JAPANESE TRANSFORMER
CHECKLIST

** SPECIAL NOTES **

* Transformer toys weren't released in Japan until 1985.

* All of the American Autobots from 1984 and 1985 were released, with the
     following exceptions:  Ironhide, Ratchet, Sunstreaker, Gears, Beachcomber,
     Cosmos, Powerglide, Seaspray, Warpath, Powerdasher, Jetfire, Omega Supreme,
     Roadbuster, Whirl, Topspin, and Twin Twist.  Perceptor also shot missiles out of his viewer.

* All of the American Decepticons from 1984 and 1985 were released, with the
     following exceptions:  Buzzsaw, Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust, and the Deluxe
     Insecticons.  Soundwave was packaged with Rumble, and included a pretend
     microphone, headphone, and cords.  The Japanese cassettes were sold
     separately and came with plastic carrying cases.

* Megatron originally came with a sword.  The gun scope, silencer & stock were not included.  Megatron shot plastic pellets.

* The first release of Astrotrain were white, he was later released in the common purple & black color scheme.

* (1985) Sky Lynx was not available in Japan at this time.  Beachcomber, Powerglide, & Seaspray were released.

* (1986) Runabout, Runamuck, & Gnaw were not available in Japan at this time.  The Japanese Megatron was re-released with the stock, silencer & scope that was previously omitted.

* (1987) The Targetmasters Blurr, Kup, Hot Rod, Cyclonus & Scourge were not available in Japan at this time.  Cosmos and Warpath were released.  Buzzsaw, Rumble, Laserbeak, Ravage, and Frenzy were re-released

* (1988) Grand Slam, Raindance, the Micromasters, Catilla, Chainclaw, Groundbreaker,
     Gunrunner, Sky High, Splashdown, the 1988 Targetmasters, Triggerbots/cons, Bugly, Carnivac, Finback, Iguanus, Roadgrabber & Snarler were not available in Japan at this time.

* Power roughly translates to god in Japanese, hence the name Godmaster.

* Godmaster Super Jinrai (Ginrai) is the same toy as Powermaster Optimus Prime, the character however is NOT supposed to be Prime, but a entirely new character.

* (1990) All of the 1988 and 1989 Micromaster Patrols, Stations & Transports (Autobots & Decepticons) were recolored and released as Japanese Cybertron Micromasters.  The Trainbots were re-released.

* (1991) Almost all of the 1990 Micromaster Patrols & Combiner Squads (Autobot & Decepticons) are released as Japanese Cybertron Micromasters.  The only exception was the Race Track Patrol, since it was released the year before as Destron Micromasters.  All Patrols and Squads include a MicroTrailer, which can hold and eject one Micromaster vehicle.  MicroTrailers can be attached to the Powered Masters, Sky Garry & the Micromaster bases.

* Star Convoy is a reincarnation of Convoy (Optimus Prime), Tread Unit is a reincarnation of Roller.

* The Micromaster Six-Combiners worked differently from the other gestalts.  The gestalt robot had the collective conscience.  The separate vehicles acted like drones...did not have their own identities.

* Several of the UK/European toys were repackaged and renamed for the Japanese market.

* Most of the American Generation 2 toys were released in Japan under a similar Generation 2 banner.  Not all of the toys were given new names.  The Cyberjets were released w/ extra sticker sheets.

* (1996) Transformers:  Beast Wars toys hit Japan

* (2000) Takara of Japan started a new series of re-issues of original G1 Transformers.  Convoy (Optimus Prime) was the first to see release.

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