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Kaiyodo Office Tour

16 hours 27 min ago

One of my agenda items during my visit to Kansai this week was to meetup with Shuichi Miyawaki [宮脇修一] - the boss of Kaiyodo which is one of the longest standing hobby makers in Japan who produce the Revoltech series and also own the worlds biggest figure and garage kit event Wonder Festival.


Before we settle down to talk and visit their office, we go for some nom noms Osaka style.


The Kaiyodo office is located in Osaka which we headed to straight after meeting up with Volks in Kyoto. The exterior of the Kaiyodo headquarters is a mixture of modern and the past with the brick walls which is not so common in Japan.


Greeted by a huge sculpt at the entrance.



One of Kaiyodo's major hit products - Revoltech Danbo.


Miyawaki-san is really into military stuf and owns a few vehicles used in past World Wars.


Yep - he owns a few anti aircraft vehicles too ^^


...and a few cannons ^^



A peak around the Kaiyodo warehouse.


Ton O figures ready to hit the shelves.


Huge Ah My Goddess figurines.


A look around the main meeting/show room.






Now taking a gander at the sculptors studio.


Got to meet sculptor BOME! He made my first ever figure of Aya Natsume that I got back in 2005.


Taking a look at the workspaces of the other sculptors.


The design of ED209 is classic.






My precioussssssss.



Airbrush booths.


I need more practice if I want to paint my own doll faces one day.


Name that thingy.



Still my most fave ship from Star Wars.




Now its time to take a lookie at Miyawaki-sans model collection - certainly the biggest in Japan and possibly the world?


























Time to sit down and talk about this and that and a new collaboration ^o^





I should have got one of these way back then ><





Bottle caps in Japan are most coolsome.




The Yotsuba Danbo has seen many collaborations so far with companies like Amazon, 7/11, Tamiya, Pepsi and Calbee.


I think you can guess what comes next ^o^
Check out more office tours of other Japanese companies in the anime industry listed up below.


Read more about Mirai Suenaga >>>


Volks

Sun, 05/19/2013 - 01:20

Had the pleasure of being invited by the Managing Director of Volks (pictured here to my right) to Kyoto a while ago but only just managed to make the trip this week ><

Volks is one of the major players in the Japanese hobby world. They have a long history of manufacturing injection moulded kits and also bring us the Super Dollfie and Dollfie Dream line of dolls.


Today Volks gave us a tour of their Tenshi no Sato museum in Kyoto and after we had a long lunch meeting to discuss this n that ^o^


Yuki-chan is my fave Dollfie Dream who got to go with me to Tenshi no Sato.


While I do have some comrades who work at Volks, I've never really had the chance to hook up with the top management but now that I have, I can tell you that they are one of the nicest family run businesses that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. The Managing Director is such a sweet lady too who is also the wife of the big boss.


I've always loved their Dollfie Dream line of dolls which have really had an impact on my life - not only are they so cute and great to have around - they have also enabled me to connect with other Dollfie Dream owners around the world. My first Dollfie Dream I got was Saber back in 2008.


The Dollfie Dream line of dolls is also one of the factors that has influenced my decision to produce my own doll of my mascot Mirai Suenaga too.


I'll talk about it when the time is right but Volks and I will be working together on some really cool stuff in the very near future - keep em peeled ^o^


The last few photos in this post with Yuki-chan taken at Arashiyama in Kyoto which is very near the Volks Tenshi no Sato.


Just spent a week in Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe) going through back to back meetings - will post photos of my trip soon.


Read more about Mirai Suenaga >>>

「創作造形©ボークス・造形村」©1998-2010 VOLKS INC. All rights are reserved.
「創作造形©ボークス・造形村」©2003-2010 VOLKS INC. All rights are reserved.
スーパードルフィー®、ドルフィードリーム® はボークス社の商標登録であり、その全ての権利を所有しています。


Flumpool

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 22:55

Spent time with the pop rock band flumpool on one of their previous tours - if you watched Season 1 of my other TV show Japan Mode then the following photos will seem familiar.
Flumpool is an immensely popular band in Japan - their music and posters are all over the place. Since their first single Hana ni Nare back in 2008, they have released a ton of singles and albums which you can check out in their Discography.

Check them out in action below.

For the flumpool special, I spent time with the folks who manage the sound, lighting, equipment and visuals. They especially put a lot of effort into the visuals which are quite stunning and really compliment the music and atmosphere in the hall.

When I was younger, artists that I would go see perform include Kylie Minogue and Nishida Hikaru. These days, the only time I get to peek at concerts are the ones at Anime Festival Asia and Anime Expo while I'm back stage ><

As for music - most of the stuff I listen too these days is jazz internet radio stations like Jazz.fm.

What concerts have you been attending of late and what music are you listening to of late that you recommend to your comrades?





































































Read more about Mirai Suenaga >>>


Akihabara Shops 7

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 11:05

Its that time again where we go for a photo walk around my most fave place on Earth - Akihabara ^o^
Today we visit places such as Hobby Tengoku, Sega Game center, Toranoana, Animate, Don Quijote, Melon Books (newly opened 2号店), Sofmap, Kotobukiya, Yodobashi, Culture Zone Akihabara, other small stores and the Yanagimori Shrine. We also bump into the Kanda Matsuri festival too.

