We asked Akito Seiko about the "Sushi Plastic Model" that has been a great success in various fields and its future development, and we also had the opportunity to mold it in a metal mold! Hobby Industry Inside Vol. 71

This spring, "sushi plastic models" became a hot topic of conversation, not only on social networking sites, but also on terrestrial television, which usually pays no attention to plastic models, and even a TV personality was seen assembling one. Indeed, the 364 separate parts for all the rice rice balls are impressive enough to reach even those who are not familiar with plastic models.
The project was planned and produced by Akito Seiko, a mold maker located in Edogawa-ku, Tokyo. The founder of the company created the molds for the first domestically produced plastic model, the "Nuclear-powered Submarine Nautilus," manufactured by Marusan Shoten. Today, the company not only makes molds for plastic models, but also produces novelty goods and utilizes its mold injection molding technology in a variety of fields. What was it about "sushi plastic models" that made them so popular?　What was the manufacturer's intention?　We interviewed Mr. Chitaka Fujiwara, who was in charge of planning the project. (We also had the opportunity to actually mold the "Sushi Plastic Model" on the molding machine!)

A huge number of parts and rough illustrations - is the high degree of freedom the reason why "Sushi Plastic Model" was a hit?

───This "Sushi Plastic Model" received a tremendous response from all quarters, didn't it?

Fujiwara Yes, we were surprised by the unexpected response, as we did not expect to receive so many interviews and inquiries from all over the place. We had assumed that our target would be modelers who had some experience with plastic models, so we did not expect the general public to buy the product. Some people use instant adhesives instead of plastic modeling adhesives to assemble their models.

─ It must take a lot of patience to glue the rice grains one by one, doesn't it?

Fujiwara Yes, you can glue them one by one using regular plastic model glue, or you can decide on the shape to some extent by hand and then use pour-in adhesive to solidify them all at once. In this respect, we aimed for a product with a high degree of freedom. The reason why we kept the assembly instruction diagram simple and only wrote, "Please grip as many pieces as you like," is also to increase the degree of freedom.

─ Didn't you think of using snap-fit?

Fujiwara No, we did not consider a snap-fit because we were assuming people who are familiar with plastic models. Instead, the rice grains are touch-gate type and can be removed from the runner by hand without using nippers.


──I have seen Akito Seiko's website a long time ago, and you have made stag-shaped scissors as a plastic model?

Fujiwara Yes, we exhibit our scissors at events and let children actually assemble them to familiarize them with plastic models. We have also made a folding spoon that can be assembled and distributed at baseball stadiums. We also developed the "Gyoza Plastic Model" before the "Sushi Plastic Model," and we want people to become familiar with plastic models by using familiar objects such as food and stationery as the subject matter.

─ I understand that the founder of the company once made molds for the "nuclear submarine Nautilus" at Marusan Shoten. Does Akito Seiko still make molds for plastic models?

Fujiwara Yes, our main business has been the development of molds for plastic models since the company was founded. Even today, we manufacture and deliver plastic model molds at the request of various manufacturers.

─ ─ In the warehouse on the first floor, there are surprisingly many molds for major plastic models. I think Shizuoka is the main manufacturing base for plastic models, but you were also making molds in Tokyo?

Fujiwara Yes, I heard that during the heyday of plastic models, there were quite a few plastic model mold makers in Edogawa and Ota wards. Today, there seem to be only a few companies left in Tokyo besides our company. We receive drawings from model makers in the form of data, manufacture the molds at our company, and deliver the finished molds. We can do everything from data creation to mold making, and for small lots, we can even do injection molding in-house. In the case of "Sushi Plastic Model," we produce the product in-house and pack it in a box. In fact, our employees used to make even the accompanying disposable chopstick bags by hand, so we are thinking of ordering them from a specialized supplier in the future.