Pachimon

Pachimon (パチモン, Pachimon) is a vintage series of budget bromide trading cards made by the Japanese companies Yokopro (ヨコプロ, Yokopuro) and Yamapro (ヤマプロ) featuring unauthorized alterations of pre-existing kaiju collaged with other photographic elements. The term Pachimon itself means 'fake' in Japan, and it became a fan-created moniker roughly reading as 'stolen monsters'. Various other original kaiju, such as ones by Nitto and Amapro, have also been refereed to as Pachimon and have been confused with the vintage series by Yokopuro and Yamapro.^[1] Amapro subsequently published a merchandise series "Pachimon Great King" (パチモン大王 Pachimon Daiō) as a project for the magazine Figure King.^[2]

Information

Pachimon was created by Yokopro in the 1970's, around the time kaiju and Tokusatsu were very popular in Japan. The cards consists of several "Pachimon," monsters often based on those from popular kaiju series such as Godzilla, Gamera and the Ultra Series, usually shown attacking famous cities or places.

The playing card variations feature information on each monster, including its height, weight, and subtitle.

Although quite obscure, the Pachimon kaiju have garnered something of a cult following among Japanese collectors and otaku, which has resulted in vinyl figures (both official products and custom built independents), fan-made video games, and short films.

Cards

"Monster Collage" and "Dinosaur" Editions

The first series published by Yokopro featuring lone monsters appearing among the city, often Japanese locations. A secondary "Dinosaur" version was also issued alongside the "Monster Collage" cards.^[3]

"Monster Collage" (怪獣コラージュ)
Card	Subtitle, Name (Japanese)	Modified from
	Giant Monster Akaskeroni (大怪獣アカスケロニ)	Jamila, Gango
	Giant Monster Battari (大怪獣バッタリ)	Alien Godola, Ultraseven
	Giant Monster Daigoras (大怪獣ダイゴラス)	Eleking
	Giant Monster Eyegan (大怪獣アイガン)	Rodan
	Giant Monster Kanjiras (大怪獣カンジラス)	Jamila
	Giant Monster Kodon (大怪獣コドン)	Banila, Trachodon
	Giant Monster Kumon (大怪獣クモン), Giant Monster Scolosaurus (大怪獣スコロザウルス)	Alien Bira
	Giant Monster Leccacatholis (大怪獣レッカカトリス)	Alien Mefilas, Alien Icarus
	Giant Monster Lygon (大怪獣ライゴン)	Bemular
	Giant Monster Majelis (大怪獣マジェリス)	Telesdon, Darii
	Giant Monster Nash (大怪獣ナッシュ)	Rigger, Agira
12	Giant Monster Prachi (大怪獣プラチ)	Windom
	Giant Monster Saihatari (大怪獣サイハタリ)	Guigass
	Giant Monster Tonga (大怪獣トンガ)	Star Bem Gyeron
	Giant Monster Whatos (大怪獣ホワトス)	Alien Spell
	Giant Monster Jacob (大怪獣ヤコブ)	Jirahs
	Unnamed	Spectreman, Mogz

"Dinosaur" (恐竜)
Card	Subtitle, Name (Japanese)
	Giant Sea Beast Chockak (大海獣チョッカク)
	Giant Dinosaur Corythosaurus (大恐竜コリトザウルス)
	Giant Monster Bird Diatryma (大怪鳥ジアトリマ)
	Giant Monster Hebirus (大怪獣ヘビルス)
	Giant Ichthyosaur Jiptess (大魚竜ジプテス)
	Giant Sea Beast Mucasis (大海獣ムカシス)
	Giant Monster Nessie (大怪獣ネッシー)
	Giant Monster Protocera (大怪獣プロトケラ)
	Giant Monster Triceratops (大怪獣トリケラトプス)

Monster World Tour

Perhaps the most recognizable of the Yokopro releases, this second series features giant monsters menacing famous cities, landmarks, and natural wonders outside of Japan. All these monsters were originally nameless but were given such titles in later playing card editions.^[4]^[5]

Anigaru
Bahharah
Cactus Man
Danpurar
Garinco
Dahras
Gondoras
Guradjioras
Hightawagon
Kanchenga
Korarujin (Coral Person) vs Shīmeido (Seamaid)
Milmedes vs a giant tyrannosaurus
Octobus
Seabozun
Tortoise vs Purami
Wardoris
Boomens
Unnamed monster

Yamapro Edition

Third series featuring both named and unnamed characters, the latter coming from a Monster Confrontation set.^[6]

Metton
Dofilas
Himular
Zelako
Kibira
Lafiras
Kudora
Tedra
Killesdon
Keraco
Shirako
Raco
Tobozu
Doilar
Terraco
Yamapro
Puredon
Unnamed monster but given the name Galtan for a 2007 figure
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monsters

