Buying Guides

Stepping into the world of anime and gacha game merchandise can feel like landing on a foreign planet. The community speaks a language filled with Japanese loanwords, manufacturer jargon, and internet slang. You might see a Reddit post advising you to "Put your Oshi's Fumo in an Ita-bag before you pull for the FES 1/7 Scale to win the 50/50."

If that sentence sounded like absolute gibberish, don't worry. You are not alone.

As the merchandise lines for games like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero become increasingly sophisticated, understanding exactly what you are buying is crucial. In this ultimate 2026 glossary, Bahomu breaks down the essential terminology of the collector's world. Whether you are a beginner looking to decode a product listing or a veteran wanting to brush up on subculture slang, this is your definitive dictionary.

1. Figure & Statue Terminology

Figures are the crown jewels of any collection, but they come in drastically different sizes, qualities, and price points.

• Scale Figure (e.g., 1/7, 1/8): A premium, highly detailed PVC statue that is scaled down proportionally from the character's "real-life" height. A 1/7 scale figure is typically 9 to 11 inches tall. These are museum-quality centerpieces, like the HSR Firefly 1/7 Scale Figure.
• Nendoroid: A specific, immensely popular line of chibi-style (small body, big head) figures created by Good Smile Company. They come with swappable faceplates, weapons, and accessories, allowing for customizable poses.
• Prize Figure: Budget-friendly figures originally designed to be won in Japanese UFO catcher arcade machines. They lack the intricate shading and complex bases of Scale Figures but are great for casual collectors.
• Blind Box / Mystery Box: Small, sealed boxes containing one random figure from a specific series (like the Genshin Impact Fatui Harbingers). You don't know which character you will get until you open it.
• Chase / Secret / Hidden Edition: A highly rare figure intentionally not pictured on the exterior of a Blind Box packaging. Pulling a "Secret" is considered incredibly lucky, and these figures hold immense aftermarket value.

2. Plushie Subcultures

Plushies have evolved far beyond standard stuffed animals, branching into specific, highly collectible aesthetic styles.

The iconic "Fumo" design features a flat head, sitting posture, and a distinct expression.

• Fumo (ふもふも): A cult-classic plush style characterized by a large, flat head, a sitting posture, and a slightly smug or blank embroidered expression. Originally from the Touhou series, games like HSR now officially embrace the style, such as the Sparkle Fumo.
• Nesoberi: Translated as "lying down," these are plushies positioned flat on their stomachs with their arms stretched forward. They are highly stackable and perfect for beds.
• Chibi Gurumi / Plush Pendant: Miniature plushies (usually around 10cm) equipped with a ball chain or keychain loop, specifically designed to be hung from bags or backpacks.

3. Paper & "Flat" Merchandise

For collectors who want breathtaking art without sacrificing shelf space, "Flat Merch" is the ultimate medium.

A PET Shikishi board provides a thick, glossy canvas for official character art.

• Shikishi (色纸): A thick, rigid, premium art board with golden foil edges. It is a traditional Japanese format adapted for official game art. PET Shikishi means the art is sealed under a layer of durable, glossy plastic.
• Laser Ticket (镭射票): A collectible printed to look like a concert ticket or boarding pass, utilizing holographic (laser) foil that shifts colors in the light. They are often used as bookmarks or displayed in clear phone cases.
• Toploader: A rigid, clear plastic sleeve used to protect collectible cards and laser tickets from bending or fraying at the corners.
• Quicksand Block (流沙砖): A thick, heavy acrylic paperweight filled with liquid and glitter. When turned, the glitter cascades like quicksand over the embedded character art.

4. Lifestyle & Fashion Slang

Fandom has merged with high fashion, creating new categories of wearable merchandise.

• Ita-bag (痛包): A backpack, tote, or crossbody bag featuring a clear vinyl window on the front. This window is used to display badges, keychains, and plushies without risking them falling off or getting scratched in public.
• Impression Series (印象服饰): Official apparel that does not feature loud anime faces. Instead, it "gives the impression" of a character by deconstructing their in-game outfit into tailored, real-world fashion (e.g., the Aventurine Impression Watch).
• Stealth Geek: The aesthetic goal of the Corporate Otaku. Wearing anime merchandise that is so well-designed and subtle that only fellow fans will recognize it, while looking perfectly normal to everyone else.
• Gorpcore: A fashion trend focusing on utilitarian, outdoor, and camping gear (cargo pants, utility vests). This is highly prevalent in Zenless Zone Zero and Genshin Impact (Natlan) merchandise.

5. Community & Gacha Culture

The culture surrounding the games directly impacts how we buy and use merchandise.

• Oshi (推し): Your absolute favorite character. The character you save all your in-game currency for, and the character whose merchandise you prioritize collecting above all others.
• Whale / Dolphin / F2P: Terms used to describe spending habits. A "Whale" spends large amounts of money on the game and premium merchandise (like 1/7 Scale Figures). A "F2P" (Free-to-Play) player relies on free rewards and budget merch (like Blind Boxes). A "Dolphin" is somewhere in the middle.
• FES (Festival): Exclusive merchandise released during major offline events (like HoYo FEST or Anniversary exhibits). FES merchandise often features "AU" (Alternate Universe) art, like characters in modern streetwear, making it incredibly rare.
• Gacha Catalyst (触媒): A physical piece of merchandise (like a plushie or an acrylic stand) that a player places near their computer while pulling for a character in-game. It is an internet superstition/ritual used to channel "good luck" and bring the character home.

The Collector's Quick Reference Table

Bookmark this page! Here is a quick summary of the most common terms you will encounter while shopping on Bahomu:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does "Pre-Order" mean for anime merchandise?

Unlike standard retail items, high-end anime merchandise (like Scale Figures and Impression Apparel) is usually "Made-to-Order." The manufacturer opens a Pre-Order window, tallies the exact number of purchases, and then begins production. This means you secure the item at retail price, but it will not ship until manufacturing is complete (which can take 4 to 12 months).

Are the "Secret" blind box figures guaranteed if I buy a Whole Set?

No. When you purchase a "Whole Set" (or a full case) of blind boxes, you are guaranteed to receive all the standard characters with zero duplicates. However, the "Secret" or "Hidden" figure is inserted at a very low probability (e.g., 1 in 144 boxes). If you are lucky enough to pull the Secret, it will replace one of the standard figures in your set.

What is the difference between an Acrylic Stand and an Acrylic Quicksand Block?

An Acrylic Standee is a flat, 2D printed character on a thin piece of clear acrylic that slots into a base so it can stand upright. An Acrylic Quicksand Block is a thick, 3D hollow block filled with liquid and metallic glitter that falls dynamically over the printed artwork when you shake or flip the block.

Why are some merchandise items labeled "AU" (Alternate Universe)?

AU stands for Alternate Universe. It refers to merchandise that depicts characters outside of their canonical in-game lore or settings. For example, fantasy knights wearing modern cyberpunk streetwear, or sci-fi characters dressed in formal orchestral gowns for a concert. These are usually highly sought-after FES or Event exclusives.

Welcome to the club! Now that you speak the language of a true collector, you are ready to navigate the vast, beautiful world of official anime merchandise. Happy hunting!