The comedy duo EXIT (Rintaro. and Daiki Kanechika), who call themselves "Neo-Pari-Pee" (party people) comedians, became popular overnight with their "charao" (flirty guy) persona and witty banter. The two are now expanding their reach beyond comedy, launching the fashion brand "EXIEEE" and hair styling brand "H.W.G." produced by EXIT, and working as singers, news commentators, actors, and models. Now, a collaboration with BE@RBRICK has finally been realized. They will appear as special models with designs incorporating their own ideas. In addition to the ARTIST (100% model) in "BE@RBRICK SERIES 42" scheduled for release in July 2021, a 400% model is also available for pre-order exclusively through EXIT's official fan club "entrance" (until August 12, 2021). To commemorate the release, we interviewed Rintaro., a huge BE@RBRICK fan, about the development story.

── "BE@RBRICK EXIT" is finally being released. What are your thoughts upon seeing the finished product for the first time?

Rintaro.I'm so happy that something I love has taken this form, and that I was able to be involved in the design process. It feels like another dream come true.

── How did you first encounter BE@RBRICK?

Rintaro.I had been interested because friends had many of them, but I started collecting them myself last year when I was gifted a BE@RBRICK Aroma Ornament, which doubles as a diffuser, when we collaborated with ANREALAGE. That was the trigger.

In the limited-time brand "ANREALAGEXIT," you collaborated with designer Kunihiko Morinaga, creating the "BLOCK" series with interchangeable parts and a multi-arm T-shirt with multiple sleeve openings, which became a hot topic.

Rintaro.Morinaga-san was quite impactful. I'd never met a designer who wore a lab coat like a scientist before (laughs). Of course, I knew about ANREALAGE and thought it was an amazing brand, so I was more surprised than anything that I had the opportunity to work with them.

My partner, Kanechi (Daiki Kanechika), isn't usually interested in fashion, but he seemed very impressed by ANREALAGE's approach to clothing. When I said something like, "Since you're involved in so many things, can you make clothes with multiple arms coming out of the body?" he thought it was an interesting idea. Frankly, he seemed more interested than I was in my own idea, which made me feel a bit complicated (laughs).

It felt like a strange sensation. ANREALAGE then collaborated with FENDI, and I thought, "Wait, were we before FENDI!?" I truly understood the significance of the situation then (laughs).

── From there, your BE@RBRICK collection rapidly expanded, didn't it?

Rintaro.I saw what Kukkii! was producing and learned that there were also 1000% models. I also realized that celebrities and stylish people I saw on Instagram always had them. The Baccarat crystal BE@RBRICK my manager gave me as a gift, and other items from my collection, always received a huge response when I posted them on social media.

When I received the offer for "BE@RBRICK EXIT," I decided that if I were to design it, I wanted to make it exactly in the form I loved, so I started looking at various things more seriously. Many things aligned, I had wonderful encounters, and I feel fortunate to have received such a fantastic offer.

── This year marks the 20th anniversary of BE@RBRICK's creation, and EXIT's BE@RBRICK will be featured as one of the artists in BE@RBRICK SERIES 42.

BE@RBRICK SERIES 42
Prototype Production｜PERFECT-STUDIO
Size｜Approx. 70mm in height each
Release Date｜July 2021
Price｜495 yen each (tax included) Released in a closed box
※The photo shows a sample under supervision. The actual product may differ slightly.
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©️ Hajime Sorayama
©️ Ishimori Pro, Toei
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BE@RBRICK TM & ©️ 2001-2021 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Rintaro.（Looking at the photos）That's an incredible lineup. A "charao" comedian joining the ranks of Warhol and Basquiat – I wonder what kind of world line this is, it makes me laugh (laughs). I have mixed feelings of "This is intense, is it okay?" but I never dreamed our models would be featured, so I'm incredibly happy.

Moreover, initially, the offer was to create merchandise exclusively for our fan club, but as the design progressed, it became part of "BE@RBRICK SERIES 42," and then the idea to also create a 400% model came up. Isn't that incredibly emotional?

── It is! The design also shows attention to detail.

Rintaro.We came up with the base concept, but translating our characters into BE@RBRICK was the difficult part. For example, we could have split it down the middle, with Rintaro. on one side and Kanechi on the other, but I felt that would only appeal to our fans. Instead, we focused on making something that true BE@RBRICK fans would also appreciate.