Espro Edition

Fourth series supposedly sold only at Japanese candy stores.^[7]

Robos
Ninku
Hishira
Keshyusu
Kokura
Kukerah
Raoh
Kirius vs. Sheath (1)
Kirius vs. Sheath (2)
Miikasu vs. unnamed monster
Chimarius
Walk
Maazosu
Shikitaris
Yvon vs Sneki

Latter-era Editions

Bromide cards produced towards the end of the decade under various miscellaneous series like New Monsters and Iwata Pro Large Monster Edition. Although Pachimon is infamous for culling from other monster characters and related image sources, the dip in quality is most apparent with these later entries.^[8]

Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster, reuse of Giant Sea Beast Chockak
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster but named Whow in the unofficial game Pachimon Kaiju Dainessen
Unnamed monster, reuse of Giant Monster Triceratops
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monsters
Unnamed monsters
Unnamed monsters
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monsters
Unnamed monsters
Unnamed monster, reuse of Jiatorima
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monsters
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monsters
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster
Unnamed monster

Playing Cards

Playing cards that reuses older images and characters alongside some new additions, mainly taken from Japanese picture books related to dinosaurs, fantasy monsters, and science fiction.^[9]

Bahharah playing card
Burum playing card
Danpurar playing card
Fufuggeness playing card
Gondoras playing card
Goryu playing card
Guradjioras playing card
Kanchenga playing card
Korarujin vs. Shīmeido playing card
Tōtasu vs. Purami playing card
Wardoris playing card
Anigaru playing card
Zasunek playing card
Alien Kamiri playing card
Dorakkuon playing card
Mogudon playing card
Octobus playing card
Ruzahdon playing card
Jeebat playing card
Boomens playing card
Keyhose playing card
Sandalar playing card
Dahras playing card
Eagler playing card
Gyamania playing card
Seabozun playing card
Hightawagon playing card
Garinco playing card
Kairyu playing card
Cactus Man playing card
Milmedes playing card
Saigar playing card
Mantiz playing card
Drasgon playing card
Daburinton playing card
Edaphosaurus playing card
Bosgon playing card
Archelon playing card
Spungis playing card
Golian playing card
Bowson Gass playing card
Eyearus playing card
Heshito King playing card
Styraco playing card
Waddler playing card
Spider playing card
Adult Centipede Monster playing card
Stegosaurus playing card
Allosaurus playing card
Unnamed monster

Kewpie Corporation Playing Cards

The following set of promotional playing cards were produced by the Kewpie Corporation and featured original creature artwork along with related names and stats. However, these cards are still often lumped together with other Pachimon due to some of the designs still being derivative of existing characters.^[10]

Etch playing card
Gohhogh playing card
Zilladon playing card
Curadros playing card
Bullbull playing card
Pelebon playing card
Menakuzilla playing card
Andromeropius playing card
Manbar playing card
Kim playing card
Oxidron playing card
Altamegalo playing card
Pelogger playing card
Goroboas playing card
Heater playing card
Computron playing card
Glora playing card
Vacuuma playing card
Casures playing card
Plaking playing card
Mage playing card
Elle playing card
Tibetron playing card
Alien Carta playing card
Alien Maurice playing card
Orpier playing card
Smogger playing card
Uradon playing card
Deledron playing card
Tapicrosaurus playing card
Cheaper playing card
Lal playing card
Melomron playing card
Methanron playing card
Branpeter playing card
Juness playing card
Oroloras playing card
Spater playing card
Begoviar playing card
Orix playing card
Elecpros playing card
Kavisanter playing card
Metrocabayan playing card
Peshla playing card
Pradon playing card
Arm playing card
Alien Acheela playing card
Betalas playing card
Oaks playing card
Gramingo playing card
Pira playing card
Alien Iron playing card
Unnamed monster

Other Cards

Various cards that don't fit in any of the above collections.

Giant Frankenstein's monster
Unknown entry with a Rodan-based monster
Unknown entry with unnamed monsters
Unknown entry with unnamed monster
Unknown collection of Pachimon cards
Cards featuring the stolen title hero from Super Robot Red Baron

Merchandise

Merchandise, toys, and fan-created figures inspired by Yokopro's Pachimon bromide cards.

