The interview was held by Seiji Nakamura on Could 10, 2023 on the 61st Shizuoka Pastime Present

The 61st Shizuoka Pastime Present, Japan’s largest mannequin exhibition sponsored by the Shizuoka Mannequin Educating Supplies Cooperative, opened on Could tenth at Twin Messe Shizuoka.

The union’s customary joint press convention was held from 10 a.m. on the primary day, and Shunsaku Tamiya, chairman and president of Tamiya, who serves because the chairman, answered questions from the media.

Mr. Tamiya mentioned that the mannequin market has really grown as a consequence of demand from individuals staying at house in the course of the coronavirus pandemic, however that the market is simply too small in Japan alone, so it’s essential to go world, and that abroad consumers have gotten extra energetic. It was talked about that the Southeast Asian market is promising. As a concrete initiative, Tamiya is at the moment establishing a brand new manufacturing unit within the Philippines, which is predicted to be accomplished in October.

As well as, in response to a query from the media concerning the definition of “Japan’s largest,” the corporate answered, “It’s not concerning the quantity, however the content material.” Admission is free, elementary, center, and highschool invitation days have been set, and the Self-Protection Forces have been collaborating for over 10 years, making it significant as a public relations venue. Bushi Tamiya remains to be alive and nicely, stating issues that he approves of and chiding him, saying, “Please research these issues.” Shizuoka’s world-class mannequin present was absolutely promoted. On this article, we’ll report on a person interview performed on the Tamiya sales space after the press convention.

–Chairman Tamiya, please inform us about your ideas on “fashions.”

Mr. Tamiya: Characters from manga and films at the moment are fashionable, however we make the fashions ourselves. That’s the necessary half. Professors at Shizuoka College are additionally supporting us in shifting this ahead. Making fashions in class training. I feel this can be a modest however necessary initiative.

–How do you propose to develop the mannequin market sooner or later?

Mr. Tamiya: The mannequin market is modest in comparison with the fast progress of manga and films. Nonetheless, it’s now slowly spreading in Japan, in addition to in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. No matter whether or not or not this may change into a giant enterprise sooner or later, I feel you will need to encourage not solely Shizuoka College however all universities with academic departments throughout the nation to take part.

Kids nowadays are more and more being given completed merchandise, and it’s important that they make them with their very own palms. There are additionally refugees from Ukraine in Shizuoka, and once they tried out the mini 4WD, they had been thrilled to see that they had been in a position to construct it with their very own palms and drive it themselves.

–I want to ask you because the chairman of Tamiya. What are the most well liked gadgets this 12 months?

Mr. Tamiya: It’s not a tank or a fighter aircraft, it’s a radio-controlled automotive. It’s all enjoyable.

–That was a shocking reply.

Mr. Tamiya: Is that so? The explanation practice fashions went out of style previously was as a result of they wouldn’t run except you pulled the rails. Radio-controlled vehicles might be pushed remotely. That is the allure. Tamiya is the corporate that made electrical radio-controlled vehicles fashionable in America. Till then, it had been working on dry batteries, however we offered it with a Sanyo battery that may be recharged 300 occasions. It offered like hotcakes on the time.

–I believed Chairman Tamiya would positively point out tanks and fighter planes first.

Mr. Tamiya: No, no. German tanks aren’t fashionable in Germany, the house of European fashions. There’s a historical past of being violated. Talking of tanks, it’s Dr. Porsche, however Japan at the moment doesn’t have a pacesetter like Dr. Porsche, so Japanese tanks aren’t good.

– this 12 months’s Tamiya lineup, you’ll be able to clearly sense Chairman Tamiya’s distinctive dedication, however to what stage is Chairman Tamiya concerned within the growth of recent merchandise?

Mr. Tamiya: That hasn’t modified. If it’s a tank, begin by going to see the precise tank.

–So that you’re going to interview tank museums in locations like Bovington and Saumur, proper? Is Chairman Tamiya himself doing this?

Mr. Tamiya: Sure. There’s additionally one in Aberdeen, Maryland. Speak to the curator there and see the tank. That is necessary. In return, please make a donation. We’re doing that all around the world.

–There was a Tamiya Corridor in Bovington.

Mr. Tamiya: I consider we donated about 30 million yen. One thing like this occurred on the Smithsonian Museum in the US. The Smithsonian mentioned, “Mr. Tamiya, your organization has expanded its enterprise in the US and achieved success. Due to this fact, you might be eligible to donate to the Smithsonian.” I gained’t ask you to donate (lol). Due to this background, you cooperated with the Smithsonian in restoring the floor fighter Seiran, which was carried by a Japanese submarine. This isn’t an commercial (lol).

