I just want to drop that somewhere so here we go. (you can see bigger pictures at the end of the post!)
Let's take a look at Pokemon tags, Banpresto ones for now.
If you do not speak Japanese, those might not get your attention (unless they have a nice design) and it could be easy for you to think one tag is official when it's clearly not.
Let's talk about recent Banpresto tags (those from late 2012 to today).
When it comes to special series (like the I♥ series, or the MY Pokemon Collection series), the paper tag is full colour. For the I♥ series, it has an I♥ illustration on the front side.
Let's take a look at Pokemon tags, Banpresto ones for now.
If you do not speak Japanese, those might not get your attention (unless they have a nice design) and it could be easy for you to think one tag is official when it's clearly not.
Let's talk about recent Banpresto tags (those from late 2012 to today).
When it comes to special series (like the I♥ series, or the MY Pokemon Collection series), the paper tag is full colour. For the I♥ series, it has an I♥ illustration on the front side.
And then comes the "fun" part : the back side. It has all the information you want/need. First the Banpresto logo. You're getting a Banpresto plush so it HAS to have the Banpresto logo right?
Then comes the Craneking logo. I don't know when BP started putting this logo on their tag, but my plushies from late 2012 (until today) have it; which means if you're getting a plushie released after late 2012, it HAS to have the Craneking logo. If it doesn't, think of it as suspicious.
Then we have the origin name (Pocket Monsters, Pocket Monsters Best Wishes, Pocket Monsters XY..) as well as the "Otona mo Pokemon" (おとなもポケモン) since the I♥ series are aimed at an older audience.
Then comes some important information : the ST part, with the product number and code, and most important, the ShoPro blue sticker. This stickers means that the product has been approved by Japanese rules to be sold in Japan. If a Banpresto item doesn't have it, that means it never got this approval, and thus was never released in Japan --> BOOTLEG.
(and of course there is the recommended age and made of info).
Then comes the Craneking logo. I don't know when BP started putting this logo on their tag, but my plushies from late 2012 (until today) have it; which means if you're getting a plushie released after late 2012, it HAS to have the Craneking logo. If it doesn't, think of it as suspicious.
Then we have the origin name (Pocket Monsters, Pocket Monsters Best Wishes, Pocket Monsters XY..) as well as the "Otona mo Pokemon" (おとなもポケモン) since the I♥ series are aimed at an older audience.
Then comes some important information : the ST part, with the product number and code, and most important, the ShoPro blue sticker. This stickers means that the product has been approved by Japanese rules to be sold in Japan. If a Banpresto item doesn't have it, that means it never got this approval, and thus was never released in Japan --> BOOTLEG.
(and of course there is the recommended age and made of info).
However non special series plushies have a different tag. And let's admit it, it's some kinda plain tag haha.
Let's give a look at Korotto & Super DX plushies. Front side has the Craneking logo on the left, and the Banpresto logo on the right (it seems that those two are always placed like this, no matter the tags).
Then in the middle comes the origin name "Pocket Monsters Best Wishes", "Pocket Monsters XY".. (I'd like to add that BP always use anime origin name, so it is very unlikely to find a simple "Pocket Monsters" origin logo. For some reason the I♥Gothic set does have it, but it's the only one).
If the plushie is released along with a movie, then the movie's name will also appear under the generic name.
Lastly comes the series name : "Korotto Manmaru Nuigurumi xxxx"; "Super DX Nuigurumi xxxx". Note that Banpresto often gives a name to their series. Sometimes it can be very simple, like only "Pocket Monsters Best Wishes (ot XY) Nuigurumi" BUT those are mostly released in two set and thus contains a number "Pocket Monsters Best Wishes (or XY) Nuigurumi 1 (or 2)". If it's not an I♥ series, then the series name has to be written on the front side of the tag.
Let's give a look at Korotto & Super DX plushies. Front side has the Craneking logo on the left, and the Banpresto logo on the right (it seems that those two are always placed like this, no matter the tags).
Then in the middle comes the origin name "Pocket Monsters Best Wishes", "Pocket Monsters XY".. (I'd like to add that BP always use anime origin name, so it is very unlikely to find a simple "Pocket Monsters" origin logo. For some reason the I♥Gothic set does have it, but it's the only one).
If the plushie is released along with a movie, then the movie's name will also appear under the generic name.
Lastly comes the series name : "Korotto Manmaru Nuigurumi xxxx"; "Super DX Nuigurumi xxxx". Note that Banpresto often gives a name to their series. Sometimes it can be very simple, like only "Pocket Monsters Best Wishes (ot XY) Nuigurumi" BUT those are mostly released in two set and thus contains a number "Pocket Monsters Best Wishes (or XY) Nuigurumi 1 (or 2)". If it's not an I♥ series, then the series name has to be written on the front side of the tag.
