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1000Toys at DesignerCon

1000Toys at DesignerCon

Quick recap of 1000Toys Booth #600 at DesignerCon in Anaheim, CA including the launch of the new "Icons" and "Originals" sub-brands.

For more information, please visit https://1000toys.jp and https://www.designercon.com

Filmed and Edited by Jian Shen (Bearo)

#1000toys #designercon #japan #designertoys #convention #comiccon #underground #art

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Prophecy of Nature - Martin Hsu new works at Luna Rienne Gallery 【4K】

    Prophecy of Nature - Martin Hsu new works at Luna Rienne Gallery 【4K】

A brief vignette of artist, Martin Hsu painting at his art studio in the Mission, San Francisco. These five pieces are on exhibit at Luna Rienne Gallery as part of the “Prophecy of Nature” group show. Please contact Luna Rienne Gallery for sales inquiries at lunarienne.com

Prophecy Of Nature examines and exalts the temporal quality of flora and fauna. From the signature botanicals of oil painter Ivy Jacobsen to Martin Hsu’s recent body of work exploring the precariousness of wildlife, each of the painters is inspired by the quickly-changing natural world around us. Lela Shields strives to reveal the fragility of life by creating organic pieces started with a random pour of ink on the surface. Julia Lucey creates etching collages depicting plants and animals native to Northern California, and Ursula Xanthe Young offers whimsical beauty in her work.

Martin Hsu is a Taiwan-born artist based in San Francisco. He strives to create New Traditional Art by fusing Western narrative with Eastern sensibility. He hopes his art brings you a sense of ease and some peace of mind. His work has been shown all around the world, including the Japanese American National Museum, Art Basel Miami, and Art Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

Filmed and Edited by Jian Shen (Bearo)

#fineart #art #painting #sanfrancisco #martinhsu #nature #lunarienne

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Japanese Sofubi Toy technique "Bucket Method"

    Japanese Sofubi Toy technique "Bucket Method"

Mesmerizing technique by Cory of Science Patrol used in making Japanese Soft Vinyl Toys ("Sofubi" or "Sofvi") by hand.

Special thx to Datadub/Fig-lab & Maruyama Toy for this rare opportunity.

Filmed in Tokyo, Japan on September 16th, 2018 by Jian Shen (Powercore / Bearo)

#japanese #sofubi #vinyltoys #softvinyl #maruyamatoys #japan #tokyo #slowmo #underground #art

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Martin Hsu - Ningyo 人魚 (4K)

    Martin Hsu - Ningyo 人魚 (4K)

Modern Eden Gallery is thrilled to host San Francisco-based artist and illustrator Martin Hsu in the back gallery for Ningyo 人魚 (human fish). This new exhibit features an installation of new works of Hsu’s ephemeral creatures - the goldfish mermaid. The goldfish originated from the wild over 2000 years ago. They were kept by The Emperor as imperial treasures, raised by the rich and noble as valuable prizes, and closely guarded for their metallic scales - a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. Martin Hsu’s goldfish mermaids are a personification of these auspicious keepings. They are great maternal spirits in our lives, blessed with grace and strength, looking after the past, present, and beyond. The mermaids exist neither in air nor water, but in a quiet place Martin refers to as metta - a place within ourselves filled with benevolence, warmth, and loving-kindness. It’s where goodwill flourishes and happiness resides.

Like Mother Nature, goldfish mermaids command immense power. They are protectors of our essence represented by flora blooming in metta. Such flora includes Chinese flowers of the Four Seasons: orchid in the Spring, symbol of integrity and nobility; lotus in the Summer, symbol of purity and humility; chrysanthemum in the Autumn, symbol of longevity and vitality; and plum blossom in the Winter, symbol of courage and resilience. Goldfish mermaids are celestial guardians who effortlessly patrol this place to keep it safe from harm. In an infinite universe, goldfish mermaids are solar flares, glistening moonlight, and shooting stars. They are symbols of beautiful blessings in abundance and well-wishes transcending time and space. They remind us to be at peace in stillness, to reflect upon nature, and to look for love within.

