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海洋堂創始者 宮脇修館長
海洋堂創始者 宮脇修館長
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About "Kaiyodo Hobby Land"

  • ■Greetings from Director Osamu Miyawaki

    I ran a small plastic model shop about 50 years ago.
    I used to boast saying, “It’s a tiny shop now, but I’ll build a huge hobby land someday. You’ll see!”
    Was it just big talk? Was it just a dream? More than 50 years have passed without an answer. Even so, the hobby land that had remained tucked away in my brain cells for so long suddenly came into existence.
    After building the Hobby Museum and the Kappa Museum in Shimanto, and Ryuyukan in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, I began to see the full picture. I thought to myself, “I boasted all those years ago to those kids, and now I have a chance to build that Hobby Land!”
    For more than 50 years, we, as father and son, have been collecting hobby-related items in addition to plastic models, and we believed it was time to stimulate the curiosity and creativity of all children through wonder. But before I knew it, I had been 93 years old.
    Does my dream come true after all these years? I'm not sure, but with the help of so many people, we have built this Hobby Land.
    Feel free to laugh at this 93-year-old man who spent his whole life making this bragging into a reality.

    the Director of Kaiyodo Museum.
  • Director’s profile
    Osamu Miyawaki
    Born in 1928 in Oogata-cho (now Kuroshio-cho), Kochi Prefecture.
    Joined South Manchuria Railway at the age of 15 until Japan lost the war in China.
    After returning to Japan at the age of 18, he changed more than 30 different jobs, working as a crew member on a tuna fishing boat, a pole and line fisherman in Tosa, an advertising company employee and etc.
    In 1964, when his eldest son Shuichi Miyawaki (the current Senior Managing Director of Kaiyodo) entered elementary school, he opened a tiny model store called "Kaiyodo" in Moriguchi City, Osaka. With the unique innovation and execution, Kaiyodo triggered the sailboat boom and garage kit boom in Japan and became a renowned model manufacturer.
    In 1999, Kaiyodo proposed and produced the “Japanese Animal Collection” figures to be included as a bonus with Furuta Confectionery’s “Choco Egg” and it became an explosive success.
    The existence of Kaiyodo and the term "genkei-shi (figure sculptors)" became widely known.
    In 2005, the first figure museum, Kaiyodo Figure Museum Kurokabe Ryuyukan opened in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture.
    In 2011, Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto opened in Shimanto-cho, Kochi Prefecture.
    In 2012, Kaiyodo Kappa Museum opened in Shimanto-cho, Kochi Prefecture.
    In 2021, Kaidou Hobby Land opened in Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture.

