Volks Dolpa 29 - April 28, 2013

I'm glad I'm not the only one that's frustrated about the price of Ryoma... I was considering entering the lottery, but almost $2000 is WAAAY too much... Especially now that the rate's been going down.
I'll probably try the online AE with many of you. Unfortunately I don't live in Japan so I won't be able to go to the physical AE. Good luck to those who will be going!! > <

 

Oh wow! Ryoma is absolutely gorgeous! Has anyone found more pictures of him?

 

Rochelle, I'm so sorry you are having to close up shop. I wish you the very best and thank you again for all the great service you've given me over the years, up to and including my purchase of Volks Belle! Sending healing hugs your way!

Seditionary, I also need to cease and desist my gazing of Ryoma....sigh....he's smokin' hot now, but on the SDGou body...he'd absolutely combust!

AHazuki, I must admit that I'm also experiencing sticker shock when it comes to Ryoma. I didn't think he'd be more than my sexy Beast, and was actually hoping he'd cost around the same, or less than Prince Claude, given that they're both in Pure Skin vs. Shadow. Anyway, it's a blow to my piggybank, and as much as I like his smirking face, I'm not sure I'll be able to bring this rabblerouser home after all.

Juli DC

 

Have they announced when the International lottery will start, or when the International AE will be? I know not until after the event, but I wasn't sure exactly when. Thanks!

 

All of the after-events will be Saturday May 18, Japan time. That's when the international lottery period is scheduled to start, too.

 

Thank you!

 

Looks like Asuna won't be in the US lottery after all!

 

whoa! Asuna!
gotta inform my SAO-fan friends about this. XDDD

 

Man, severely disappointed that Asuna isn't available through Volks USA. I wonder what copyright issues came up only a couple days away from the lottery. =/

 

I have a friend that is upset because she really wanted Asuna.

 

I am still unable to decide on Sakamoto, his name Ryoma translates to dragon-horse in English and I avoid all things dragon. If the Japanese and/or Chinese character for dragon is printed on his box, I will have problems keeping him. You may think this is foolish, but to me, it's significant. I like everything about Sakamoto, his role in history, his contributions to Japan, his political ideology, his overall doll design and his resemblance to Spike Spiegel (CowboyBebop).

I built my resin boys' team around the theme of Meiji restoration. You can imagine my conundrum over the translation of his nickname. I asked Isao, the leader of my resin boy's team what he thinks of Sakamoto, he asked me "Are you Japanese?". He's profound. He's my favorite doll, he's Japanese.

Azuna's withdrawal is a shock. I hope those who want her can get her through the AE. She's a great DD.

 

There are Dolpa 29 dolls on Y!J already and the Dolpa hasn't even started. O.o I always wonder if these first guys are reliable?

I always get struck by how some people really go to these events to resell the dolls later without even putting their hands on them... ><' In any case I'll be stalking Y!J for the next day since apparently it'll be cheaper from there than from the US lotteries. :3 *keeps fingers crossed for Ryoma*

 

my friend was lucky enough to get a low number and get my Ryoma!!!! I can't wait for him to get home!!

 

Congrats.

I can't wait to see more pictures from the event.

 

Congratulations! It will be so interesting to see how he fits in with your crew!

 

thanks!! can't wait to see him together with the rest of the crew

if you are interested, you can see a few pictures from the Dolpa in my friend's fb page. she says it was so crowded it was a stress to take pics

 

siruveru - Congrats!! Must be awesome to get him directly from the Dolpa! ;3;~

I snatched the first BIN Ryoma from a seller with good feedback I found on Y!J! D': Wasn't as cheaper as I wanted but BINs save me the awful stress and anxiety I get from auctions and he'll arrive on time for moving. Auctions are evil. T_T They are going fast though, was last Dolpa this heated? I still see dolls from Osaka with some good prices on Y!J...

I'm still considering Is I should go for Ryô... she's growing on me.