To purchase pieces from this collection, please visit: https://www.martinhsu.com/ https://www.martinhsu.com/

Filmed by Jian Shen // Bearo Productions (https://bearo.com) Shot at Martin Hsu Studios and Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, CA 2018

Music: "Rolegur" by Osker Wyld (Artlist License)

#art #painting #sanfrancisco #goldfishmermaids #martinhsu #documentary

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Martin Hsu - Mermaids

Martin Hsu - Mermaids

A closer look at the beautiful textures and motion of Martin Hsu's latest works debuting at the Asia Contemporary Art Show in Hong Kong. Shot in Hsu's art studio in the Mission, San Francisco, this film highlights the interactions of the pieces with light as intended and the motion that the artist seeks to evoke in the viewer.

Filmed and Edited by Jian Shen (Bearo)

#painting #art #mermaids #asian #culture #sanfrancisco #martinhsu

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T9G & Shoko Nakazawa & Mai Nagamoto Live Painting at Flabslab Booth

    T9G & Shoko Nakazawa & Mai Nagamoto Live Painting at Flabslab Booth - STGCC2016

T9G & Shoko Nakazawa & Mai Nagamoto Live Painting at Flabslab Booth

Watch the Sofubi crew from Tokyo: Takuji Honda (T9G), Shoko Nakazawa (Koraters) & Mai Nagamoto (Maipon) live painting at the Flabslab Booth at STGCC2016 in Singapore! These original paintings sold out instantly!

Special thanks to Tay, Jeffrey, Datadub, Edward, Takuji, Shoko & Mai for letting me dance around back stage!🏼

Filmed 2016.09.11 by Jian Shen (Powercore / Bearo)

Music Credits: From Space with Love by jimmysquare https://soundcloud.com/jimmysquare Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/

#stgcc #singapore #designertoys #japanese #sofubi #livepainting #comiccon

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Goto-San Sofubi Paint Master with @datadub

    Goto-San Sofubi Paint Master with @datadub

Goto-San Sofubi Paint Master with @datadub

I had the honor and privilege to visit #sofubi paint master Goto-San in his #Tokyo studio where at least a million #Japanese soft vinyl (#sofubi) #toys have been hand painted. It also happened to be Goto-San's birthday and here he is working like it was any other day. Straight Boss...

Here's a quick vignette of our visit and special thanks to Don Datadub Kratzer for providing this rare opportunity. 👊🏼

Shot on September 3, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan by Jian Shen (@jian on IG) and Don Kratzer (@datadub on IG).

Music info: Tonez&Re-C - Kyoto by @TONEZPRO (OFFICIAL) https://soundcloud.com/tonez-pro Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/vq4okoteFEc

#sofubi #tokyo #toys #designertoys #japan #datadub #figlab

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Schools 魚群 - New works by Martin Hsu

    Schools 魚群 - New works by Martin Hsu

You're cordially invited- "Schools 魚群", new works by Martin Hsu Opening Reception: Sat Oct 10th / 3 - 6pm. 邀請在台灣的朋友 家人們 ～ 十月十日 在 Galerie F&F 如同魚群，緊緊相依，共同體驗生命，同游同流。 https://www.facebook.com/events/1895618337329072/

http://www.martinhsu.com/ http://www.galerieff.com/

Filmed and Edited by Jian Shen (Bearo)

Music Credits: "Amore" by Ryuichi Sakamoto

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Huck Gee

    Huck Gee

Interview with world renowned artist, Huck Gee at his studio in San Francisco, CA.

One of the originators of custom designer toys, Huck Gee has been designing and producing extremely rare hand made Designer Toys for over a decade with private collectors from all over the world. Each piece is hand made in California from beginning to end.

Filmed by Jian Shen (Bearo)

#huckgee #vinyltoys #designertoys #underground #art #sanfrancisco #toys

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Stinky the Durian - Plush Giveaway!

Stinky the Durian - Plush Giveaway!

Follow Stephanie Sun on Facebook, Ravelry and GoodReads. Read Stephanie’s new novel, The Orientations right now on Amazon Kindle!

