Love of Okinawa and social networking sites connect us! Ryugin Robot, the image character of Bank of the Ryukyus, is the ideal form of collaboration! Gemba of Collaboration No. 9

With today's growing collaboration between various industries and subcultures such as anime and voice acting, there are many people who say, "Whoa, they're doing it! You're doing it," "What? You did it! and "Oh, you're doing it!" and "What? Akiba Research Institute is going to visit the sites where these "collaborations" are being planned and ask about the appeal of the projects, interesting episodes, hardships, and other behind-the-scenes stories about their production! The series is called "Gemba of Collaboration.

In the ninth installment of this series, we introduce Ryugin Robo, the image character of the Bank of the Ryukyus. Although he is the image character of the bank, a "Ryugin Robo Family Garage Kit" will be released at the end of August, which is an unexpected collaboration that one would not expect from the conventional image of a bank.

We interviewed the creator of Ryugin Robo, Makoto Irei, Manager of the Media Strategy Office, Business Management Department, Bank of the Ryukyus. He told us the secret story of Ryugin-Robo's birth, why Ryugin-Robo was chosen as the Bank of the Ryukyus' image character, and his fun story about the future development of the robot. We also had a chance to talk with him about the future development of the bank.

On the day of the interview, the "Ryugin Robot Family Garage Kit" press conference was held, with Bank of the Ryukyus President Yasushi Kawakami and Shuichi Miyawaki, president of Kaiyodo, a major figure manufacturer in Japan, among the speakers.

From left: Interactive Ryugin Robot, President Yasushi Kawakami, President Shuichi Miyawaki

Ryugin Robo, the image character of Ryukyu Bank, which appears in commercials and other media, is a local hero who is literally popular among a wide range of people from children to adults, and is no stranger to Okinawa. The Ryugin Robo family will be sold as a garage kit. All proceeds will be donated to welfare organizations in Okinawa Prefecture. Starting with a pre-sale at the Wonder Festival held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on July 28, the six robots in the family will go on sale at Kaiyodo's online store at the end of August.

According to President Kawakami, "We would like to promote this project as a new unconventional social contribution. He is proud that this project fits perfectly with the Bank of the Ryukyus' catchphrase, "Let's spread excitement. Mr. Miyawaki of Kaiyodo, who collaborated on the garage kit, commented, "I found it interesting that a bank with an image of being uptight would create a robot and then develop it as a garage kit. The Ryugin Robo, with its excellent design, is attractive enough to be accepted by enthusiasts, even if it is mixed in with the numerous hero robots. How did Ryugin-Robo, which is highly praised by modeling professionals, come into being? We asked Mr. Irei, the creator of Ryugin Robo.

Mr. Makoto Irei

Ryugin-Robo's debut drew the attention of foreign media

-- Please tell us how Ryugin-Robo was born.

Ire: In the 1990s, when the ban on TV commercials by banks was lifted, we decided to make a commercial. We decided to make a commercial for a project called "Consolidation Loan" around 2002, and first we set our customer personas as "40s", "male", and "with children". I came up with the word "combined" as I thought of various keywords for "consolidation" in the same generation as myself at that time. When I was little, robot animation was in its heyday, and I was also of the animation generation, so I thought, "A combination of loan products and a robot that combines them might be a good idea. It was an idea that came to me after serious consideration.

-- Irei: Did you like robots yourself?

Irei: I loved robots. I loved robots so much that I can still draw illustrations of Mazinger Z, the originator of robot animation. I also love modeling, and I have been making robots and monsters out of clay since I was a child. The goal of the commercial was to sell the bank's products, so I thought, "There is no other way but to use a robot" (laughs), while doing proper marketing and trying to make an impact. (Laughs.) We were lucky to get the project approved, but it is true that there was a lot of excitement within the bank. It was an image that had never existed at the bank before. But I went ahead with it, believing in myself and my creativity and wanting to create something crazy.

-- How was the response to the commercial?

Irei: It was a huge hit (laugh). (Laughs). This commercial made the character so well known that everyone in Okinawa, from children to adults, knew of him. That was in 2002. At that time, the Internet was not as developed as it is today, but it was featured in a news article on the U.S. version of "Excite" and became nationally known. It must have been interesting, like "Japanese bank is crazy! After being picked up by foreign websites, it became known in Japan as well, as if to say, "A bank in Okinawa seems to have made a commercial for robots. I think Bank of the Ryukyus is the only bank that has this kind of experience.

-- How has it benefited you in terms of sales?

Ire: Since the character has been created, salespeople can start their talks with the story of the character. This is the first recall, which is the basis of marketing. Since they know the character, they can understand the image of the bank.

-- I imagine you were surprised by the customers.

Ire: Since we are a long-established bank with the top market share in Okinawa Prefecture and the top history of 71 years this year, I think we had the most rigid image. However, we have to do something outlandish to break the image of our customers. In the first place, when we created the commercial, our goal was to "surprise our customers," so we had to do something like this. I believe that the secret to destroying the image is a little bit of courage.

Ryugin Robot R-2200 designed by Masami Ohari

There is also talk of an animated version of "Ryugin Robot" ......?

-- It is interesting that the family is growing even though it is a robot.

Ire: As you can see in the family tree, it is an evolution of the combined robot. Ryugin Robo, which first appeared in a mortgage commercial, is now working hard as a Visa debit card character, and I believe this is the first time in the world that a robot has been appointed as a Visa character (laugh). (Laughs) The robot character is reflected in our products. For example, the image character for a mortgage loan with solar panels is carrying a solar panel on his back. Every time we add more products, we add more characters. As the number of characters increases, the number of families increases, and the mystery is solved. Now it's "?" but I wonder if there will be a wife robot soon ....... Please look forward to it. We also have the world's first grandma robot (Amma Robo) (laugh). You can see how each robot transforms on YouTube, so please check it out!