【Kaiyodo Hobbyland/Area Introduction】

Venue layout
  • The wooden sword that changed a destiny
    In 1964, at the age of 36, Osamu Miyawaki (the current Director of Kaiyodo museums) was in a hurry to find a regular job as his only son Shuichi (the current Senior Managing Director of Kaiyodo) was about to enter elementary school.
    He had held countless occupations, ranging from employee of the Manchurian Railway to bonito pole and line fisherman, to crew member of a tuna fishing boat, to bartender, to working for an advertising agency, to being a garbage collector, and on and on.
    He worried his son would feel uncomfortable at school if his father wandered around without a regular job.
    So, he decided to either open an udon shop which he had learned how to do before, or to start a small business in plastic models which his son loved.
    An udon shop or a plastic model store…
    "I'll hang the wooden sword I use to exercise every day from the ceiling, cut the string, and decide on an udon shop if it points east or west, and a plastic model shop if it’s north or south...”
    The wooden sword that sealed the fate of Kaiyodo as a model store some 60 years ago is on display.
  • “The joy of creation for everyone.”
    Kaiyodo began with a small shop of about 3m wide and 1.5m deep with a capital of 70,000 yen.
    Director Miyawaki went to the wholesalers every day to purchase goods, and within three months of opening, he had doubled the size of his store. Along the way, for the first time in the plastic model industry at that time, he installed a show window in front of the store to display finished plastic models, a mokei-pool for submerging submarine models, and a racing course.
    He also sold over 1,000 model tanks and became No. 1 in Japan within two months after building a corner in the store where you can run model tanks in a large diorama installed with firecrackers.
    Kaiyodo’s progress began here with its many more eccentric ideas.
    • The signboards were redrawn weekly with whatever phrase impressed him at the time.
      Kaiyodo’s first slogan, “The joy of creation for everyone.” was created through this process.
    • The mokei-pool occupied more than half of the store. It was for children who built submarine models but had no place to submerge them. Plywood was placed over the water tank in the winter to create a big diorama, with firecrackers installed, to run model tanks in.
    • A scene from the plastic model school. In addition to making plastic models, they sometimes went to the riverbed only to play.
    • A slot racing course set up inside the store.
      Kaiyodo’s focus has always been to amuse and entertain children.
  • The Rise and Fall of Plastic Models
    Around 1970, Director Miyawaki developed a bronze coloring technique and used the tools of his invention to sell Revell’s sailing ship models like the Constitution and Cutty Sark and had the highest number of units sold around the world.
    Director Miyawaki promoted the concept of Art-pla (plastic models as art pieces). The company earned the name "Kaiyodo of sailing ships" through its advocacy, and sailing ship models including Director Miyawaki's work are on display.
    In addition, out of the 40,000 plastic models that Kaiyodo has collected since its days as a model store, about 3,000 are on display, including the so-called world's oldest plastic model, "Spitfire I" manufactured by FROG Penguin.
    • In 1970, Director Miyawaki colored this Constitution model by Revell in red copper and presented it at the city art exhibit.
      The selection was canceled when the piece was discovered to be a painted plastic model, but he persuaded the organizers to withdraw the cancellation by petitioning, "Just as you need a cloth canvas to paint a picture, the assembled plastic kit is a form of canvas. This red bronze coloring is suitable for the title of Shura (Battle) and is a piece I achieved using all the techniques I had!" and successfully overturned the decision.
      This is when he began to advocate the idea of "Art-Pla = the artification of plastic models."
    • The so-called world’s oldest plastic model, “Spitfire I” manufactured by FROG Penguin.
    • The mountains of plastic models collected since Kaiyodo’s days as a model store.
  • The arrival of modeling madness
    In 1977, Director Miyawaki, who interpreted "hobby as play," opened the "Hobby Museum," a playschool, to oppose the tutoring schools that were sprouting wild around that time.
    He rented a 200-tsubo (approx. 7,116 sq2) warehouse in Kadoma City and considered setting up many elements, including a 180-meter-long slot racing course, a diorama zone, an exhibition area, and crafting tables.
    With the decline of plastic model kits around this time, younger modeling enthusiasts called "Zokei-Kyo," who were no longer satisfied with conventional kits began using modeling materials like resin castings to create what they desired and brought them to the Hobby Museum. Members like young Katsuya Nishizaka, nickname “BOME,” a high school student then, currently Kaiyodo “genkei-shi” sculptor – whose nickname came from his habit of always wearing a hat (bohshi), and a pair of glasses (megane) – and other regulars got together. They created full-scratch-build works (sculpting from scratch), which led to the conception and production of garage kits.
    • Members of "Zokei-Kyo." "Senmu" can be seen second from the right in the back, and "BOME" in the leftmost front.
    • "Hobby Museum" opened in Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture, in a rented warehouse of 200-tsubo (approx. 7,116 sq2).
  • Meeting Chris Walas
    In 1985, at the age of 57, Director Miyawaki went to the U.S. for the first time. After returning to Japan, he met Chris Walas, the Academy Award-winning special effects/make-up artist for films such as Gremlins and The Fly.
    The two hit it off as soon as they met and developed a close friendship over the years. In 1993, they held the world's first movable full-scale dinosaur exhibition, Dino Alive, in Umeda, Osaka.
