Those cell-phone straps are adorable! I'm not very aware of the Japanese stuff. The closest I get is collecting the Cosbaby figures, which I think are from a Hong Kong based company.

I have these guys:
(http://s749.photobucket.com/albums/xx135/rathanylakan/?action=view&current=photo-3.jpg)

Poor Steve, one Tony is enough to deal with :)

I've seen some very articulated action figures on tumblr, but am not aware of who makes them ... which is good as I might be tempted.