japanese characters ponkikki and gachapin?

whilst browsing everyones favourite proxy site, i was hunting out vintage tomy toys. i noticed two characters appearing on a number of boxes, and actually found a set of 3 figures akin to the people from the "merry go" sets. the characters were named on the auction as ponkikki and gachapin.

can anyone shed some light on who these guys are and what their purpose is? it seems tomy had quite a lengthy association with them. google was not much help at all.

thanks in advance!!