Bearo’s very first giveaway is Stinky, a handmade durian plush in two pieces. Designed by San Francisco designer (Ravelry profile) and indie fiction writer Stephanie Sun, see below for how to enter our contest for a free Stinky toy handmade by the designer in Cascade 220 wool. (Or, make your own - the pattern is available free here!)

This amigurumi was inspired by the creations of Anna Hrachovec of Mochimochi Land and, of course, a certain big, green, malodorous fruit native to the jungles of Borneo (where Stephanie’s debut novel The Orientations is partly set).

Update! Thanks for participating! Congratulations to Sarah K, our first ever Bearo Giveaway winner!

    I grew up on the mean streets of Chinatown. Let me show you around.

    I was always kind of a loner… I still don’t know why…

    Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I were a pineapple… naaaah being a Durian rocks!

    Everyone always gave me a lot of space and respect. It’s kinda nice!

    Most people see my pointy exterior but I’m really just a softy inside.

    My other spot was the stinky tofu restaurant down the block.

    Chinatown is MY kind of town!

    You look hungry. I know a place.

#design #designer #vinyl #toys #photography #style #durian #stinky #giveaway #plush #amigurumi #knits #knitted

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Swanicorn: The Gathering

Swanicorn: The Gathering

Swanicorn: The Gathering Opening Night is March 9th Dragatomi, 2317 J St Sacramento, CA 95816‎

As a fellow member of the Swanicorn Observational Society (SOS), I'm proud to have followed SOS Lead Researcher, Daniel Fleres up to the Dragatomi Art Gallery in Sacramento to deliver this truly one of a kind discovery known as the Original Swanicorn, shown here in a diorama of its natural surroundings. You really have to view this piece in person to appreciate the layers of detail that went into it and this Saturday, you'll be able to do just that at the opening night of The Gathering!

This exhibition will gather more than twenty new discoveries from observers all over the world including artists Drilone, Downtimer, Eric Broers, Jason Limon, Jay222, Jerome Lu, Josh Pearce, J*Ryu, Leecifer, Luke Chueh, Martin Hsu, Matt Linares, D.Ross Scribe, Shadoe Delgado, Topher, Yosiel Lorenzo, 40 Threads, and 64 Colors.

Opening Night is March 9th at Dragatomi, 2317 J St Sacramento, CA 95816‎

   Swanicorn in profile

   A classically observed pose

   Thinking about life outside of the box

   Where do rainbows begin?

   Swanicorn Diorama-rama

   Swanicorn: The Gathering

#design #designer #vinyl #toys #photography #style #swanicorns #swanicorn #dragatomi #unicorn #unicorns #art

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Bearo 2012 Anthology

    An epic look back on Art and Designer Toys in 2012 and the friends we made along the way! Come join us in 2013!

｡◕‿◕｡ ∩(︶▽︶)∩ (☆^ー^☆) 〈( ^.^)ノ ヘ(^_^ヘ) ( ^-^)_旦”" (´▽｀)ノ♪ ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/ (^ _ ^)/

Bearo 2012 Anthology

Happy New Years from Bearo Toys! Here's an epic look back on all of the amazing Art and Designer Toys we saw and the new friends we made along the way in 2012! We're humbled by the overwhelming amount of creativity and love in the designer community and can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

2012 was the first official year of Bearo Toys photographing designer toys and the artists who create them. Over the course of a year, we took thousands of photos and only a select few gems were picked and published. Rather than letting those unused photos sit on a hard drive, we decided to blast them in an epic (or epilectic...) video to the beat of Japanese punk rock.

