What is Ichiban Kuji? Japan's prize lotteries explained
Next to the capsule toy machines and crane games, you may see a poster at a convenience store or bookstore with a big figure marked "A Prize" and a box of folded tickets on the counter. That is a kuji: a lottery where every ticket wins something. The best known is Ichiban Kuji by Bandai Spirits.
How it works
- Find a store running a kuji. The poster shows the series and every prize.
- Tell the staff how many tickets you want and pay at the register. Each ticket usually costs several hundred to around a thousand yen.
- Draw your tickets from the box, open them, and hand them to the staff. They bring you the prize for each letter (A, B, C…).
Every ticket wins
Unlike a raffle, there are no blanks. The top prizes (usually A and B) are large figures or plush made only for that kuji; lower prizes are towels, acrylic stands, charms and similar goods. The prize board behind the counter shows what is still left.
The Last One prize
Many kuji have a special "Last One" prize for whoever draws the final ticket. When only a few tickets remain, people sometimes buy all of them to get it.
Tips
- Check the board before you buy. If the top prizes are already gone, you know what you can still get.
- New series start on set dates, and popular ones can sell out on the first day.
- Kuji prizes are not sold in stores, just like crane game prizes. Some arcades and online kuji services also run their own lotteries.
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