What about the back side? Way simpler! Since most of the maker and series info are written on the front, the back side of the tag can look kind of plain, simple. BUT this is a good reason to get mistaken.
First and most important of all, the ShoPro blue sticker, again. ALWAYS NEED THIS STICKER. If it's not here then it's a big nono.
Then we have the ST part with the product number and code. (if you Google the product number, the one that starts with 49, and end up finding a lot of different plushies, then again it is suspicious. Every product or series has its own number.)
(and then the recommended age and made of info).
First and most important of all, the ShoPro blue sticker, again. ALWAYS NEED THIS STICKER. If it's not here then it's a big nono.
Then we have the ST part with the product number and code. (if you Google the product number, the one that starts with 49, and end up finding a lot of different plushies, then again it is suspicious. Every product or series has its own number.)
(and then the recommended age and made of info).
That's pretty much it for the paper tag.
Remember to always look for the ShoPro sticker! Banpresto plushies must have it! See this Bulbisaur plush under? It has none. Only some blank circle with 証紙 written. It's a brand new plush, it has no excuses for not having the sticker. So? BOOTLEG.
Sometimes your tag can look pretty similar, but what's written in Japanese be totally different. Like this Jigglypuff plushie that looked pretty good, it even had a very nice paper tag with an illustration. However there was no maker written on it. Of course it looked pretty authentic at first glance, but then comes the thing : the circled part says the product is Ramune candies from Bandai. How very bizarre! This plush sure isn't some Ramune candies haha. And that's how we understood it was a bootleg! Haha. Always try to read what's written on the paper tag. (this one is more like a Takara Tomy/Pokecen tag but still).
Remember to always look for the ShoPro sticker! Banpresto plushies must have it! See this Bulbisaur plush under? It has none. Only some blank circle with 証紙 written. It's a brand new plush, it has no excuses for not having the sticker. So? BOOTLEG.
Sometimes your tag can look pretty similar, but what's written in Japanese be totally different. Like this Jigglypuff plushie that looked pretty good, it even had a very nice paper tag with an illustration. However there was no maker written on it. Of course it looked pretty authentic at first glance, but then comes the thing : the circled part says the product is Ramune candies from Bandai. How very bizarre! This plush sure isn't some Ramune candies haha. And that's how we understood it was a bootleg! Haha. Always try to read what's written on the paper tag. (this one is more like a Takara Tomy/Pokecen tag but still).
After the paper tag comes the tush tag. This one is easy to copy and thus, you can't really tell if bootleg or not hmm. (unless the tush tag is wrong, like for the same Jigglypuff plushie, but from someone else, that said "Tsubasa Chronicle Plush" woops!
Those 2 pictures come from this blog.
Basically Banpresto's tush tags always have the same pattern. Let's keep going with our Korotto and Super DX plushies; we'll see I♥ series right after.
First side has the Banpresto logo, as well as the "for Game Centers" info. Right under is the release year, with Banpresto (BP) written again, and the good old "Made in China" text.
Basically Banpresto's tush tags always have the same pattern. Let's keep going with our Korotto and Super DX plushies; we'll see I♥ series right after.
First side has the Banpresto logo, as well as the "for Game Centers" info. Right under is the release year, with Banpresto (BP) written again, and the good old "Made in China" text.
The back side of the tush tag contains the remaining info : the product code, with the series/type name right under (Korotto, Super DX..).
Lastly comes the corporight, i.e. Nintendo/Pokemon (and Pikachu Project "ピカチュウプロジェクト" for movie plushies) and sometimes the release year.
Lastly comes the corporight, i.e. Nintendo/Pokemon (and Pikachu Project "ピカチュウプロジェクト" for movie plushies) and sometimes the release year.
Now let's see for the I♥ series!
The tush tag is exactly the same. Front side has the Banpresto logo, the "for Game Centers" info and the BP/release year/Made in China stuff.
The tush tag is exactly the same. Front side has the Banpresto logo, the "for Game Centers" info and the BP/release year/Made in China stuff.
Same for the back side : product code, series/type name and the Nintendo/Pokemon corporight.
But little difference! I♥ series have another tush tag, with the series name/logo.
I guess that's pretty much all that needs to be known about tags? Of course if a bad person gets the autenthic product with its tag they might be able to make the exact one, but then the plushie's quality should be something to check, as they usually looks cheaper.
I'll leave some pictures of my plushies' tags if that can help!
I'll leave some pictures of my plushies' tags if that can help!