Thanks for watching and we'll see you in 2013! -Jian

 +  

Featured Artists, Labels and Friends:

Bubi Au Yeung Treeson Crazylabel Uamou Woolbuddy Madl Matt Groening Vinylmation Shawnimals Stephanie Cortes NerdJerk Erica Sirotich Cuddlefish Press Menh Voong BeeFy & Co. Martin Hsu VTSS Toys Dragon Boy Crakens ToysREvil Daniel Fleres Swanicorn Dynamite Rex KaNO Mike Die Jibibuts Touma Chris Yates Andrew Bell Dumbrella Android Stay Real

Munky King Spanky Stokes Shing Yin Khor Sawdust Bear Lap Ngo Leslie Levings Beastlies Jeremiah Ketner Awkward Animals Wrong Gear Jason Liwag Rotobox Vinyl Anatomica Jimena Sanchez Monitos Bonitos Huck Gee J*Ryu Kuso Vinyl June Shieh Dragatomi Genevieve Tsai Domokun Babyvtec Bolt City Productions Good Hustle Studios Eric Wu Jerome Lu Hyperactive Monkey Debbie Huey BumperFriend Yo Gabba Gabba Kidrobot

Sweet Streets LA Luke Chueh Philip Lumbang Ginger Chen Ron Chang Wrongbbit Fon Davis Makerbot Ohiya SuperEmoFriends BroccorreeTV Giant Robot Joe Ledbetter Tara McPherson Ryan Roberts Photography Oddfauna The 19XX Little Woots Jakc Design The Brick Bible Rawrz Toys Aaron Berchild Yetis & Friends My Milk Toof Beary Calm Oke Doki Gary Ham Cavey Patricio Pomies Hello Kitty Street Fighter Capcom

#toys #design #photography #art #style #designer toys #vinyl toys #vinyl #characters #cute #kawaii #streetfighter #anime #onepiece #spongebob #japan #LA #SF #Hong Kong #timelapse #sdcc #comiccon #cosplay #transformers

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NerdJERK at work - APE 2012

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NerdJERK at work - APE 2012

Follow the #MerryMarioMelee countdown and watch these bobombs go kaboom in the New Year!

The 2012 Alternative Press Expo (APE) was held at the Concourse Exhibition Center in San Francisco this year. I was cordially invited to attend by Steph Cortes of NerdJERK and had the chance to hear what's on the horizon for her geek inspired brand of handmade plush toys. APE was a very special occasion this year because Steph and her fiancé Roger (Effing Awesome) decided to have their Geek Rockstar Wedding right there at the show! Their special day was celebrated among family, friends, and fans along with a custom made wedding dress and decorations from the art community that took DIY weddings to another level. It was pure NerdJERK awesomeness and I felt honored to be a part of that day. ^____^

If you ever run into Steph at one of these events, you'll feel an overwhelming spirit that, in my opinion, is a big part of her success. Her presence is energetic, outgoing and impossible to ignore. That's why it's difficult to believe that this year has actually been particularly challenging for her including some unexpected health issues that we all hope are behind her. Steph courageously writes about her challenges on her blog, reminding us all that NerdJERK is the product of tireless dedication that can sometimes take its toll on the people behind it.

On Day Two of the expo (and married life!), Steph revealed her future plans for the NerdJERK brand. Perhaps the biggest change is the retiring of those beloved Nintendo inspired plush toys. No more Bob-ombs, Kirbys, or Thwomps ever again so if you've been holding out on getting one of those Bob-ombs, your last chance is now (visit her etsy shop)! Starting January 1st, Steph will be focusing on her own original character designs including some hilarious looking "Hot Sauce Wrestlers" and some adorably colorful plush crayons which we got a sneak peek of at the show. While we're sad to see the video game plushes go, we're excited to see Steph Cortes take NerdJERK and her creative vision to the next level.

See NerdJERK's creations at nerdjerk.etsy.com for the perfect holiday gift!

   Boo!

   Luma's for all!

   NerdJERK's booth is packed with goodies. Yeah!

   The Dark Knight Rounded…

   A sneak peek at some original character designs!

   Waka Waka

   The beginnings of a Hot Sauce Wrestler?!

   Steph Cortes showing off what she loves most

   I'll be waiting for the Box of 64

   Advanced Amigurumi Techniques

   Plush padding WIP

   Felt eyes and teeth for Chain Chomp

   Chain Chomp's collar

Preview of what's to come in 2013

   Yarn + Caffeine + Music = Creation

   Kirby needs some help...

