INTERVIEW

Q.Could you tell us about the circumstances that led to you taking on this year's "The Zoukeiou" battle with the highly ambitious concept of "Onepi no Mi Micro"?

Yoko Nozoe) In last year's "The Zoukeiou" battle, the Onepi no Mi figure from one Co., Ltd. (MIC) was very well-received by fans, and we felt like we had a real shot at winning. However, I felt that taking on the challenge again with the same size and concept would lack impact, so right after last year's voting ended, I spent the entire year thinking about "what to do next."

The idea I focused on was the core question: "What is the unique appeal of a Gashapon toy?" Compared to other figures, the greatest charm of Gashapon is their ‘smallness.’ We wanted to fully commit to the fun of an experience that is complete within the limited space of a capsule. So, we decided to challenge the limits of sculpting with the ‘Micro’ concept—probably the smallest size in the history of ONE PIECE figures.

one Co., Ltd. (MIC) The first time I heard the plan, my immediate thought was "It's so tiny!" (laughs). I also wondered if we could really win "The Zoukeiou" with a figure this small. I wanted to win since we were entering, and I was determined to make the best possible figure, but I also thought, "What are we going to do with this?" I knew we had to pack something worthy of "The Zoukeiou" into this minuscule size.

Yotaro Taniguchi) Like one Co., Ltd. (MIC), my first reaction was "It's so small!" I also wondered if I could actually paint it. However, once I started the work, my experience of having painted over 100 Onepi no Mi figures made it surprisingly easy to paint with the same touch as before.

Yoko Nozoe) We also focused on making this ‘Micro’ figure into a "blister charm" that people can carry around. Previous Onepi no Mi figures were designed to be displayed standing, but this time, by placing them in a blister package with a ball chain, we added a new way to enjoy them as a keychain. To make this unprecedented project a reality, the overwhelming sculpting skills of one Co., Ltd. (MIC) and Mr. Taniguchi's painting techniques were indispensable. I don't think this project could have been realized with any other team.

Q.The theme of your work is centered on the protagonist Luffy and expressing the evolution of his Gears. Can you tell us about the specific details you focused on for this figure?

Yoko Nozoe) I agonized over the character selection. Initially, we considered a composition of the Straw Hat Pirates, but for a "The Zoukeiou" battle, I thought it would be most interesting to feature the protagonist, Luffy, and show the evolution of his Gears, which represents the trajectory of his growth. We also added one secret figure to create that "surprise factor" unique to Gashapon.

one Co., Ltd. (MIC) We've made many Luffy figures for the Onepi no Mi series, but this time, each of his forms—from Gear 2nd to Gear 5th—has its own unique characteristics and facial expressions, so it was fun to sculpt each one distinctly.

I didn't even have to consciously think about it; in the original manga, they're already completely different characters, so I didn't hesitate when sculpting them. Instead, I immersed myself in the world of the manga, imagining Luffy's feelings at each moment as I worked. I even found myself saying "Don!" or "Bang!" like an idiot while sculpting (laughs).

Yoko Nozoe) It was like you were assimilating with Luffy.

one Co., Ltd. (MIC) When that happens, you can create the best work possible. The most enjoyable part was the scene we chose for the secret figure. I had never had the chance to make it before, and it was a scene I'd always wanted to sculpt. It was a very exciting scene in the manga, so I was able to put my heart into it since I finally got my wish.

Yoko Nozoe) Because this was "The Zoukeiou" battle, we left all the posing, including the secret figure, to one Co., Ltd. (MIC). Since they didn't have to be able to stand on their own in the blister package, I think we were able to achieve dynamic poses that wouldn't be possible in other series.

one Co., Ltd. (MIC) We also had to make sculpting adjustments due to the extremely small size. We had to avoid delicate details that would be crushed during production, make the folds of clothing more distinct, and adjust the thickness of the fabric. The thinness of the wrists and ankles, in particular, affects the strength of the figure, so finding a balance that was both durable and cool was difficult.

Yotaro Taniguchi) Since the figures are small and all six types are of the same character, Luffy, there were a lot of restrictions on color specification. Within those constraints, I tried to add my own ‘bold’ expressions in areas where no instructions were given. For example, the steam around Gear 2nd Luffy. It wouldn't have been interesting with a flat color, so I added some gradation. The factory workers might have a tough time with it, but my thought was, "Please do your best to reproduce this...!"

Yoko Nozoe) Of course, there are many production constraints due to the small size, and we asked Mr. Taniguchi for various adjustments, such as ensuring that the facial scars weren't misplaced. Our role as vendors is to faithfully reproduce these amazing prototypes in mass production. We're going to make adjustments before the release so that no one says, "The prototype was great, but the actual product is..." We're aiming for the highest quality as a "product that can be obtained for 500 yen," not just a one-of-a-kind piece for "The Zoukeiou."

Q.Starting this time, "The Zoukeiou" battle will include overseas voting. How do you feel about that?

Yoko Nozoe) We've also expanded overseas, but the ‘Gashapon’ culture is still far less widespread than in Japan. I would be happy if this "The Zoukeiou" battle helped people overseas realize how fun Gashapon are and helps the culture spread even more worldwide, so I'm very grateful for it.

one Co., Ltd. (MIC) I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of reactions we get. It's tiny, but will they notice it that much, or will they pay attention to it precisely because it's so small? I'm interested in the reactions of people overseas. I'd be happy if it gets a lot of hype, and even happier if we end up winning.

Yotaro Taniguchi) Gashapon machines are now placed in a lot of airports, and the Gashapon item itself is starting to gain a lot of attention from people overseas, so I have high hopes that they will become even more popular!

Q.Finally, could you share your future dreams after participating in this year's "The Zoukeiou" battle?

Yoko Nozoe) To be honest, after the last "The Zoukeiou" battle, I thought I had run out of ideas. However, in an effort to live up to everyone's expectations, I thought and thought, and we were able to come up with another interesting project. I think we created something that can maximize the surprise and fun you get when you open the capsule. I want to continue taking on new challenges through the Onepi no Mi series.

Yotaro Taniguchi) I feel that within the deformed style of Onepi no Mi, we can try various forms of expression, such as vignettes (diorama-style) and this new ‘Micro series. As a paint master, my dream is to infuse our figures with the rich colors and sense of ‘excitement’ that Eiichiro Oda creates in his color-page illustrations.

one Co., Ltd. (MIC) I want to constantly challenge myself to create something different. As a sculptor, I believe that it's not about expressing "my own style," but about how well I can capture the atmosphere of the original work—that's all that matters. I am confident that my team and I were able to create the best possible work again this time.