OK. So, these pictures aren’t the greatest (they SUCK), but I had to throw something up about this guy. Thanks J & G for hooking me up @ S7. I’m a HUGE fan of Robodatchi, and this, to me is clearly an homage piece. Gargamel rocks. Those guys really get it…
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Warren, Alen and I all meet for lunch today at Ginza in Chinatown. I have only been to the other location in Brookline, but have high hopes regardless as the food is always excellent.
Uncle W brings a package and hands me a gift for my better half… a mini sofubi to go with his big brother on her shelf. He then gives Alen a missile firing Takatoku Gokai Tiger and Alen poses for the inevitable photo. The low res IPhone photo.
Yen brings out the Voltron USBs and Uncle admires it as I pick out what I want to eat. They have Anago (sea eel) and all feels right with the world.
We are all tired, busy, and feeling the stress of the holiday seasons. But it is good to get together once in a while and just decompress with good food, friends and toys. Another mini summit to the rescue.
Though a small venue ( the Democratic convention with Obama as the guest speaker was next door and made for an interesting mix of people in the building between the two ongoing events) we did manage to find some stuff that was of interest. For twenty bucks we scored a box of cool vintage Yokai ,Super robot, and Ultraman books. Check it out…
Hey guys! Well, I know many of you will be packing your bags and putting on your money belts in search of those grail pieces soon. Well, going to do the Tokyo toy shopping trip is no joke. There are some sweet deals, and some sweet pieces to be had. So, you’ve gone through the city and spent days at Nakano Broadway and have some time to kill before taking that flight home..
Well, have I got a surprise for you! Read all about it HERE. That’s right. Kaikodo… Owned by our old friend and hardcore toy collector/creator Yutaka Ishida, who’s been our friend for many years.
Overall, his shop is beyond words, and is honestly something you have to see to believe. That’s why I’m filling you in, as I would hate to see someone go all that way and find that his “warehouse” of a shop has moved..
You can find all the necessary info and new pics posted HERE.
If you stop by, please make sure to come back here and leave a note on the BBS. I for one can’t wait until next year to see the new changes, AND as an added perk it’s right next to the train station! Even better. Have fun!
We arrive at Walker’s at 9:27 and wait for him a few minutes to show. He drives up in his truck and greetings are exchanged. He has that awesome gregarious good nature that makes picking up a conversation, even when it has been a while since you last talked, seem like no time at all. Matt is a guy with a lot on his plate, yet always makes you feel welcome.
Dave, Sanjeev, Regan and I prepare for sensory overload, and we are not disappointed.
The room smells of fresh paint, paint thinner and insanity. The machines hum, the air is thick with creativity and toys in various states of drying.
Matt takes us upstairs and unloads a bin of toys for sale. A few of us pick through and acquire some gems to add to collections and gladly see some new projects sitting in the office.
Regan is enchanted by a Weta space gun and it occurs to us all, how perfect the outfit she wore was for the occasion. Steampunk meets 50’s sci fi chic.
Matt shows some of his new acquisitions and the smell of Bullmarks is both familiar and comforting. A collective buzz soon gives way to a realization we have things to do and projects to finish.
Walker puts us to work, in helping him bag and prep some projects. We readily agree and all enjoy the quiet repetition of bag, header card, toy , staple, repeat.
I help him label and bag some Monster Color orders while Dave and Sanjeez rub some kaiju out… um yeah anyway.
Dave makes a discovery of a variation on the jumbo Raideen fist, and gives the night a level of historical jumbo significance.
In the meantime personal projects are discussed and timelines figured out, and jokes made in good nature at one’s another’s expense. Much like the community here, ball busting is a favored pastime.
With the work done late that night, we take our leave and promise to be sure the next visit is sooner than later. Matt thanks us and Regan and I are amused at the almost twisted Santa’s workshop nature of it all. Matt Walker is the mad hatter genius of our toy making community and we are all better off for it.
Visit Matt at his website and check out some of the cool things he is working on:
Freshly opened to see if it arrived unscathed from its long trip from Tokyo. Uncle W’s new minty baby Barom 1 talker.
I personally have never seen this box before, as it is dramatically different ( and much better in my opinion) than the reissue. Stoically it waits, slightly impatient, to be lovingly placed among his brothers in Warren’s sanctuary.