Why do I collect Coca-Cola?

If someone were to ask me why I collect Coca-Cola out of all the other things, I wouldn't have a specific answer.
I just like it. That's my reason.

If I were to think about it a little more, it would be because others don't.
If I were to think about it a little more, it would be because I think I could do something with it later.

 

I've always loved collecting things. I guess it's just my natural talent. When I was young, I collected stamps, foreign coins, and badges — things that people would consider hobbies. Then, my hobbies expanded to include souvenirs and promotional items, and at some point, I found myself collecting promotional items that couldn't be bought, rather than items I could buy.

 

At that time, I decided I wanted to develop a world-class character someday. So I bought and read books on character marketing and the character business. Through that, I realized that character creation was highly likely to fail without significant capital. It wasn't about creating a hit character from an animated film; it was about investing enough money to produce an animated film to launch the character.

 

 

Then I discovered brand products (we often use the term "character goods"). I think anyone who's seen these products —luxury car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz or BMW, who also design, manufacture, and sell high-end collections like watches, bags, and golf umbrellas—might find the same allure I did. (Of course, there are cases where brand rights are licensed.)

 

 

Then, I discovered another brand: Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola, which I'd only known as a beverage, was selling Olympic commemorative pins (badges) at Olympic stadiums and other branded merchandise, and I thought, "Ah, this is it!"

So, I looked around and found that many people were already collecting Coca-Cola. From people who collected product packaging (bottles and cans) to people who collected various promotional materials and advertising materials that

Coca-Cola had produced and supplied over the years. And then there was the World of Coca-Cola Tokyo, which I discovered nearby in Japan (although it's a branded merchandise exhibition and sales center, it seems to also function as a small brand museum for Coca-Cola).

 

I think I've collected about 500-600 items so far. From standard product packaging like bottles and cans to limited-edition collectibles, to promotional cups for various partnerships and restaurants and retailers, to telephones, pens, phone cards, and more, I've diligently collected everything Coca-Cola has made, or that features the Coca-Cola logo.

What am I going to do with all that collection? Just collect it. Then you'll understand.