–Tamiya is understood for its fashions, however as Chairman Tamiya, are there any new objects you want to mannequin sooner or later? Or do you are feeling such as you’ve already executed all the things?

Mr. Tamiya: No, no. That’s not true. Under no circumstances but. Try Tamiya’s enjoyable craft collection. There you’ve gotten the reply. The enjoyable craft collection can be a wonderful educating materials for varsity training. This isn’t a digital world like Nintendo. You may assemble it with your individual palms and truly transfer it.

　This initiative has additionally been praised in Germany. It is because there are not any comparable educating supplies in Europe. In German academic settings, these sorts of educating supplies are extra necessary than the at the moment fashionable digital ones. It is because the lecturers within the area are strong. Germany rejects the 6-3-3 system (6 years of elementary college, 3 years of junior highschool, and three years of highschool) that was imposed on the US after the conflict. The historical past of training in my nation is longer than the historical past of your nation, so there’s a sense of delight amongst Germanic peoples.

–What are your future objectives as Tamiya chairman?

Mr. Tamiya: It’s about making the corporate greater. As I discussed briefly on the press convention, we’re at the moment constructing a manufacturing unit within the Philippines. It will likely be accomplished in October of this 12 months, and can enable us to fulfill much more demand. As a result of coronavirus pandemic, regardless of the big demand, we had been unable to ship sufficient merchandise to our clients as a consequence of a scarcity of manufacturing capability. This will likely be improved. trying ahead to it.

–How a lot will manufacturing capability improve as soon as the brand new manufacturing unit within the Philippines is accomplished?

Mr. Tamiya: About 20%.

–Can we anticipate the scarcity of Tamiya plastic fashions to be resolved?

Mr. Tamiya: To be sincere, I feel it’s nonetheless not sufficient. We want to construct a manufacturing unit in Japan, however the fee will improve. My hourly wage has additionally elevated, which makes it tough.

–In that sense, do you’ve gotten any plans to construct extra new factories in Southeast Asia?

Mr. Tamiya: There’s a chance. Southeast Asia is a strong market. Nonetheless, there are some unstable locations similar to Myanmar, so we’re pondering fastidiously about that.

–You talked about that you just need to strengthen your abroad operations, however which areas do you need to deal with sooner or later?

Mr. Tamiya: China is receiving sturdy inquiries. Nonetheless, there are some issues that I don’t learn about China. It’s not a democratic nation. We don’t have any department workplaces in China but, solely distributors. We additionally had an company in Russia, however it’s not energetic.

–What’s the state of affairs in Ukraine?

Mr. Tamiya: Similar to in Russia, enterprise is tough. Nonetheless, evidently some enthusiastic model-related individuals are coming to Shizuoka on a personal foundation.

–The Ukrainian-spec Leopard 2 was a well timed product.

Mr. Tamiya: Properly, that was a direct request from the Leopard firm. Due to you, 6,000 models had been offered immediately. There’s a scarcity of merchandise.

–I’m trying ahead to the “Ukrainian specification collection” similar to Challenger 2 and Abrams sooner or later.

Mr. Tamiya: I feel you’ll be able to look ahead to that. Slightly, what I feel is that every tank has a special gas. The engines are totally different, and the bullets are comparable, however there are some variations. The cartridges are additionally totally different. I’m fearful about whether or not I can battle with that.

–It’s unhappy that the Japanese Sort 10 tank will not be included in that tank alliance.

Mr. Tamiya: No, no. Japan’s Sort 10 is totally ineffective. That could be a tank from a rustic that doesn’t wage conflict. Not bulletproof sufficient. You may’t really battle.

–Please give a message to mannequin followers.

Mr. Tamiya: Tamiya’s fashions are of the best high quality on the earth. Sadly, we’ve got not had sufficient provide capability to date, however we’re at the moment constructing a manufacturing unit, so as soon as it’s accomplished, we will ship our merchandise to everybody. Please look ahead to our provide capability. These days, there are numerous distributors coming from abroad, however the ones which have change into Tamiya distributors are all growing. Coexistence and co-prosperity; it’s no good for us to change into large on our personal. A few of our businesses have been with us for over 50 years. I turned 88 years previous final December, however I’m actually having fun with myself now.

–After listening to your story, I noticed that you’re not excited about retirement in any respect (lol).

Mr. Tamiya: Energetic all through his life. I’m not retiring. As a result of if I don’t work, I don’t receives a commission (lol). There’s nothing flawed with my physique. I don’t suppose there’s something flawed with my head, and I don’t suppose I’m silly both (lol). 88 remains to be a passing level. I’ll do my finest. Thanks to your continued assist of Tamiya.

–thanks very a lot.
Supply of article in Japanese language: Pastime Watch