 

Congrats on those getting their desired Dolpa's Volks LE !!!
I hope to be able to get a Ryoma... crossing fingers !

 

crossing my fingers for you, dark_angel...

and Abel, congrats!!! hope your boy gets there soon!

my friend just opened my Ryoma and oh boy, I love this sculpt so much!!! I'll be changing his faceup though, hopefully my chosen faceup artist will have a slot for me...

L]

 

Congrats!!! he is very handsome
I waiting for the international AE, hoping to get a piccolo.

 

OMG he's even more gorgeous on your pic !

 

congrats seruveru. The stress is over for you! Now, you can sit back, relax and wait for your new boy to come home! It's always a treat to know he's surely there for you.

......I'm off to church with my new boy Reisner. It's his first time in church. I'd worry about Sakamoto when I get back. I had intended to secure Sakamoto from the secondary market because my luck in Volks lotteries is 0. For dolls that I really want, I'd acquire him in all ways possible. Now, his name Ryoma translating to "dragon-horse" is not helping me at all. Meanwhile, Reisner and I don't want to be late for church.....seruveru......CONGRATS AGAIN....)

 

stargazer_i : You bring your dolls to church? I thought about doing that, but I am afraid of what the people there would say. >.<

Meanwhile... Congrats to the new owners! More Ryoma pics please!

 

thanks! stargazer_i, I hope you can find your boy. me & my friend never had any luck in lotteries before... and we still don't have any luck, it was her husband who got the winning number you never know!

 

Congrats to the winners!!! Yes, more pics please! ^^

 

i'm happy for all the winners and I will have prayers for the people entering the lottos, so that they can get the dolls they want.

 

siruveru: major major congrats!!! He is so much more handsome in ur pic!!! N i luv everything abt his fullset!! Pls post more pics of him!

 

siruveru - Thanks! x3 And oh gosh!! Thank you for the picture, I am soo anxious to see Ryomas around, especially if you're customizing him. *0*~

I just jumped in and got Ryô as I found a nice BIN today!! ;3; I'm so anxious for them to come home! XD

 

Congrats, Abel! Some of the BINs are the same price as Volks USA... ^^ Rare finds indeed!

 

congrats, Abel!! and good luck with the lotteries to everybody.

I would spam my Ryoma so much you would beg me to please stop posting pictures, but he's at my friend's house in Tokyo and she doesn't want to handle him much. he just opened him to check everything was ok. I hope he will be flying to me next week, then I will spam him lots but I wanted to share one of the pictures my friend made at the Dolpa, it's Ryoma and Ryo. I love her high heeled sandals!

 

Sigh, I see that the eBay price for Ryoma has gone slightly up. Early this morning, it was exactly the same price as Volks USA inclusive of shipping. The seller is very respectable and reliable. If not for the translation of Ryoma to mean "dragon-horse", I would have clicked on "buy it now". I am not sure if I can accept another dragon related doll into the house, keeping Sphaler is a challenge.

fransyung, I find North American churches to be open and accepting of dolls (any type) compared to some Asian churches. Nobody has thus far spoken against collecting dolls. All my dolls go to church. In Asia, I won't bring a doll to church. I don't know what they will say about Sphaler and the dragon or Ryoma's name. I had friends who did not allow their daughters to play with dolls (all types). The price tag on BJDs can put us in very bad light. Even in North America, I pretend the dolls are cheap. Today, I introduced Reisner as my boyfriend. We all laughed. The pastor looked worried.

Sakamoto couple spams....yeah....

 

Well, it's just the kanji used for the Ryo in his name. Ryu/Ryo is a very commonly used kanji for names in Japan and really doesn't mean he is a dragon or has any more connection with being a dragon than, say, I do with being a royal fortress, which is what the Gaelic root of my name, Kim, means.

