Step in to the world of rare

and custom-made figures at Jin-Koubou Shop & Gallery.

Expand Your Understanding of the World of Figures at Jin-Koubou Shop & Gallery

Jin-Koubou is a family-run business that specializes in the production and sale of rare (and rarely seen) figurines and special effects from popular Japanese monster movies such as Godzilla. The pieces found here are nothing like those produced by major manufacturers, which is part of the reason they have a loyal following in both Japan and abroad.

The Godzilla Phenomenon

Take a look at this incredible “Burning Godzilla” figure, which has a computer inside that regularly changes color! (Not for sale)

First appearing in a 1954 film by Ishiro Honda, Godzilla (Gojira) has now appeared in 32 films produced by the domestic film production company Toho Co., Ltd., and Hollywood has also produced four blockbuster hits. Various video games, novels, comic books, and television shows have also been produced.

 

Several theories imply why the character initially became a domestic icon. It is suggested that the Japanese name Gojira is derived from two Japanese words: gorira, meaning “gorilla,” and kujira, meaning “whale.” The monster, or kaiju, is depicted as a destructive monster from the sea, born and mutated under the influence of radiation. The first film was released less than a decade after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which has led to the suggestion that Godzilla was a metaphor for nuclear weapons attacking Japan. Another theory points to the implication that the kaiju is a metaphor for the destructive nature of war.

 

The kaiju has been portrayed using various different special effects, from actors wearing a latex costume to animatronics, stop-motion, and CGI. The innovations in special effects technology used to portray Godzilla is a prominent reason why the icon has a loyal following of figurine collectors.

The Origins of Jin-Koubou

The facade of Jin-Koubou, which is both a residence and gallery.

The current owner, Kazuya Inoue, started collecting figurines from Japanese movies in 2002 as a hobby. He felt that the community surrounding figurines was a small one, and he had an urge to share it with those who may be unaware of this sub-culture. What started as a hobby eventually expanded into learning to produce his own figurines using garage kits; unpainted plastic figurines prepared by manufactures for the purpose of painting by hobbyists.

 

The painting workshop, located on the second floor.

Mr. Inoue purchased these kits and started to painstakingly hand paint the figurines to accurately represent the characters from the movies. The detail in which he adds the features is nothing short of remarkable. His focus was on the theme of kaiju (monsters), which led to producing a number of Godzilla figurines. Painting small models and figurines can take a week or more to complete, and his current focus of producing larger scale dioramas can take over a month to finish. One of the hardest colors to achieve is the blackness of Godzilla, which requires several layers to complete.

Jin-Koubou

A figure of the Oxygen Destroyer, a weapon used to kill Godzilla in the 1954 film Godzilla.

The current store is only about 10-minutes from Takaishi Station, which is served by the Nankai Main Line. It is open on Saturday and Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. inside, visitors will find a wealth of unique sights; a “Burning Godzilla” figure that can change colors, models of rare rockets, and a meter-long submarine. In addition to garage kits, visitors can enjoy plenty of other highlights in-store such as retro products, rare items, and toys made from tin.

 

The store opened in 2007 and has a small factory located on the second floor where figurines are painted. It is the first store of its kind to be located in Takaishi City. Their loyal followers regularly ask for figurines that are made to order. When orders come through, garage kits are then pre-ordered from manufacturers, and assembled and painted on-site. Prices for completed figurines can range from hundreds to thousands of USD. Customers interested in ordering can visit the shop, but the factory itself is off limits. Domestic shipping starts at ¥800, with free shipping on orders of ¥30,000 or more. International shipping is not available.

His latest work is a detailed replica of a scene from Godzilla Raids Again.

Both Mr. Inoue and his son consider themselves craftsmen of sorts and take great pride in creating one-of-a-kind models that you won’t find from any major producer. They regularly exhibit figurines at the famous Wonder Festival, the world’s largest figurine festival, which takes place twice a year. The store is also regularly featured on domestic TV programs, and international hobbyist blogging websites—in fact, visitors from overseas have stopped by the store.

 

The figure gallery doubles as a workshop, and they host figure painting workshops on an irregular basis. There is a café space on the first floor where they host events for visitors to get together and talk about the exciting world of figurines. Mr. Inoue doesn’t simply think of the store as a shop; he thinks of it as a gateway into the interesting world of figurines, a place where people can explore a living diorama of one of his passions.

 

For Senshu tourist information inquiries, please contact the Senshu Japan Concierge Team.

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