-- The design created by world-renowned animator Masami Ohari has been introduced and has caused even more excitement in the public. ......

Ire: I heard a rumor that "Ohari-san is tweeting about Ryugin Robot. When I was exchanging with him on the Twitter timeline, I was in a panic and thought, "Something Mr. Ohari is talking with the person in charge at Bank of the Ryukyus! I was so excited that I rushed to switch to a direct message to talk to him. Mr. Ohhari had always loved Okinawa and was concerned about the robot made by an Okinawan bank. He is very light on his feet, and after exchanging messages for about an hour, he told me that he would be visiting Okinawa in a week and that we should have dinner together. Then, at the restaurant, the conversation progressed at a brisk pace, and I asked him to direct the commercial (laughs).

(laugh) -- And the director is Tamei Hayami, so this collaboration is amazing!

Irei: This is also a true story that seems to be a lie, but Mr. Ohari told me on Twitter that "Hayami-san said 'I'm the only one who can do the voice'. When I asked him about it later, he told me that Hayami's father is from Okinawa, and it turned out to be a very good story that the connection made in Okinawa has grown to this extent.

Great Ryugene designed by Masami Ohari

-- A character loved by Okinawa, created by the love for Okinawa, an ideal form of collaboration connected by SNS. And everyone's footwork is light and decisions are made quickly.

Ire: I choose the music and act as a producer myself, without going through an agency. The Bank of the Ryukyus Media Strategy Office, of which I am a member, is conscious of being a creative group. I especially value talking directly with creators, and since KAIYODO is truly a group of creators, it is really helpful and stimulating to talk with them quickly.

-- I understand that you are a creator yourself.

Ire: Actually, I have written two scenarios for the Okinawan special effects program "Ryujin Mabuya". In my case, it is not so much technique as it is a strong desire to "give it a try! I think it was the strength of my "let's try it!" attitude that brought me luck, rather than technique. I had never written a scenario before. But when I was asked to write a scenario I studied how to write a scenario in a book and wrote it. Because I had a theme in mind, I submitted two scenarios, and both were accepted. I am a banker at the Bank of the Ryukyus, so I volunteered to write the script.

-- So, if I had been asked to write a script for "Ryugin Robo Animation! then you could write the script as well.

Irei: I am happy to say that we have received many offers to make an animation. Since the characters have been developed so much, I am beginning to think that it would be a good idea to do a full-scale project. In our position as a bank, we don't make enemies. Mabuya doesn't fight either, so I think we have that in common. If I had to venture a guess, I have a vague idea that an anime about robots working against natural disasters for the enrichment of people's lives would be good.

The Bank of the Ryukyus' challenge is not over yet

-- I understand that the proceeds from the sales will be donated to .......

Irei: Selling robots itself is not the bank's primary business. I also thought that the thought of the proceeds going to the bank might make the customers who purchase the robot feel complicated. We chose this form of donation because we thought that people would feel more comfortable buying robots if they were donated. The purpose of a regional bank is to contribute to the community, and if the bank loses that purpose, it will be eliminated, and that would be meaningless.

-- I think more and more people will want to visit Okinawa because of the Ryugin Robo.

Irei: I would be very happy if that were to happen. Actually, I have various ideas. For example, the "R" mark on Ryugin Robot's chest uses the Bank of the Ryukyus logo, but in the future we would like to offer it free of charge, allowing various corporate logos to be placed on this part. In this way, all corporate characters in Okinawa Prefecture would become Ryugin Robots (laughs). Although he has already become a popular character, he still actively participates in local TV programs and commercials, as well as local sponsored events such as rock festivals. The T-shirt I am wearing today is a collaboration T-shirt with the Miyako Rock Festival, but last year I also participated in the Monpachi Festival. Our (Bank of the Ryukyus) theme song is Monpachi (MONGOL800).

*MONGOL800...... is a rock band based in Okinawa Prefecture. Representative songs include "Little Love Song" and "For You.

-- one after another. I almost forget that we are a bank (laughs).

Irei: I have many more ideas and many more things to talk about. What we talked about today may be about 1/10 of what we have talked about (laughs). We are also working to contribute to cultural support.

-- not only for daily life, but also for welfare, culture, and even entertainment. Through a variety of initiatives, they can help revitalize the community. With Ryukin Bank, Okinawa is safe! I feel that Ryugin is the embodiment of "With Ryugin, Okinawa is safe! You are an icon of Okinawa.

Irei: That's what we hope to be. If you ever hear the news that "Bank of the Ryukyus has started something strange again," please interview them (laughs).

(laugh) -- Please do. I look forward to your outlandish plans. Thank you very much.

Rare item!We are giving away a"Ryugin Robot" piggy bankto two lucky winners!

We are giving away a Ryugin Robot piggy bank, which collects everyone's thoughts (=money) and protects a comfortable life, to two lucky winners! The arms move and look cool!

<Prize

Ryugin Robot piggy bank

<Entry requirements

Application period: August 27, 2019 (Tue) - September 3, 2019 (Tue) 23:59

Number of winners: 2

Announcement of winners: Prizes will be sent to the winners.

Prize shipping: Prizes will be shipped by the end of November 2019.

How to apply: Use the dedicated application form below.

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