 

Thank you! They are indeed. I got Ryô for a little less and Ryoma for a bit more, but since I will be moving soon I though it was better to have them shipped as soon as possible just in case I'm not around in the US to receive them from the American lotteries. ;3;' I am so excited!! I hope Noppin 'wakes up' soon so I can finally pay for them. D':

Thankies! I can't wait to see your Ryoma's spam! I love those Dolpa Dioramas, they're so wonderful and detailed... Ryô's sandal's are amazing! x3

 

Congrats to the winners so far!

I upped my bidding limit yesterday for SMJ and am watching a few auctions for Ryoma. Determined to have one secured by tomorrow! He's so perfect for one of my character's it's ridiculous; there's no way I'm letting him slip away!

 

Oh my! He looks very handsome and its so nice to see a clear straight on photo. I'm quiet relieved his nose seems smaller than I thought it was. XD

 

Thanks for trying to make things feel better. I entered for Ryoma in the Volks USA lottery, but given my bad luck with Volks lotteries, I likely won't win. Early this morning, I could have secured Ryoma from ebay but just cannot convince myself to accept another dragon boy. I'd leave this chance to the lottery system, it's a way out of my conundrum. May be, this guy wants to come home, my resin boys' team is Imperialist. As a doll collector, I like Sakamoto's overall design, aesthetic visual appeal, sculpt, costume and faceup. There's nothing I don't like about him. So, I'd leave his home coming to lottery chance. I won't be getting him from the secondary market if I fail in the lottery.

I love history. I'm puzzled how this guy got assassinated. Didn't they have bodyguards. Even his samurai friend died. They can't be that careless and the enemy cannot be that sharp because that happened towards the end of the war when the opponents are already weakened. I'm just sorry for his wife Ryo. If you read her life story, you would want to give her a home in this dolpa. Abel It's really very nice of you have them together. . Congratulations.

 

Abel congrat on getting you dolls! I entered for Ryo (even though I told myself I wouldn't). Hopefully I'll have some good luck and bring her home. Good luck to everybody entering lotteries.~

 

Oh! Ryoma is so handsome! And Piccolo is so adorable! I noticed the US site has placed the dolls up for lottery. Is the AE lottery for the international site opened?

 

Thankies Essie! x3 We should meet before I graduate so you can see them if I can get them to arrive asap. ;0;~ I hope you win Ryô in the lottery, she's gorgeous!! >u<

Exactly. It's hard to keep them separated after that, this period is probably the only period of Japanese history that I know a bit more about as it's my absolute favorite. D': I usually read on the Shinsengumi but Volks made me want to know more about Sakamoto and Ryô... the funny thing is, the character my Ryô is gonna become, Eri, is really similar to the real one (I have her as a Supia Muse and will probably replace her). O.o Anyway thank you for the congrats! It's been a while since I've gotten this excited over a doll. x3

 

Not yet... it will be on May 18 so maybe they'll post a banner 2 weeks before that. ^^

 

fransyung, thank you so much! I still can't decide who I should get hahaha! Ryoma and Piccolo are just too awesome in their own ways! I hope everyone get what they want!

 

While Ryo is not an unusual name. The legend has it that his mother had a dream about a dragon circling have their house and soaring into the sky the night prior to his birth. Thus he was named with the character Ryo in his name. For both Chinese and Japanese culture, Ryo (Chinese Dragon) is a good and powerful symbol, which bring good fortune.

 

Congrats to all who already won their dolls! ^^

I found some pretty nice pictures from Dolpa here: http://taitan-no.net/archives/2013/04/29/1232.php Please enjoy

 

Oh thanks so much for the link Ksusha!

 

Thanks Ksusha, what a treat! Love their kimono displays.

I was looking for that Japanese sword in 2 of the photos. It's made of plastic, well forged like a real blade sword, easy on dolls because it's light and made just the right length for big dolls. I bought 2 of those from Volks USA a few years ago. Just recently, someone approached me and asked if I would sell the sword, I did not dare to sell because I don't know where to buy one back. I declined. Ever since, I keep a look out for that sword. Japanese swords made in Japan are coveted. From the photos, it looks like the sword is no longer a general but a limited item. I'm not sure why there are numbers on those items. My F38 Himura uses one of the swords, the other is used by Sphaler who is currently up for adoption. I would love to give Sphaler that sword as a gift when he goes to his new home but I really don't know where or when I can buy it back if I gave it away or sold it. I believe in twin swords, a pair to cross blades, never 1 sword, always 2. I should have bought 3.