   Oh there's my arm...

   Can someone help put this thing back on?

   Ahhhh much better!

   Move fast, THWOMP! Someone take me home!

#design #designer #vinyl #toys #photography #style #ape #ape2012 #apexpo #nerdjerk #plush #nintendo #video games #amigurumi #cute #kawaii #merrymariomelee

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The Ugly Swanicorn

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The Ugly Swanicorn

Daniel Fleres's Hand painted 7 Inch custom resin available now from Dragatomi for $300.

Behold Daniel Fleres's Ugly Swanicorn 7-inch custom which made its debut in Dragatomi's recent show, titled Tales, featuring artwork inspired by classical short stories and fables. As I started writing this, I realized that I don't remember any literary details from The Ugly Duckling apart from patchy memories of a Disney adaptation. Good thing we have this magical thing called the Internet that can summon unabridged translations of the tale from across the seas in an instant (what sorcery is this?!).

My first thought after re-reading The Ugly Duckling was, do swanicorns hatch from eggs? What would a Swanicorn Egg look like and wouldn't Mother-Duck notice the unusually large size of that egg...? Then it hatches with four legs and a tail...hmmm something doesn't belong here! Our peculiarly horned outcast is anything but the norm here but I wouldn't call him any names to his face. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (that's you) and as the Swanicorn makes its way into the folklore of tomorrow, let's take a moment to admire it in its mysterious and misunderstood adolescence before it grows up and eats us all...

Th Ugly Swanicorn is available to purchase at Dragatomi for $300.

   One of these don't belong...

   Who's the the Ugly Duckling now, huh?!

Long lost love child of…?

   Do Swanicorns hatch from eggs?

   Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Just wait til I grow up!

   I don't mean to point out the elephant in the room...

   Time to find my fellow Swanicorns!

   You mean ducks don't normally have horns on their foreheads?

#design #designer #vinyl #toys #photography #style #swanicorn #resin #custom #daniel fleres

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Martin Hsu's Dragon Boy

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Martin Hsu's Dragon Boy

Martin Hsu's Dragon Boy Buy Dragon Boy! All Asia orders should go through http://www.vtsstoys.com to save on shipping.

Last week Martin Hsu debuted his first ever vinyl toy, Dragon Boy, based on a character inspired by his own experiences making a new home in a foreign land. The original sculpt of the toy was masterfully created by the amazing Vin Teng and the limited edition run (only 80 pieces left) is being produced by VTSS Toys. 

Dragon Boy is officially for sale tomorrow at Noon PST (7/23) at: http://www.martinhsu.com/dragon-designer-vinyl-martin-p-148.html

I was super excited to shoot Dragon Boy and chose an oceanic setting (conveniently at a beach) because in Chinese mythology, Dragons are rulers of the ocean (or any body of water for that matter) and control the weather. The day was so gorgeous at the beach that I couldn't help but think Dragon Boy had something to do with it. ^_____^

   Good Morning! Looks to be an amazing day!

   I wonder where the day will take me...

Casting shadows

   Those who wander are not always lost...

   Greetings to the Sun and the Ocean!

   Dragon Boy enjoying the fresh air!

Secret Thumbs Up Pose!

   Thumbs up for an amazing day!

   Dragons rule the waters of the world!

   ^_________^

   Dragon Boy's stylin tail (and shorts!)

   Dragon Boy enjoys long walks on the beach.

   Someone needs to make a Dragon Boy hat!

   Ready to fly!

See more Dragon Boy photos on flickr!

   More details of this amazing sculpt!

   Always enjoy what life has to offer you right now.

#design #designer #vinyl #toys #photography #style #martinhsu #dragon #art #chinese #culture

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Swanicorn Origins - A Daniel Fleres Discovery

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Swanicorn Origins - A Daniel Fleres Discovery

Founder of The Swanicorn Observatory Society, Daniel Fleres

When Daniel Fleres first announced the discovery of the Swanicorn, little was known about the four-legged species other than its striking features including a single horn and a swan like neck. Since then over a dozen variants of the species have been discovered. Today, Daniel brings us his latest discovery, The Swanicorn Deer (cygnusicornis cervus). Learn more about the Origins of the Swanicorn from the SOS.