It wasn't decided at a specific moment, but I have an image color of green, and Kanechi has pink. We discussed how to incorporate those colors effectively, and while looking at the designs of various BE@RBRICKs released so far, I thought the skeleton (transparent) design was interesting.

Initially, the EXIT logo had a sharp design, but we discussed if it could be done with a more paint-dripping effect. I'm incredibly happy that they reproduced that faithfully. Below that, it says KANECHI x RIN and You. Since our fan club is called "entrance," we incorporated a door for the entrance on the stomach and an exit door on the back. On the rear, there's also a character image combining a unicorn and a crocodile.

On the arms and legs, we added fiery patterns and words we use in our comedy routines.

── This fire pattern also connects to the "Fast & Furious" series, a movie you've recently been into, Rintaro.?

Rintaro.It has that Fast & Furious vibe, right? It looks like a supercar could come out of it. The transparent feel also has a bit of an icebreaker quality (laughs). And the heart-shaped eyes are unusual, aren't they? I'm satisfied that we've created something really cool.

── What was Kanechika's reaction?

Rintaro.He's not really interested in this kind of thing, but he got excited about creating something cute together. However, I don't think he fully grasps how amazing this is right now (laughs).

── Thanks to EXIT, the scope of BE@RBRICK is expanding even further.

Rintaro.I'd be happy if that were the case. For those who don't know about it yet, I hope our BE@RBRICK serves as their entry point.

── By the way, what kind of culture were you into in your teens?

Rintaro.It was mainly fashion, but I didn't have money back then, so it was something I could only admire from afar. When I was in high school and college, TRIPLE 5 SOUL and Stüssy were popular. I'd wear a KANGOL hat and Timberland boots. It was a typical hip-hop style.

── Speaking of fashion, your YouTube channel's "Baku-gai!!" (Big Shopping Spree!!) series, "Inspired by Takuya Kimura, Buying XX," is always very popular.

Rintaro.The "Baku-gai!!" series is for people of my generation to time-travel back to their youth. I love the idea of going shopping as an adult with my own income, reliving the feeling of being a kid, to buy brands that were too expensive to afford back then, or items that were impossible to get even after waiting in line. Among them, items related to Takuya Kimura hold a special place in my heart.

── BE@RBRICK has collaborated with numerous brands, and there's a model from "TMT" which Takuya Kimura often wore.

Rintaro.Really!? I didn't know that. I recently got a call from TMT saying that all their store items sold out right after our YouTube video was released. It seems that seeing us, who admired Kimura-san, has reignited the boom among the kids of that era who have now grown up. Back then, we couldn't even get items like the "BIG 3" or "YOURS" series that he wore on "SanTaku," could we? I found out about their re-release through the "Baku-gai!!" series and started chasing them again. I was so happy to hear that story. I feel grateful, and it's interesting.

── It became a good opportunity, didn't it?

Rintaro.What other brands have they collaborated with?

── Items you've "Baku-gai'd" include those from "HYSTERIC GLAMOUR" and "Vivienne Westwood."

Rintaro.（Looking at the photos）Wow, they're so cute! It's cool how they incorporate the worldviews of both brands without breaking them, not just collaborating.

── Finally, what's your current mode regarding comedy?

Rintaro.I'm able to try various things and feel incredibly happy every day on each set. But I want to do stand-up comedy again, in a phase different from the "charao" persona. With the pandemic, I've been thinking, "What can make people laugh again?"

── We look forward to it. We're anticipating your current national tour ("Nare-poyo Area Buchi-Age Kasseika Tour ~Shall We Invite a Charao to Your Town SP~") and this year's M-1 Grand Prix.

Rintaro.Thank you. I'll do my best with a "PON! PON!" kind of energy! (laughs)

BE@RBRICK EXIT 400%
Size｜Approx. 280mm in height
Sales Method｜Pre-orders accepted until August 12, 2021 (Thursday) through EXIT's official fan club "entrance". Sales are also planned at MEDICOM TOY's directly managed stores and all online stores.
Release Date｜Scheduled for November 2021 release and shipping
Price｜11,000 yen (tax included)
※The photo shows a sample under supervision. The actual product may differ.
©️ YOSHIMOTO KOGYO
BE@RBRICK TM & ©️ 2001-2021 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.