Vidovi’s Journey #9: Kentucky Kaiju & The Derby Bugle at Ultra Po

Chapter 9: The Derby Hat & The Kaiju’s Jaw

Destination: Ultra Pop, Louisville

Welcome to Louisville, Kentucky! Vidovi arrives in style, wearing a fancy, wide-brimmed Derby Hat to honor the city’s famous horse racing heritage.

His stop is Ultra Pop, an eclectic and legendary store known for its focus on designer toys, art books, and oddities. This isn’t just a toy store; it’s a gallery for the weird and wonderful. Vidovi is here for a very specific sub-genre of toys: Sofubi (Soft Vinyl). His target is the locally famous “Kentucky Kaiju” designer blind box.

Story Recap: The Call to the Post

• The Target: Vidovi navigates the colorful aisles and finds the Kentucky Kaiju box. But there’s a catch! It is sitting deep inside the open mouth of a giant, custom-painted Kaiju statue display.
• The Trap: Just as he reaches for it, SNAP! The statue’s mechanical jaws clamp shut (safely missing Vidovi’s paw, but trapping the box). Vidovi tries to pry the jaws open, but the monster is too strong.
• The Derby Solution: Vidovi spots a vintage toy Bugle on a shelf. Remembering the local culture, he grabs it and blows the traditional “Call to the Post” melody (the song played before the Kentucky Derby begins).
• The Release: Da-da-da-da-daaa! The sound surprises the Kaiju statue! Its jaw drops open in comical shock. Vidovi quickly snatches the blind box, tips his hat to the artist-employee behind the counter, and celebrates the win. Next stop: heading south to Music City.

Art Toys & Traditions

• Featured Item: Kentucky Kaiju (Designer Vinyl) “Kaiju” means “Strange Beast” in Japanese. Designer vinyl toys are a huge part of the collector market, blending monster aesthetics with artistic creativity.
• Location Spotlight: Ultra Pop A staple of Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood. Vidovi recommends this shop for anyone looking for something truly unique and artistic.
• Cultural Note: The Kentucky Derby The most famous horse race in the US. The “Call to the Post” is the iconic trumpet signal that tells horses to get to the starting gate.