Hobby Industry Inside Vol. 14: Making models and communicating with people all over the world!　Interview with Makoto Kameda of "Model Studio Bachaworld!

Angkor Wat" in Cambodia, "Florence Cathedral" in Italy, and "Parthenon" in Greece. ...... "Model Studio Baachaworld" creates mini-dioramas of world heritage sites that everyone knows. The "Model Workshop Bachawarde" painstakingly creates mini dioramas of world heritage sites that everyone knows. They not only create dioramas, but also exhibit them at exhibitions and contests around the world, and even donate them to the embassies of various countries in Japan.

We interviewed Makoto Kameda of "Baachawardo," who is currently creating mini-dioramas of 206 countries for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Even if they are not very good, models that bring a smile to the viewer's face

─ You have been modeling for 34 years and have been to 49 countries overseas.

Kameda: I have been building Gunpla and Tamiya military minuets since I was in elementary school, so my travel and modeling were completely separate. Shortly before our daughter was born, about 12 years ago, my wife and I traveled to Mexico. We were so impressed by the ruins of Chichen Itza that we made our own model using styrene boards and plastic plates after returning to Japan. That was the first time I made a model of a world heritage site.

─ So you started making models of World Heritage sites as a memory of your trip?

Kameda Yes, especially after I had a family, I made a diorama of my family as well, like a picture diary. When I exhibit them at plastic model shows, they are surprisingly popular. Mothers accompanying their fathers would stop by and start explaining the models, saying that it was good for their children's education. The people who had not been interested in models before are now enjoying the exhibition.

─ You have made many models of buildings and ruins.

Kameda: It is rare that I can obtain drawings, so I collect photos exclusively from the Internet. I can find height and width by searching, so I start to draw draw the plans with CAD. However, since my goal is not to reproduce the building perfectly, I give priority to the authenticity of the building and make some deformation.

──These are all very small models, but is there a scale for their size?

Kameda: We have standardized on a scale of 1/2400th, which is both affordable to make and fun to look at. Now that we have introduced 3D printers, the work has become much easier. In addition to dioramas of World Heritage sites, I also make things that are interesting, or that people find amusing. For example, a scene of my wife fighting with a local on a trip abroad, or a diorama using Gunpla. Usually, I enjoy building Gunpla in secret, hiding from my wife.

KAMEDA──The dioramas are detailed, but they are not super-precise reproductions, are they?

Kameda Yes, I want my works to bring a smile to the viewer's face rather than to be called technically amazing. There are many people who are technically excellent, but there are probably not many who try to make people laugh with their models. I don't care if they are bad at it, I just want them to be happy when they see them. That is my first priority. Models can communicate without words. I think they are perfect for international exchange.

─ You have been invited to ceremonies at embassies in Japan, haven't you? How do you negotiate with them?

Kameda: At first, I send an e-mail, and then my wife calls and negotiates the date and time, saying something a bit brazen like, "I would like to meet the ambassador. Sometimes I donate a diorama to the embassy. But I've also shown them to the embassy, only to be told "this part is different from this part! (laughs).