TL;DR
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Original 1990 Bandai LSI Pocket Club handheld based on Tokkei Winspector
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Includes box, manual, blue tray, and handheld unit
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Battery contacts show corrosion; unit untested, ideal for restoration/display
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Early Metal Hero toys like this are increasingly collectible
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Compact, colorful, and very display-friendly for tokusatsu fans
Quick Specs
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Product Type: LCD handheld game
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Brand: Bandai
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Series: Tokkei Winspector (Metal Hero, 1990)
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Model Line: LSI Game / Pocket Club (Model P-1)
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Release Year: 1990
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Language: Japanese
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Power: Battery-operated (see photos of battery bay; batteries not included)
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Included: Handheld, original box, Japanese manual, plastic tray insert
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Primary Keyword: Tokkei Winspector handheld
Overview / What It Is
Bandai’s LSI Pocket Club series was their compact handheld LCD line during the late ’80s and early ’90s. This model features Tokkei Winspector, Toei’s first Metal Hero series of the 1990s—a show I still see referenced in retro shops around Akihabara and Nakano Broadway.
This handheld captures the charm of the era with a bright character-art panel, simple left/right action buttons, and a small center LCD window. Unlike Game & Watch, Bandai’s licensed tokusatsu handhelds were produced in smaller numbers and often saw heavy play from kids, making complete boxed sets like this one tough to find today.
The set here comes with:
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The Winspector unit
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Original 1990 picture box
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Japanese instruction booklet
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Blue tray insert
The handheld shows some play wear and battery corrosion, so it’s best treated as a display collectible or restoration project.
Product Images
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How It Works
Like most LSI handhelds of the era, gameplay is simple and action-oriented:
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Press START to begin
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SELECT may change modes or difficulty
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ACL resets the system
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LEFT/RIGHT buttons move your character in response to on-screen hazards
The LCD is static-image segmented—each “movement” is a pre-printed frame lighting up. The game is straightforward, but the appeal is really in the authentic 1990 design language and Winspector branding.
Who Should Buy This
Metal Hero and tokusatsu collectors
If you collect early ’90s Toei shows, this is a great piece to pair with VHS tapes, figures, or hero suits.
Handheld/LCD game collectors
Bandai’s Pocket Club line is less common internationally than Game & Watch, so this fills a niche in LCD history.
Restoration hobbyists
Battery corrosion on these units is fixable if you know how to clean terminals and reflow minor contacts.
Display-focused collectors
The full set—with box, manual, and tray—looks excellent in a retro gaming or tokusatsu showcase.
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Complete set: box, manual, tray, handheld
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Vibrant character panel featuring all three Winspector heroes
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Authentic 1990 Bandai release
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Compact, colorful, ideal for display
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Strong appeal to Metal Hero collectors
Cons
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Battery terminal corrosion (unit untested)
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General age wear on box (corner crushes, edge rub)
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Some manual toning
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Not guaranteed functional
Setup / Usage Tips
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Display Tip: Keep the unit inside the blue tray and place the box behind it for a clean, museum-style look.
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Corrosion Cleanup: Use cotton swabs and a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice, followed by isopropyl alcohol—just be careful not to overapply.
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Preservation: Store away from humidity; Japan’s 梅雨 (tsuyu, rainy season) can accelerate corrosion.
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Protection: If storing long-term, remove batteries entirely.
Popularity / Sales Numbers / Critical Reception
Bandai’s LSI handhelds never reached Game & Watch–level sales, but they were beloved among Japanese kids who followed tokusatsu shows like Winspector.
Winspector aired in 1990–1991, launching the Heisei era of Metal Hero, and Bandai merchandise for it included figures, vehicles, and small-format electronics like this device.
Exact production or sales numbers for Pocket Club games were never published, but based on listings from Japanese marketplaces (Suruga-ya, Mandarake, Yahoo Japan Auctions):
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Boxed Winspector handhelds appear infrequently—roughly a few times per year
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Usual market range is ¥5,000–¥15,000 depending on condition and functionality
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Complete sets with manuals are especially desirable
This particular model is far less common than mainstream Game & Watch releases and is considered semi-rare among Metal Hero collectors.
FAQs
1. Does this work?
It’s untested and has visible corrosion, so assume non-working unless repaired.
2. Is this official Bandai merchandise?
Yes—Bandai branding is present on unit, manual, and box.
3. Is Winspector popular in Japan?
Among tokusatsu fans, yes—Winspector is iconic as the first Metal Hero of the 1990s.
4. Is this safe to play after cleaning?
Usually yes, but only after fully removing corrosion and verifying connection integrity.
5. How rare is the box/manual combo?
Quite rare; loose units show up more often, but boxed sets with trays and manuals are harder to source.
Where to Buy
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Japan Bound eBay Store:
[Your Japan Bound listing link goes here]
If you message us on Japan Bound, you can buy it from us directly for 15% off the eBay price.
Other Options
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Suruga-ya (Japan)
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Mandarake (Japan)
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Yahoo Japan Auctions (proxy may be required)
About the Author
Limarc Ambalina is a longtime Japan culture and pop-culture journalist. He lives in Japan and is a longtime video game and japanese pop culture memorabilia collector. The product images in this article were taken by him directly. The information in this article has been verified by his personal testing/usage of each product listed.