 

I really came very close to trying for the lottery for Sakamoto. He's incredibly gorgeous. Someday maybe ~sigh~

 

Don't sell the sword

That is the only light weight SD size I have found thus far as well

I got two as well when Volks USA sold it..... Keep it

 

Thanks Anaval. My new boy Reisner started to talk. He sternly said there is nothing wrong with Ryoma's name and that I should apologize for any offense that might have been created. Sakamoto does not need to join this group because there are many-many other groups who will welcome him. He asked to see the Japanese sword, after fiddling with it, he challenged F38 Himura to a duel. He will use the Japanese sword in the duel instead of his own. He asked for his sword hand.

 

I enjoyed looking at the photo's in that link Ksusha. Thank you for sharing! All the dolls and clothing are just awesome! Yep, Ryoma is certainly a hunk. I just love him and would love to bring him home. Unfortunately though I think I'm going to stick to saving for my vintage vespa instead of trying to bring home another doll. Hmm....Though that could change when the Volks international AE takes place. I must resist!

 

It's official, I'm impatient. One Sakamoto Ryoma acquired on YJ, just awaiting shipping to my deputy so I can pay. I really wanted to secure him, and now he'll be here in just a couple of weeks. Sending all the lottery luck towards those who are entering!

 

Congrats, InvisibleWings!!! Don't forget to post photos!!!

 

Wow Invisible Wings congrats on obtaining "Mr. Smirky"! You go girl! LOL!

Thanks Ksusha, the link to the Dolpa photos you shared is great! It's so much fun seeing the dolls and so many of the dealer offerings too! All I know is that I would need buckets of money and space on a cargo ship if I were ever to attend Dolpa in Japan! LOL!

Sending good luck vibes to everyone entering for this crop of Dolpa goodies! I'm on the list at We Love Dolls, so we'll see if I'm destined to welcome my "Romeo Saki" afterall.

Juli

 

So how exactly does the after even work?

Is it whoever is fastest with the mouse?

or is it another lottery?

Can you use paypal for it?


and oo congrats InvisibleWings! I can't wait to see him~

 

After Event is a Lottery. Volks will post the banner and you can read the tutorials before entering the Lottery.

 

Congrats to all who got Ryoma and good luck for all who are entering the Lottery! He is so handsome, it was love at first sight to me
I was also lucky to get him thanks to a very kind person who got him for me and accepts layaway. I hope to pay him off soon and get him home

 

Congrats to all!! I cant wait for ryoma spam. I got my ryoma and ryo off yj and now i cant wait for them to come home!

 

Seems that I will have a lot of difficulties to put my hands on a Ryoma...
I may have to only lurk on your pics guys...

On the bright side, my Yu is coming home as I speak ! Can't wait to get her !!!

 

Congrats again to everyone welcoming Ryoma home! I was so excited when the Volks folks confirmed that he would come with his special hand and gun, that I contacted Debra at We Love Dolls to put my name on her wishlist as I was standing there at Volks IDEX booth! Then his price was announced and I began to doubt my own sanity! LOL! But after seeing that great close-up head shot that Siruveru posted, I was smitten all over again. I missed the deadline to enter the Volks USA lottery too, and was kicking myself until I learned that Debra hadn't received her list confirmations from Volks yet....so I still have a fighting chance! YAY! Ahhh the rollercoaster of love! LOL!

Juli DC

 

Congrats to all who have won so far! I did find some Ryoma photos on this blog. Have anyone seen any owners pics of Ryo yet?

 

I wish somebody would take a profile shot of Ryoma! I'm starting to wonder if he looks weird from the side because no one is showing him from that angle at all!