Illustrator Yusuke Hanai, known worldwide for his slightly cynical yet humorous worldview, has garnered significant attention. MEDICOM TOY has previously released Hanai's characters as BE@RBRICKs and VCDs (vinyl figures). Now, "Mr. NASTY," depicting the honey badger—an animal found only in Japan at the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Aichi Prefecture—is being brought to life in ceramic form, following its vinyl release.

This time, "Mr. NASTY" has been realized as a ceramic figure. The manufacturing is handled by ONE KILN, a renowned ceramic studio in Kagoshima. Furthermore, Hanai himself meticulously paints and fires each individual piece, resulting in unique variations in the eyes, facial expressions, and the honey badger's body lines. This is a limited production of only 200 units, each signed and numbered by Hanai.
To commemorate this release, we spoke with Hanai about his encounter with MEDICOM TOY and the background of this project.

Yusuke Hanai
YUSUKE HANAI
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1978. His style, deeply influenced by the counterculture of the 50s and 60s, fuses Japanese aesthetics with American retro illustration to form a unique style. He has exhibited his work in the US, France, Australia, Brazil, Taiwan, and the UK, and has expanded his reach both domestically and internationally, providing artwork for brands such as VANS, NIXON, and BEAMS.

We heard that your roots are in surfing, Hanai-san.

HanaiI started surfing in high school. The owner of a cafe where a friend worked part-time was a surfer from Shonan, and he took me to the ocean for the first time.
The cafe owner introduced me to the surf culture of the 60s to 80s. It was through this that I became interested in the graphics of surfing and music from that era, and I started by imitating the drawings of illustrators and artists from that time.

Your first release from MEDICOM TOY was in December 2015 as part of "BE@RBRICK SERIES 31." Could you tell us about your first encounter with MEDICOM TOY?

HanaiAn American friend who used to work at NIKE had collaborated with MEDICOM TOY before, and it was through his introduction that we connected.
I think almost everyone in our generation, who were in their 20s in the early 2000s, knew about MEDICOM TOY. We looked up to them with admiration, not just for Bearbrick but also for their collaborations with KAWS.

Could you tell us about your first VCD, "Mr. Stoop," released in May 2018, and "BUM SAN," released in September 2021 at 2G? What are the origins of their names and what kind of characters are they?

Hanai"Stoop" in Mr. Stoop means hunchbacked. It's a character that embodies the timid, unremarkable personality that I often depict, one that anyone might possess.
And Bum-san is Stoop's senior, a surfer. In English, surfers are sometimes called "Surf bums" or "Beach bums," so I named him Bum-san.
He's a good-for-nothing senior who teaches surfing to a listless, slacking guy and shows him how to enjoy life.

In November 2018, you also released a VCD of the skateboarding legend "Steve Caballero." How did the collaboration with Caballero come about? (Please share any anecdotes related to Caballero, not just about the product.)

HanaiIn 2016, a capsule collection I collaborated on was released globally by Vans.
At that time, Vans was celebrating its 40th anniversary, and I was commissioned by their headquarters to create artwork of legendary surfers and skaters from different eras, which was then used for T-shirts.
MEDICOM TOY saw those T-shirts and liked the artwork of Caballero, so they asked if it could be made into a figure. When I contacted Caballero directly, it turned out he was a figure collector and a big fan of MEDICOM TOY, so he was very pleased, and we were able to start production immediately.

Could you tell us how you came to depict the honey badger, an animal found only at the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Japan, and the origin of the name "Mr. NASTY"?

HanaiI've been involved in creating merchandise for the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens since 2016, and I've drawn many of the animals there. My childhood dream was to be a zookeeper, so being able to draw so many animals for the zoo feels like a dream come true.
While the koalas, handsome gorillas, and gibbons are popular at Higashiyama Zoo, as I researched, I discovered the honey badger—a creature that looks like a cute badger but is actually incredibly formidable.
When I searched on YouTube, I found a video titled "Nasty Honey badgers don't give a shit." Although it's slang with a vulgar meaning, it translates to "Tough honey badgers don't care about anything."
I was drawn to their audacity: they can be bitten by a cobra and only get slightly tipsy before eating it, or get provoked by a lion and retaliate aggressively. I also learned that honey badgers are found only at the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Japan, so I felt compelled to create merchandise for them.

You've mentioned that you've wanted to create a three-dimensional version of "Mr. NASTY" for a long time, Hanai-san.

HanaiI always felt that zoo merchandise was rather uninspired, no matter which zoo you visited. I wanted to create something that would excite even parents accompanying their children, so I started making merchandise for the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
I had made T-shirts and water bottles before, but this was my first time creating a figure. I made it with the hope that it would become a cherished memory for families.

The vinyl "VCD Mr. NASTY," released in July 2021, received a tremendous response. You had been introducing the "CERAMICK Mr. NASTY" on Instagram for some time. Could you tell us about your interest in ceramics and your thoughts on this piece?

HanaiInitially, I only considered making it as a vinyl figure. After the vinyl production, I saw Mark Gonzales' ceramic sculptures at a MEDICOM TOY exhibition, and that's when I expressed my desire to create the honey badger in ceramic, which led to the production.

Were there any difficulties or challenges you faced during the ceramic production process?

HanaiSince ONE KILN handled the basic bisque firing, I didn't face any difficulties myself. I imagine ONE KILN encountered many challenges (laughs).
On top of that, due to my own insistence, I said I wanted to paint each piece myself. I think I asked quite a lot of ONE KILN.

With a limited production of 200 ceramic pieces, the unit price naturally increases. Therefore, by painting each piece myself, I thought it could be both an editioned artwork and a unique piece with distinct expressions, thereby increasing the joy for the owner.
Furthermore, I visited the ONE KILN kiln site in Kagoshima and was involved in selecting the glazes and firing conditions, so I am satisfied with the final result.
The way the glaze is applied, how it melts, and my own painting—each piece turns out differently, so I think comparing them will be enjoyable.

What are your aspirations for future collaborations with MEDICOM TOY, or any new series you'd like to develop?

HanaiCollaborations and real people are great, but ultimately, what I want to create are the people in my own imagination. Also, if possible, I'd like to create a Karimoku version of Mr. Stoop.

Do you have any upcoming solo exhibitions or events? We'd love to introduce them.

HanaiThis year, I will be exhibiting at a major art fair in Singapore in January, and I plan to hold a solo exhibition in Japan around June. The exact dates and times are not yet finalized, but I will announce them on mysocial mediaonce they are confirmed.

CERAMICK YUSUKE HANAI Mr. NASTY
Size | Approx. 310mm in height
Price | ¥165,000 (tax included)
Sales Method | Available at MEDICOM TOY PLUS and 2G
Release Date | Scheduled for February 2023
©︎ YUSUKE HANAI

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