As for the first photo - will talk more about the shenanigans that I got up to in a separate post ^o^


To get to Akihabara, just get off at JR Akihabara station and get out at the Electronic Town exit - this is what will greet your mince pies.


How many of you watching Uta no Prince Sama and who is your fave dude?


The Volks Hobby Tengoku store - get off at the Electronic Town Exit but turn right after the ticket barrier to get here.



Hobby Stock Asuna goodies.


The Love Live cuties.


Say sayonara to roneriness - pick up a 2D girlie of your choice with these dakimakura and pillow cases.


K-ON force still strong.


I want more Valkyria games!


Kos Mos and her big...guns.


Looking forward to the Girls Und Panzer movie. How many of you enjoyed the series?


Who is your fave Dollfie out of this bunch? Mine is Aoi-chan.


Sonico gets the Ichiban Kuji treatment.


The lovely ladies of Momoclo.


Sailor Moon gets the S.H.Figarts treatment.


Hatsune Miku Carnavi.


Bakuman Boys.


Mixed bunch O figures.


Cuties from the eroge Ojonana [お嬢様はご機嫌ナナメ]


Hentai Ouji on your watch list?






Fate Saber.





Idolmaster goodies.


Meruru Curry.


Anime tapestries - Oreimo, Madoka and Aimasu.



1/1 scale Asuka.


Now in Don Quijote.


When in Don Quijote - make sure you look up at the ceiling too.


Asuka eye patch.


Asuka shaves it seems.




Eroge cuties.


Load of Nendoroids.


Stack O figures at the Kotobukiya store.


Knight Sword Umbrella.


It says "Free Entry"


Melon Books - for all your doujin needs.




Rilakkuma glasses stand.



Moe cuties now employed to sell you broadband.


Voice actress magazines available too.




So many cuties in Akihabara ^o^



Lovely X Cation 2 illustrated by Iizuki Tasuku-sensei ^o^






Gundam Galore


PSP still very strong.



Anime magazines.




Whats up Shinji?


More 1/1 scale Evangelion figures - which do you choose to have at your entrance?


Sakura Miku.



More dakimakura covers to keep you company at night.


Akihabara by night - gorgeous.



Yanagimori Shrine [柳森神社] located below.
[gmap=35.696811, 139.773490]



Catching some of the Kanda Matsuri.


Right outside the doll store DOLK.



Check out more from Akihabara in the photo posts listed up below.


Read more about Mirai Suenaga >>>


Akihabara Shops 7

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 11:05

Its that time again where we go for a photo walk around my most fave place on Earth - Akihabara ^o^
Today we visit places such as Hobby Tengoku, Sega Game center, Toranoana, Animate, Don Quijote, Melon Books (newly opened 2号店), Sofmap, Kotobukiya, Yodobashi, Culture Zone Akihabara, other small stores and the Yanagimori Shrine. We also bump into the Kanda Matsuri festival too.

As for the first photo - will talk more about the shenanigans that I got up to in a separate post ^o^


To get to Akihabara, just get off at JR Akihabara station and get out at the Electronic Town exit - this is what will greet your mince pies.


How many of you watching Uta no Prince Sama and who is your fave dude?


The Volks Hobby Tengoku store - get off at the Electronic Town Exit but turn right after the ticket barrier to get here.



Hobby Stock Asuna goodies.


The Love Live cuties.


Say sayonara to roneriness - pick up a 2D girlie of your choice with these dakimakura and pillow cases.


K-ON force still strong.


I want more Valkyria games!


Kos Mos and her big...guns.


Looking forward to the Girls Und Panzer movie. How many of you enjoyed the series?


Who is your fave Dollfie out of this bunch? Mine is Aoi-chan.


Sonico gets the Ichiban Kuji treatment.


The lovely ladies of Momoclo.


Sailor Moon gets the S.H.Figarts treatment.


Hatsune Miku Carnavi.


Bakuman Boys.


Mixed bunch O figures.


Cuties from the eroge Ojonana [お嬢様はご機嫌ナナメ]


Hentai Ouji on your watch list?






Fate Saber.





Idolmaster goodies.


Meruru Curry.


Anime tapestries - Oreimo, Madoka and Aimasu.



1/1 scale Asuka.


Now in Don Quijote.


When in Don Quijote - make sure you look up at the ceiling too.


Asuka eye patch.


Asuka shaves it seems.




Eroge cuties.


Load of Nendoroids.


Stack O figures at the Kotobukiya store.


Knight Sword Umbrella.


It says "Free Entry"


Melon Books - for all your doujin needs.




Rilakkuma glasses stand.



Moe cuties now employed to sell you broadband.


Voice actress magazines available too.




So many cuties in Akihabara ^o^



Lovely X Cation 2 illustrated by Iizuki Tasuku-sensei ^o^






Gundam Galore


PSP still very strong.



Anime magazines.




Whats up Shinji?


More 1/1 scale Evangelion figures - which do you choose to have at your entrance?


Sakura Miku.



More dakimakura covers to keep you company at night.


Akihabara by night - gorgeous.



Yanagimori Shrine [柳森神社] located below.
[gmap=35.696811, 139.773490]



Catching some of the Kanda Matsuri.


Right outside the doll store DOLK.



Check out more from Akihabara in the photo posts listed up below.


Read more about Mirai Suenaga >>>