The Taipei Metro has released a limited edition "Sailor Moon"-inspired wand that functions perfectly like an IC Card. The wand can replace the function of an IC Card from Easy Card and can be used to do transactions for public transport in Taipei.

The wand can be used for every kind of transaction possible by using an Easy Card. It means that the usage spans not only for Taipei public transport. Easy Card payments are available at minimart, department stores, and other retailers as long as they are in the city.

The wand is 18 centimeters long with metallic pink and gold color and a transparent jewel on the crescent. It is almost 1:1 in scale, as seen in the anime. The gem part will light up whenever a payment is made.

A custom display box, decorated with a Sailor Moon icon, protects the wand as its package. The wand cost NT$1,799 or around Rp 930,000. It was available to preorder between January 18 to 24. Unfortunately, it is already sold out.

For those not in the know, IC Cards are used in lieu of tickets to ride public transportation in many advanced countries. To use the card, passengers will need to prepay for ticket rides before taking them. Tapping the card at the station will automatically charge as much as one ticket costs. This method can easily save people's time from having to queue as well as limit the human resources needed to tend the kiosk. In Indonesia, E-money cards, such as BCA's Flazz, work in a similar manner.

About "Sailor Moon"

"Sailor Moon" is one of the best-selling Japanese shojo manga series and has sold 35 million copies worldwide. It was written and illustrated by Naoko Takeuchi, had 60 chapters across 18 volumes, and its original run was from 1991 to 1997.

The story focuses on Usagi Tsukino, who is tasked with finding magical artifacts and defeating evil. She transforms into Sailor Moon and leads a small team of Sailor Guardians to help her endeavor.

The manga has been adapted to anime, novels, stage musicals, live-action series, video games, tabletop games, and ice skating shows. It even had theme park attractions in Universal Studios Japan back in 2018.

As an anime, "Sailor Moon" is an icon of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her most iconic magical transformation remains an inspiration and can be seen across many entertainment media, from TV shows to movies.

Sailor Moon's official YouTube channel released all 127 episodes of the anime series back in late April to July 2020 for free.