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Early Japanese Thomas the Tank Engine VHS releases
The Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends TV show first aired in Japan on October 4th, 1990 and was released on video beginning in March 1991, becoming a huge success thanks in part to the prevalence of trains in everyday life in many parts of Japan increasing their appeal to children. The episodes aired as part of the Ponkickies kids television show in Japan, and a few specific crossover specials were released in Japan.
Shown on this page are scans of many of the early Japanese VHS releases, in particular the first 11 volumes that include episodes from the first and second seasons of the television series. These tapes were released by Pony Canyon, the home video distributor for Fuji Television Network.
The covers of these early tapes had prominent Ponkickies branding and features different character stills from the production of the television series with colored backgrounds. The earliest five volumes had initial runs without the volume number on the front or tape spine but from Volume 6 and on they appear on the front, with the earlier tapes getting updated with the volume number for later production runs. The tapes all have similar designs with white and blue labels and black text, with earlier volumes similarly gaining their numbers later on. These tapes could be offered for rental and it is not uncommon to find them with sunfaded covers or spines, sometimes with the outline of stickers stuck to the plastic case creating a better-surviving shadow on the insert.
The earlier releases come in clamshell plastic cases with spool-locating nubs. Later releases have the Pony Canyon logo molded into the left side of the case but no spool nubs.
In 1995 these volumes were rereleased with a new cover design that was also used for season 3 and 4, also rereleased in 1995. In 2002 these tapes were reissued again with bilingual audio and updated covers. I don't have any of these later rereleases, but most of the early original and rerelease covers for the first 11 volumes are shown below.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 1 (March 21, 1991)
The first VHS release of Thomas the Tank Engine in Japan came with Volume 1 on March 21, 1991. These first three tapes contained four episodes of the television show each.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 2 (March 21, 1991)
The second Japanese Thomas VHS features Edward on the cover and was released on March 21, 1991.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 3 (March 21, 1991)
The third volume of Thomas the Tank Engine released on March 21, 1991 features episodes nine through 12 of the first series. You can see how light can bleach the color out of these tapes on the rerelease - you can even see the shape of the Bandai TECS Thomas sticker that is still on the plastic outer sleeve.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 4 (May 21, 1991)
The first tape in the second batch of Thomas VHS releases, volume four releases on May 21, 1991. I only have this one, featuring Gordon on the cover, in its later numbered rerelease form. Tapes began including five episodes from this point on.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 5 (May 21, 1991)
The fifth volume features James on the cover, with the picture changing between the original release and the rerelease - funnily enough, the North American VHS tape with James on the cover also had the still used changed between its original rerelease and its later releases.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 6 (July 21, 1991)
Volume six was released on July 21, 1991 and seems to have been the first release with the volume number on the front to begin with. This tape includes last four episodes of season one and the first episode of season two.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 7 (July 21, 1991)
Volume seven was also released on July 21, 1991 and continued the trend of having the engine with the number matching the current volume on the front.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 8 (August 21, 1991)
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume Eight featuring Duck the Great Western Engine was released on August 21st, 1991.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 9 (August 21, 1991)
Volume nine of Thomas the Tank Engine was released on VHS on August 21st, 1991 in Japan. The cover features Donald and Douglas. This is the only Japanese tape from the first two series' release that I don't have...
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 10 (September 4, 1991)
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 10 with Bill and Ben on the cover was released on September 4th, 1991.
Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 11 (September 4, 1991)
Also released on September 4th, 1991 was Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 11 featuring Harold on the cover. This release includes the final five episodes of season two.