Monyomonyo Exhibit at Studio Uamou

Today at the Uamou Studio in Akihabara, a new exhibit opened, featuring the artwork of Aya Tsuchikabe, aka Monyomonyo. The exhibit runs through July 12. After it ends, any pieces that don't sell will be available for sale through Uamou's online shop.

Aya created many types of work for the exhibition, including plushes, buttons, phone straps, and more.

Aya Tsuchikabe, aka Monyomonyo

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Astro-Not custom by Bob Conge

Check out this awesome custom entitled "Astro-Not," which Bob is submitting for the Sofubi Godfathers show being held at the TAG gallery on July 8. Bob's in great company, joining other toy designers including Mark Nagata, Blobpus, LASH, and more!

Mutant Chaos up close

A few days ago, I put up a pick of one of the latest micro run Mutant Chaos figures from Real Head. I wanted to put up some more shots to give a better sense of the figure's color selection and color balance. As always, click on each image to see its full size.

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New from Uamou (6.25.2011)

 New releases:

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New from Real Head (6.25.2011)

New releases:

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Tokyo Overground: Asagaya to Ogikubo

On our recent 30 minute walk to Ogikubo, we found once again that to have an interesting experience in Tokyo, you just need to walk down the street!

One of the main arteries connecting the two areas

I love seeing these traditional houses with matching classic cars.

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Clutter 15

 

Issue 15 of Clutter magazine, featuring my 5 page article and interview with Itokin Park, has just been released! Click here for info from Clutter's website.

Madballs @ Nakano Broadway

 Recent times have seen a big revival in Madball mania! Mandarake's 4th floor special shop in Nakano Broadway, which is a ghost town compared to the rest of the building, has quite a nice offering of Madballs.

Detailed pics:

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RESTORE Debris Japan debut release

Here's a first look at the packaged debut release of RESTORE'S Debris Japan.

A couple notable points. The figure comes with all the accessories attached. That saves collectors the angst of deciding whether to keep the rings, knife, charm papers, etc. separate or attach them to the figure. ;-)

I like the way the packaging preserves the figure's mystery. It leaves the unveiling up to each person! (BTW, the demon's face isn't the only surprise in store!)

Debris Japan also comes with a RESTORE catalog.

New Irene Fu Custom

Kaiju Korner's Irene Fu has been working on a floral/tattoo/striping style. This is her second custom (well, third if you count the Ultraman she's been working on). This time she customized a mini Gargamel wind up figure.

 More pics after the jump.

More on the new Blobpus x MVH "Enma" head sculpt

We went back to the pics and did a bit of Deckard style digging. Zoom in...rotate...print that.

Specifically we looked at the Japanese text on this card. It says the head was designed and sculpted by Blobpus. The first version of the figure will be sold in July through Blobpus's website. At Pachisummit, Kaji-san told me the release might be GID. Finally, the Japanese characters under "Enma" (閻魔) read just that in Japanese: Enma. It means "devil."

MVH Ollie x Blobpus Enma version proto debut

Today at Pachisummit, Blobpus brought along the new Enma head sculpt for Lash's Ollie. I took shots from every angle. I also found out that the debut release will be sold by Blobpus in Japan in July and delivered in August.

Click on each image to see the full size.

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Pachisummit 2011 Summer

Ah, Pachisummit....there really is no event like it. Its part talk show, part lottery, part toy show, part drunk fest, and all good times. Where else can you spend an afternoon toy gawking in a subterranean bar with a casino quality that makes you forget where you are and what time it is? Not to mention the fact that everyone is eating and drinking as much as they can stuff to increase the odds of winning the days' freebies! Yes, I was stumbling by day's end - so what!

Pachisummit also featured the debut release of sofubi figures from Yamomark, Blobpus, and Paul Kaiju, along with prototypes from Yamomark and Blobpus/MVH, plus the Japan debut of customizer Todd Robertson, and a smorgasbord of figures from Pico Pico, and more! Whew, if that doesn't stroke you up, you ain't been sniffin the sofubi fumes like I have!

Lottery item preview

These are the items donated by participating toy makers. They were all given away in a mega lottery! Detailed pics below.

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New from Real Head (6.19.2011)

New releases:

Instant Classic

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Tokyo Toy Shop Map Updated.

Godzillya-ya map + store info added to the master post.

Click here to check it out.

More from US Toys!

More pics and info added to US Toys current and upcoming exclusive post!

Click here to read the post.

2011 Tokyo Toy Show Part 5: Everything Else

Welcome to the wrap up post for the 2011 Tokyo Toy Show. But this isn't just a "sayonara thanks for all the sushi." We've got 150 pics to show you from more than 20 exhibiting toy companies. But first here's a look at some winners of the 2011 Japan Toy Awards.

 

 

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2011 Tokyo Toy Show Part 4: Sega

Carrying on with our coverage of the 2011 TTS, we arrive at Japanese juggernaut Sega. Their display was mostly geared towards younger kids, meaning just about everything was new to me. But one of the fun things about the TTS is they have samples of a lot of the toys, so you can pretend you're 5 all over again. And this time you don't have to stay in the cupboard all day. I'll be good Mommy, I promise! Sorry, got a bit sidetracked there.

Here's what Sega had this year's show:

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2011 Tokyo Toy Show Part 3: Lego

Next up from the Tokyo Toy Show we have Lego, which had one of the nicest booths of the international toy companies in attendance. They must have a couple of staffers working full-time just to put together their toy show displays, because everything was top notch, and all those thousands of little pieces were right in place.

Ninjago:

Lego was heavily promoting this line, which has some pretty snazzy figures and buildings!

Due out in July.

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2011 Tokyo Toy Show Part 2: Bandai

Next up we have Bandai's equally impressive booth. Unlike Takara, which has more of an international flavor with its collabs and cross branding (Transformers, Nerf, Playdoh, etc.), Bandai is much more of a home grown company, featuring marquee Japanese brands like Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and Gundam). At this year's TTS, Bandai rocked its 1st floor display, which took up the entire end of the wing.

You've got to hand it to Bandai. They sure know how to put on a show!

 First up, Ultraman:

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2011 Tokyo Toy Show Part 1: Takara Tomy

Next to Wonderfestival, the Tokyo Toy Show may be Japan's biggest toy event. It's a chance for the country's largest companies (Bandai, Sega, Takara Tomy.) along with some of the world's top players (Lego, Mattel, Schleich), and smaller firms from all over the world to show off their latest figures and preview upcoming releases. It's also an opportunity to secure orders and set up licensing and distribution deals. As a trade show, it's not so much about exclusive releases, though there are some of those too.

The four-day event, which opened today to industry folks, is being held at the Big Site - in the same section of the building as Design Festa. It opens to the general public on Saturday. Because the TTS is so massive (I've got 300 pics to show you), I'm dividing it into 5 posts, starting with Takara Tomy.

Takara Tomy is so massive, with so many brands, lines, and licensing arrangements, that it could easily hold its own show, and you wouldn't go away disappointed. In fact, the 4th floor of the TTS was dominated by the big TT. And headlining their display was none other than the king of robot toy lines: Transformers.

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