Only Five of these hand painted resin pieces will be available at San Diego Comic-con (7/11-7/15) at the Dragatomi Booth #4935 (more details).

Daniel was kind enough to invite me to his studio to photograph these never-before-seen pieces and they are absolutely stunning in person. I hope you enjoy the shots and be sure to see them in person at Dragatomi's booth before they sell out!

   The mythical Swanicorn Deer

   Its unique profile makes the Swanicorn easily identifiable in the wild.

   Swanicorns are rarely seen in groups. Be warned!

   Up close and personal

Swan? Unicorn? Where did it all begin?

   Only five exist! Available at SDCC 2012 - Dragatomi Booth #4935

   Communication among Swanicorns is still relatively unknown.

   Five Swanicorn Deer maintaining defensive formation

   Better known in the scientific community as Cygnusicornis Cervus

   Swanicorn Deer Stance

Scientific research in the background for reference purposes.

   Almost complete!

   Check out The Swanicorn Deer at the Dragatomi booth at SDCC!

   Swanicorn's True Origin

#design #designer #vinyl #toys #photography #style #swanicorn

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One Piece Toy Menagerie

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One Piece Toy Menagerie

This is how the shopping experience looks. Everyone is very polite and considerate.

Part 2 of our One Piece (ワンピース)  Exhibit Feature is finally here! (Part 1) Japan knows merchandizing and One Piece is easily the most intense and comprehensive in licensing and merch. They have everything from toys, to games, to food, to convenience store sponsorships. Its a bit over the top, but One Piece does a good job of keeping it fresh since you can tap into such a huge library of characters with over 500 plus episodes of  extremely rich story. I might have gone a bit overboard with the number of pictures, but I wanted to give everybody a peak into the insane amounts of stuff that is put out for a small excerpt of the story line. The toys here represent perhaps a 100 episode span of characters.

The real awesome toys are the P.O.P. toys at then end (Portrait.Of.Pirates ワンピースシリーズNEO-DX). I've picked up a few of those figures so will do a more detailed post later on. Just to get an idea, hop on over to Amazon.jp and check out how much there is! These figures are hand painted, usually 8-12 inches tall. Some are even more massive than the Bartholomew Kuma figure.

    The blind box. You never know what you're going to get. Try choosing the ones that weigh differently so you don't get dupes.

Blindbox posters. Hmm they all weigh the same :(

    Blind box posters staring the Straw Hat Pirates!

All of the manga covers are extremely detailed.

    lots and lots of Manga

    Namii! I'm not sure of the proportion of the Busts. Seems like its just their heads.

Bento boxin... comes with recipes and instructions :). g'luck

    Mahjong for kids. Sometiems called ポンジャン (PonJan) or ドンジャラ(Donjara).

    Mmm Snacks

    Fire Ace Figure. Stands about 5" tall. There's a Chopper one too, but this one is much cuter for once.

    Chopper. The ladies love him.

    I mean there's so many of him. I think he's most popular in plushie form though.

    Luffy's imprisoned in glass!

Gotta catch 'em all

    Extreme Mini-figure Blindboxes

    From the young Luffy and Ace timeline.

    POP Fire Ace

    Shiro Hige!

Ring Ring. should have a smartphone app with him :)

    Luffy in all his gomu gomu glory.

    マルコ Marco the phoenix. I liked him so much, I picked one up.

    Plushies of the cuddly characters

    Collecor heads

Flamboyant and dangerous...

    Necromancer extraordinaire..

Gatcha Capsule machine madness

    Miss Hammock... Plz don't turn me to stone

    ロロノア・ ゾロ Roronoa Zoro

オーズ Ōzu - SO BIG!

    バーソロミュー・くま- RAWRRRR

Dracule "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk

    Sanji

#design #designer #vinyl #toys #photography #style #tokyo #onepiece