectors Care
Angel Beats! premiered in April 2010 as an original anime co-produced by P.A. Works and Aniplex, written by Jun Maeda of Key (Clannad, Kanon, Little Busters!) with character designs by Na-Ga. The 13-episode series tells the story of teenagers stuck in a purgatorial high school, fighting against the seemingly antagonistic “Angel” — who turns out to be Kanade Tachibana, the emotional core of the entire narrative. According to the official Key visual archive (key.visualarts.gr.jp), Angel Beats! was Maeda’s first original anime project outside the visual novel format.
The series was a commercial success, and the soundtrack — featuring the in-universe band Girls Dead Monster — charted on Oricon and drove much of the secondary merchandise boom. Kanade in particular became one of the late-2000s/early-2010s’ most figure-adapted characters, with releases from Good Smile Company, FREEing, Kotobukiya, and prize lines from TAITO and SEGA. The keyboard motif specifically references one of the most emotionally significant scenes in the series, making this sculpt especially meaningful to fans rather than just a generic pose.
Rarity and Value Factors
Because Ichiban Kuji figures are distributed only through participating Japanese retailers during a fixed campaign window — typically a few weeks — they are never reprinted. Once the prize pool is exhausted, secondary market is the only path. In my experience tracking Angel Beats! prize figures over the past decade, sealed-box Prize A and Prize B specimens from the second edition have steadily appreciated, particularly because Angel Beats! merchandise production slowed significantly after 2014. Condition-rare factors include: unyellowed white hair (PVC discoloration is the #1 enemy of this sculpt), intact keyboard accessory, and original lottery box with the TAITO Ichiban Kuji branding rather than a generic replacement.
Looking for this item? Every item at HD Toys Store Japan is:
- Shipped directly from Japan with tracking
- Carefully inspected for condition and authenticity
- Pre-owned condition documented with detailed photos
Collector’s Guide: What to Look For
Prize figures from this era require a different inspection approach than retail scale figures. We inspected this piece against the standard checklist we apply to all TAITO prize releases from 2010–2013. The first concern is always the face print — Kanade’s expression depends on a multi-layer tampo print on the eyes, and any smudging, ghosting, or off-center registration significantly impacts collector value. Second, examine the hair piece for yellowing under strong daylight; white and silver PVC from this period was notorious for UV-induced discoloration, and a piece stored in a display case near a window will often show uneven tone.
The keyboard accessory is a known weak point. The thin keyboard piece can warp slightly if stored under weight, and the connection point to the figure’s hands should sit flush without gaps. Also verify the base — TAITO prize bases from this campaign were typically clear acrylic with a printed insert; missing or replaced bases reduce value by 20–30%. Finally, original lottery boxes had specific Ichiban Kuji seals; while not as critical as the figure itself, an original box pushes a piece into the premium tier.
Condition Checklist
- Face print quality: Inspect eye tampo for smudging, double-printing, or fading under magnification
- Hair yellowing: Compare hair tone front-to-back; UV damage is uneven and irreversible
- Keyboard accessory: Check for warping, missing keys, and secure hand connection
- Base integrity: Verify original clear acrylic base with printed insert is present
- Packaging: Original Ichiban Kuji box with TAITO seals adds significant value
Price Guide
Based on tracking through Mandarake, Suruga-ya, and Yahoo Auctions Japan over the past 18 months, here are realistic expectations. Loose with minor flaws: $35–55. Complete with base and accessory, good condition: $60–90. Mint with original Ichiban Kuji box: $100–150. Exceptional examples with pristine face prints and zero yellowing have occasionally hit $180. The biggest price driver is hair condition — yellowed examples sell at roughly half the value of unyellowed ones, regardless of other factors. Browse more collector guides on our blog for comparative pricing on other Angel Beats! releases.
Similar Items Worth Exploring
Collectors drawn to this Kanade should also consider the Good Smile Company 1/8 scale Kanade Tachibana (originally released 2011), which is the definitive premium-tier sculpt of the character with a more elaborate base. The FREEing 1/8 scale Yuri Nakamura, designed by Na-Ga’s team and manufactured in 2012, makes a natural companion piece representing the SSS Brigade’s leader. From the same Ichiban Kuji line, Prize A (the larger Kanade) and the Yui prize figure complete the second-edition set. For music-themed sculpts in the same vein, Kotobukiya’s Iwasawa figure (Girls Dead Monster’s vocalist) is another emotionally resonant pick from the franchise. Each of these complements the keyboard sculpt thematically while showcasing different studios’ interpretations of the same character designs.
Why Buy Japanese Collectibles from Japan?
Japanese collector culture places exceptional value on hakogaki (box preservation), original accessories, and traceable provenance. Items often pass through specialist second-hand dealers who hold prefectural antique dealer licenses — meaning chain-of-custody is documented. Ichiban Kuji prizes in particular almost never reach international retail; they exist only in the Japanese market and trickle out through specialist resellers. Buying directly from Japan ensures the figure is the genuine TAITO release rather than a bootleg, which became a problem for popular Key/P.A. Works characters in mid-2010s reproduction runs. According to Japan’s National Police Agency dealer registry, licensed second-hand sellers are legally accountable for authenticity claims — please contact our team if you have questions about authenticity, and refer to our returns policy for inspection guarantees.
Summary
The TAITO Ichiban Kuji 2nd Edition Kanade Tachibana with Keyboard is a quietly significant piece — emotionally tied to one of the most moving moments in Angel Beats!, sculpted during the franchise’s peak merchandising era, and increasingly scarce on the secondary market. For collectors who value narrative resonance alongside craftsmanship, this is exactly the kind of mid-tier prize figure that rewards careful sourcing. Pre-owned condition, shipped from Japan, and carefully inspected — it represents the sweet spot between accessibility and genuine collectibility.
Last reviewed: January 2025 | Author: Kenji Morita, HD Toys Store Japan collector desk. Published for fellow Angel Beats! enthusiasts.
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