Art or Hobby?　The Fantasy World of Yuki Tsuboshima, a Plastic Artist Who Continues to Create Transformable Metal Sculptures [Hobby Industry Insider #81

Transformation is an essential element in the world of science fiction mechanics. Mr. Yuki Tsuboshima has been creating fantastic metal sculptures in which living creatures transform into other forms. As a private artist, Tsuboshima creates transformable netsuke and other items, but he also creates product prototypes at the request of hobby manufacturers. One of his recent works is the "MEGABOX MB-22 KIRIN" to be released by 52TOYS, an up-and-coming toy manufacturer in China. This toy transforms from its box form into the legendary Kirin creature.
How does Mr. Tsuboshima reconcile his strong artist's style of metal sculpture with the prototype of a toy maker?　We interviewed Mr. Tsuboshima at Gallery Hanakagesho, where his works are exhibited and sold.

Started as an individual artist, then worked for a 3D printing company, and then connected with a manufacturer. ......

─ ─ When did you start making sculptures that incorporate deformation gimmicks, as you are doing now?

TSUBOSHIMA: When I was a student at Musashino Art University, I made metal sculptures of animals that did not deform. The animals were more like metal life forms that I had arranged in my own way. It was about two years after I left the university that I started making deformable animals. There was a group exhibition called "Metal Netsuke Exhibition" at Gallery Hanakagesho. Since netsuke are worn, the smallest parts can break off. After thinking about how to prevent this, I decided to store fragile parts inside and designed the structure. The popularity of that work was so good that I began to make transformers with deformation as a theme.


─ So it was not simply because you liked "Transformers"?

Tsuboshima: No, I like "Transformers" as well. I think that's why I came up with the idea of deformation. At first, it was just a matter of storing small parts, but then I got greedy and said, "I want to make an even more amazing piece of work. And so, more and more of my works became not just storing and opening, but becoming different creatures before and after the transformation.

─ ─ Were you able to become an artist right after you graduated from university?

Tsuboshima: For a while, I worked part-time while creating my works. In the process, I met Hanakagesho, but my works did not sell that well, and I felt uneasy, so I started working.

───Did you work for a hobby manufacturer?

Tsuboshima It was not a hobby company, but a company called iJet, which was involved in 3D printing in general. I had asked a number of companies to do 3D printing for my works, and among them, iJet was the one that paid attention to my works. They happened to be advertising a job opening, so I applied for it and stayed at iJet for about three years. There were jobs like scanning architectural models and people and modifying their data, or using 3D-CAD to create small items for figures. Eventually, iJet became a subsidiary of DMM, and the employees scattered, but there were some jobs at DMM where I could use my experience, but I left the company just as my work began to sell well.


─ How did you get connected with hobby manufacturers?

Tsuboshima: When I was working at iJet, I was involved in figure prototyping, which led to a relationship with Good Smile Company (GSC). He was very kind to me and continues to work with me to this day. He once exhibited my work at Wonder Festival Shanghai. The staff of 52TOYS saw my work at Wonder Festival and decided to participate in the MEGABOX series. It is a capsule toy in which a miniature Nendoroid-like figure emerges from an eggshell, but at first I only had a rough idea of what the product would look like. I came up with the transformation gimmick myself, and we all worked together to create this product while communicating with GSC's staff.