Ichiban Kuji Madogatari - Tomoe Mami & Sengoku Nadeko Mini Art

Hello everyone and welcome back for Monogatari Thursdays here on Tiro Finale. Today, we will be taking a look at more Madogatari merchandise featuring the a Mini Art from the collaboration's first ever Ichiban Kuji lottery. Thinking back about it, the first Monogatari Thursday I ever did was featuring a similar Madogatari Mini Art too albeit it coming from the later, second Ichiban Kuji release. 

From the outside, the two are very similar with exactly identical dimensions and a near perfect copy of the box art. The only difference lies in the picture of the product within together with different title designations. Otherwise, you would be easily mistaken for both to have come from the same Ichiban Kuji lottery.

Opening the box and removing the framed art within, we immediately can discern the difference. Not just due to the different art and characters but, this time, the art is colored as opposed to the monochrome finish of the later Kuji release.

This additional ticket is the piece that makes all the difference as it identifies the exact copy you currently own. Of 14,440 pieces made, this is 2,630th piece which, in a sense, does make it a limited edition piece. If you are into that sort of thing, the original Madogatari Ichiban Kuji is certainly one up your alley.

The two characters featured on the art are Tomoe Mami from Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Sengoku Nadeko from the Monogatari Series. Mami is dressed in the green dress that she sports in an earlier Madoka Magica Ichiban Kuji while, Nadeko is wearing her signature outfit with her cap and coat.

Just like the other Madogatari Mini Art that I reviewed, this one similarly employs a wooden frame and back. Each corner of the back is secured by two metal stays which can be rotated in order to allow the back of the frame to come free. 

A thin layer of tape resides over the corners which prevent the staple holding the corners of the frame together from becoming exposed. This, in return, reduces any chance of corrosion and any possible sharp edges. 

The arrangement in the upper two corners are similar to that of the bottom with the addition of a hook on each side of the upper corner. 

These hooks are present to allow owners to hang their Mini Art up with ease. While the frame does stand well on its own, I would strongly recommend you hang yours up instead.

The string included is a nondescript black nylon one which does the job well enough. It may take a little bit of time to set up but, it would hold your framed art up securely. I know that some collectors may take the easy way out and employ double-sided tape or Blu Tack but, those adhesives often give way after a few months.

Aside from the printed art of Mami and Nadeko, there are also other minor details peppered throughout the frame. For starters, there is the "Shaft 40th" anniversary logo on the upper border of the frame. 

And the Madogatari Exhibition logo at the bottom of the frame. At first, these logos are a little hard to spot because they are printed in black. Once you notice them though, you never miss them.

Nadeko-dayo!

This is actually my first piece of Sengoku Nadeko merchandise and while, she may look much younger than Mami, in actuality the two are both middle school students with only a year or two in between them. 

Having not seen any pictures of the actual product prior to purchasing it, I was pleasantly surprised to find the printed art within was colored. Not to mention, the product itself is a limited edition release which makes it all the more valuable. I may only have paid 1,000 Yen for this Mami & Nadeko Mini Art but, that is worth so much more to me now.

With that, we have come to the end of this quick review and Madogatari Thursdays. If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to ask them in the comments section below. Until then, thank you so much for reading and have yourself a wonderful day ahead!