Based in Shonan, artist Yusuke Hanai has garnered popularity with his unique style, blending Japanese aesthetics with retro American illustration. His animal character, Mr. NASTY, makes its first appearance as a VCD. It will be released at all MEDICOM TOY direct stores and online stores, as well as the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens official park shop "Zoobo Gate."

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1978, YUSUKE HANAI loved drawing portraits from childhood. His journey into art began in earnest when the owner of a cafe where he worked part-time opened a bar called "THE ROAD AND THE SKY" in Kanazawa-Bunko, Yokohama, and Hanai was commissioned to paint its sign. Influenced heavily by American and surf culture due to his proximity to the Yokosuka naval base and the sea, he moved to San Francisco, USA, in 2003 to study abroad.

After returning to Japan, absorbing the unique atmosphere and rhythms, he participated in overseas events like "HAPUNING." His work was highly praised by renowned artists such as Jeff Koons and Andy Davis at the Greenroom Festival held in Yokohama in 2005, which led to further international engagement. In 2006, he began exhibiting at The Surf Gallery in California.

At the time, YUSUKE HANAI juggled his web design work with publishing illustrations in surfing magazines both domestically and internationally, gradually establishing his original style. His muted color palettes, reminiscent of overcast skies, his deeply human expressions and poses imbued with pathos, and his narrative series captivated many, leading to collaborations with BEAMS, Oshman's, and VANS.

His collaboration with MEDICOM TOY to bring his art into three dimensions began in December 2013 with BE@RBRICK Series 31. The "VCD Mr.Stoop," released in May 2018, depicted a figure with a slight hunch, hands in pockets, as if it had stepped right out of his artwork. Following this, the "VCD Steve Caballero" released in November of the same year was a three-dimensional representation of Steve Caballero, a legend in the skateboarding world, a member of the iconic "Bones Brigade" team of the 1980s, and also active as an illustrator and musician. As Caballero, who is of Japanese descent and a Japanophile, this was an ideal collaboration.

The Mr.NASTY appearing as a VCD this time is a character based on the honey badger, an animal belonging to the weasel family. Its most distinctive feature is the white fur covering its head, back, and tail, and its great love for honey. While it is a rare animal, only kept at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Japan, it is well-known due to frequent appearances on television, particularly in children's educational programs. This is an item filled with the unique charm characteristic of YUSUKE HANAI.

VCD Mr.NASTY
Sculptor: MOTOR KEN
Size: Approx. 200mm in height
Price: ¥11,000 (incl. tax)
Release Date: Scheduled for July 2021
Sales Method: Scheduled for release at all MEDICOM TOY direct stores and online stores, and the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens official park shop "Zoobo Gate" (https://zghigashiyama.stores.jp/).
*Products released online with official approval from Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens will include a tote bag, so the price will differ from the standalone product. Please be advised in advance.
©️ YUSUKE HANAI