    The life-sized replicas of the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops heads were presented to Director Miyawaki as a token of their friendship by Mr. Chris Walas and were visible on the roof of Kaiyodo headquarters for over 20 years.
    Now the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops heads have been moved to Kaiyodo Hobby Land so visitors can see them in all their glory.
    • ＜Chris Walas＞
      Born in the United States in 1956.
      In 1976, he joined Don Boston, a company famous for its monster masks, and debuted in Joe Dante's Piranha. He joined Dick Smith in Scanners and attracted attention for their exploding skull effect. He won the Saturn Award for Best Special Effects on Gremlins and founded his own company, C.W.I. He also won an Academy Award for Best Makeup for The Fly and directed the sequel, The Fly II. His other credits include Raiders of the Lost Ark, Dragonslayer, and Enemy Mine.
    • Mr. Chris Walas visited Kaiyodo when he came to Japan. This is a commemorative photo with director's dog, Chiro.
    • A scene from Dino Alive. It portrayed a story that a Tyrannosaurus is about to attack a mother Triceratops and her child is pleading for help.
    • Director Miyawaki sits on the neck of a Tyrannosaurus with help from a crane.
    • Creating the Tyrannosaurus at C.W.I, Chris's company in San Francisco.
    • The life-sized replicas of the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops heads exhibited at Dino Alive were presented to Director Miyawaki by Chris Walas as a token of their friendship and were visible on the roof of Kaiyodo headquarters for over 20 years.
    • The "Tree of Friendship." The acorns Director Miyawaki and Chris picked up in the U.S. have sprouted in the courtyard of the Kaiyodo headquarters and one has grown into a beautiful tree.
  • ⑥Preparing for exhibition
  • Discoveries are made from nature/animals.
    A playground inspired by the great outdoors of Shimanto, Kochi Prefecture, Director Miyawaki's hometown, hoping children (and of course, children of the past!) will be amazed and discover something new when they see and feel nature's formation like tree roots.
    • A huge diorama showing the process from felling trees to transporting them to the Shimanto River.
  • The Japanese DNA of craftmanship
    The late actor Eiichi Imashimizu (stage name: Hiroshi Izumida) accumulated a collection of Japanese "miniatures” or “Minis" for 50 years, believing they "bring warmth to people, even for a brief moment," and these Minis are on display. (Currently in the collection of Kaiyodo) Mr. Imashimizu himself repeatedly asked “real” artisans to create these miniatures, and it is hard not to appreciate the craftsmanship and commitment rooted deep into the DNA of the Japanese artists.
  • The number of things you can create is as infinite as the number of shining stars in the night sky.
    Themed exhibits are held regularly, by our modeling members of Kaiyodo, who generate many kinds of three-dimensional works including, garage kits, action figures, and little souvenirs packaged with snacks.
    You can also enjoy figure molds, painting samples, and live demonstrations by Kaiyodo's modelers and painters that cannot be seen anywhere else. (unscheduled)
  • Nurturing creativity, technical skills, and social skills through play
    Kaiyodo Hobby Land hopes to foster creativity, technical skills, social skills, and other functions through the simplest acts of human nature: enthusiasm, emotion, and expression.
    We provide modeling classes for children in hopes that we can accommodate and bring out their true joys and dreams through the elementary excitement of playing and hobbies.
    ●Figure painting class
    ●Figure Modeling (unscheduled)
    ※KHL original uniforms will be lent to children (first 10 people)
  • We hold special exhibitions on occasion throughout the year.
  • The 24-meter-long free space will feature relatively new products from Kaiyodo, the sculpting company with the motto, "The number of things you can create is as infinite as the number of shining stars in the night sky."
  • In addition to Kaiyodo products, exclusive Kaiyodo Hobby Land items can also be purchased here. (There's no admission fee for the shop)
オリジナルグッズ
  • Director Miyawaki's Wooden Sword Banana Castella Cake
    ¥550 (incl. tax) / 4 pcs per box
    This is a collaborative product with Lima Co., Ltd., a sponge castella cake manufacturer located in Kadoma City, the home of Kaiyodo headquarters.
    Try your luck like Director Miyawaki, whose fate was decided by a wooden sword!
  • Kaiyodo Historical Pins Collection
    ¥2,750 (incl. tax) / 4 pins per set
    You can collect Kaiyodo's past logos as pins.
    Includes the precious logo designed by Toru Narita, who is famous for designing monsters and mechs from the Ultraman series.
  • Kaiyodo Tenugui Hand Towel (White)(Blue)
    ¥2,200 per color (incl. tax)
    The wrapping paper designs used by Kaiyodo from its model store days have been revived as a tenugui hand towel!
    A collaborative product with Eirakuya, a long-establish company in Kyoto, it is soft to the touch.
  • Kaiyodo Pin Badges
    ¥200 per badge (incl. tax) / 24 designs total
    The first figures from the "Japanese Animal Series," famous for being the bonus with Choco Eggs, are now available as colorful pin badges. Spin and see which ones you'll get.
    ※Sold in Gacha-Gacha machines

【Special Event】

Tickets

Access

〒571-0048
3F Izumiya Kadoma Store, 3-1-101 Shinbashi-cho, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Prefecture, JAPAN

5 minutes on foot from “Kadoma-shi Station” of Keihan Railway, Osaka Monorail

* There are affiliated parking places at the Izumiya Kadoma store.
① Kadoma hourly parking place under elevated way.
② Kyoei Motor Pool
At the Izumiya Kadoma store (including specialty stores), purchase over 2,000 yen and get free for 1 hour. Over 5,000 yen and get free for 2 hours. Please show your parking ticket and receipt at the underground food service corner.
* There is no elevator for customers at the Izumiya Kadoma Store. If you are in a wheelchair, please enter via the front entrance on the 1st floor and call the staff with the call button on the far left. We will guide you through the employee elevator.