Ever since seeing this Panda-Z photo, I’ve been enamoured with the little robot panda controlled by a real panda.

I plotted all the places in Nakano, Osaka and Tokyo I would search for this intriguing little guy when I go in February - intricate maps and searches of toy shops took all my time.

How was I to know that Panda-Z was waiting for me in a discount bargain bin in an Elizabeth Street store here in Melbourne?

Meet Panda - my very first Panda-Z:

Panda-Z

The first of many.