Tokyo Shoe Retail Center Sock and Bag Gacha Launch in Late September
Takara Tomy Arts has announced the Tokyo Shoe Retail Center Socks & Shoe Bag Collection, a new capsule toy series themed around the storefronts of Chiyoda’s retail brands. The collection will roll out at capsule vending machines nationwide starting in late September 2026, priced at 400 yen (approx. $2.70 / ~¥19) per play. The lineup consists of five items: socks and shoe bags designed after Tokyo Shoe Retail Center, SHOE PLAZA, and Hello Mac, the toy store that ceased operations years ago. Chiyoda, which celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2026 and runs 861 stores across Japan, has seen its nostalgic Hello Mac visual identity frequently discussed online among a wide range of generations.
The sock lineup offers three variants based on Tokyo Shoe Retail Center, SHOE PLAZA, and Hello Mac, each sold as a two-pair set in sizes 23–25 cm. The designs recreate each store’s exterior appearance, complete with store-specific colors and logos, with each store’s catch copy printed on the front; the Hello Mac version prominently features the toy shop’s logo. According to the announcement, the retro motifs are meant to evoke the stores as they appeared in earlier days, giving the designs a nostalgic quality intended to be enjoyed across generations.
Two shoe bag designs round out the collection: a Tokyo Shoe Retail Center version featuring the store’s large logo alongside multiple poses of Chiyoda’s original mascot Kutsuo, and a Hello Mac version decorated with the store’s exterior and Mac Lion. Measuring roughly 28 x 33 cm, the bags comfortably hold sneakers and can double as organizers for clothes, accessories, or travel storage. Kutsuo was born from an internal company contest as SHOE PLAZA’s original mascot, while Mac Lion adorned the exterior of the Hello Mac toy store that operated from December 1985 to July 2008.
The collection retails for 400 yen (approx. $2.70) per capsule pull with all five designs available at random, and is intended for ages 15 and up. Socks come in 23–25 cm sizes, while the bags measure about 28 x 33 cm. The series arrives in late September 2026 at capsule vending machines located in variety stores and mass retailers nationwide. The announcement notes that the photos shown are development samples and may differ slightly from the final products. As a playful twist on everyday footwear items, this set is a charming piece of Japanese retail nostalgia — and the Hello Mac designs make it a tempting pull for collectors who remember the fabled toy store.