Galtan vinyl figures
Galtan vinyl figure
Galtan figure by Zollmen
Galtan figure by Zollmen
Diatryma vinyl figure
Diatryma
Diatryma
Diatryma
Agasukeron figure
Akaskeron
Akaskeron
Saihatari vinyl figure
Saihatari
Saihatari
Saihatari
Saihatari
Saihatari
Tobozu
Tobozu
Tobozu and Raco
Majelis, Daigoras, and Kanjiras figurines
Etch vinyl figure
Etch mini figure
Heater vinyl figure
Heater, Etch, and Metrocabayan figures
Bechigon^[11]
Metrocabayan vinyl figures
Fan-created Kokura figure
Kanjiras figure
Kanjiras figure
Kanjiras figure
Fan-created Milmedes figure

Miscellaneous

Comparison between Doilar and Gorosaurus
Comparison for an unnamed monster
Comparison between Metton and Baragon
Comparison between Shirako and Giant Toad
Comparison for Giant Monster Hebirus
Comparison between Goryu and the Lake Ktimba monster^[12]
Comparison between an unnamed monster and The Giant Manfish
Comparison between Keraco and Gavadon B
Comparison between Raco and Gabora
Comparison between Lafiras and Gappa
Comparison between Killesdon and Guesra
Comparison art for an unnamed giant gorilla
Comparison between Galtan with Antlar, Baltan, and Gold Skull
Comparison between two unnamed monsters and Greenmons
Comparison between an unnamed monster and illustrated aliens
Comparison with Edd Cartier's illustrations from Travelers of Space (1951)
Etch fighting Den Ace
Tobozu's silhouette in the film Zillafoot (2019)

Trivia

Several of the kaiju depicted on the Pachimon cards are modified pictures of kaiju from the Godzilla, Gamera, and Ultra franchises.
- Some of the Ultra Series-inspired inspired kaiju are Africa, based on Sadola, Himular, which uses Red King's body, Kokura and Lygon, who are both modified from Bemular, Purachi, edited from Windom, Tonga, taken from Star Bem Gyeron, an unnamed monster with Peguila's body and Gomora's head, and another unnamed monster with Red King's body and Gamera's head.
Some Pachimon cards took their visual sources from outside the kaiju and tokusatsu genres, including science books based on prehistoric animals and photographs of modern day ones. Jiatorima, Skorosaurus, Triceratops, a gigantic Dunkleosteus, and an unnamed mountain hugging Komodo dragon are some such examples.
There is a minority of Pachimon card creatures who appear to be fully original creations and connected designs.
- It is possible that these too were stolen from more obscure sources, such as kaiju picture books and science fiction magazines.
The ghastly character with the claws of the iconic Ultraman villain Alien Baltan, the body of Antlar (also from Ultraman), and a model kit creature called Gold Skull from the company Nakamura, was originally left nameless in its card debut, but would later be named "Galtan" (or "Gaikotsubaltan") by the vinyl sculptor Exohead, who released a figure of the monster in 2007.
An unofficial Pachimon fighting game similar to MUGEN titled Pachimon Kaiju Dainessen exists.^[13]
- Through this unofficial video game, one unnamed Dunkleosteus-based monster was given the fan-created name of "Whow."
The clawed sea monster Goryu is taken from Gold Key Comics' Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea series, particularly the issue entitled "The Overland Trial".^[14]
An unnamed fish-like humanoid is repurposed magazine artwork of The Giant Manfish, a monster from episode 56 of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, "The Menfish" (March 6, 1966).^[15]
Several of the Pachimon, including Heater, Etch, and others, appear in the tokusatsu hero series, Den Ace.
The silhouette of Tobozu, along with multiple other monsters, appears in the opening title sequence of the 2019 film Zillafoot, mimicking the opening theme sequences of the original Ultraman show.

Reference

This is a list of references for Pachimon. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: ^[1]

Comments

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[1] ttps://pulog1.exblog.jp/48583/

[2] ttp://www.nawosan.com/pachimon/index.html

[3] ttp://maruwoo.web.fc2.com/pachi_2.htm

[4] ttp://maruwoo.web.fc2.com/pachi_2.htm

[5] ttp://pinktentacle.com/2010/06/pachimon-postcards/

[6] ttp://maruwoo.web.fc2.com/pachi_3.htm

[7] ttp://maruwoo.web.fc2.com/pachi_3.htm

[8] ttp://maruwoo.web.fc2.com/pachi_4.htm

[9] ttp://monsterbrains.blogspot.com/2013/08/pachimon-kaiju-cards.html

[10] ttp://pinktentacle.com/2011/02/pachimon-playing-cards/

[11] [1]

[12] ttps://beachbumcomics.blogspot.com/2016/02/lured-out-of-water-seaview-is-open.html

[13] [2]

[14] ttps://beachbumcomics.blogspot.com/2016/02/lured-out-of-water-seaview-is-open.html

[15] ttps://irwinallen.fandom.com/wiki/The_Menfish_(VBS_episode)

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