A "Garamon" figure, produced by NAGNAGNAG during his lifetime, will be offered via lottery at the new directly managed store "MEDICOM TOY NEXT" to commemorate its opening.

"NEW ART GUILD" was established with the aim of completing unfinished works, carrying on the will of artist NAGNAGNAG, who passed away suddenly in November 2023. Last November, on the first anniversary of his passing, they held the "NAGNAGNAG 1st EXHIBITION." To date, they have released works such as "Godzilla (2001)," "Giant Garamon (Enlarged Version of Marusan Product) 1200mm," and "Kamen Rider (Shin Kamen Rider) Semi-Real."

The latest creation from NEW ART GUILD is "Garamon." This character, appearing in "Ultra Q" (1966, TBS) episodes 13 "Garadama" and 16 "Garamon's Counterattack," is a robot monster created by the Semi-Humans. Disguised as a meteorite (Garadama) made of the space metal Chilsonite, it was sent to Earth.

NAGNAGNAG's "Garamon" figure is a soft vinyl rendition of the monster in a damaged state, with its internal machinery exposed. This never-before-seen depiction of Garamon is sure to leave a strong impression on many tokusatsu fans. It features a "NAG" coin embedded in the sole of the foot, and a guarantee card authenticating the product is included.

This work has been decided as a commemorative item for "MEDICOM TOY NEXT," MEDICOM TOY's new directly managed store opening on March 1, 2025 (Sat) on the 4th floor of Shibuya PARCO in Tokyo, and will be sold via lottery. We spoke with Tatsuhiko Akashi, CEO of MEDICOM TOY and a member of NEW ART GUILD, about the production process.

— "Ultra Q" will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year. Garamon is one of the representative kaiju characters of the first monster boom and remains highly popular. Could you tell us about its appeal? Also, if you have any anecdotes from your discussions with the late NAGNAGNAG, please share them.

AkashiGaramon itself can be considered one of "Ultra Q's" most iconic monsters. Its design is superb, appearing both comical and awe-inspiring.

NAGNAGNAG had a deep affection for vintage toys from Marusan and Bullmark, which eventually led to his original work, "Boryoku Genjin" (Violent Primate). In this lineage, I believe this "Garamon" served as a missing piece, filling a gap in his creative history.

— Regarding this "Garamon" with its partially exposed mechanical parts, what approach did NAGNAGNAG envision?

AkashiThe concept was inspired by Garamon's original setting as a robot. The entire project began from there. We first created a pristine Garamon, then physically damaged that prototype with a hammer, incorporating mechanical parts in a process of rebuilding and reconstruction to arrive at the final form.

I recall that the priority was the impact it would have on the viewer, with no consideration given to simplifying the molding process.

— The production reportedly took a considerable amount of time. Could you tell us about the challenges you faced?

AkashiInitially, NAGNAGNAG's concept for Garamon's head was more mechanical and depicted a state of collapse. A small quantity of this version was released at Wonder Festival 2024. In parallel, we proceeded with developing a sculpt that would be approved for general sale, resulting in the current model.

As I mentioned earlier, the prototype was created without any consideration for simplification. However, NAGNAGNAG's sudden passing meant we could no longer discuss effective molding techniques with him. We were left with the task of reproducing the remaining prototype as faithfully as possible.

— What were your impressions upon seeing the completed "Garamon"?

AkashiIts level of completion was overwhelming. While it felt like a missing piece, I also had the impression that this might perhaps be the latest iteration of NAGNAGNAG's "Boryoku Genjin."

— This work will be sold via lottery as a commemorative item for the new directly managed store, "MEDICOM TOY NEXT." Could you tell us again about the concept of the store?

AkashiMEDICOM TOY NEXT is a select shop that brings together, in one place, curated projects distilled from the many methods and approaches that MEDICOM TOY employs.

— Finally, could you offer a sneak preview for the fans who are eagerly anticipating the future developments of NEW ART GUILD?

AkashiIt's hard to believe that nearly a year and a half has passed since NAGNAGNAG's passing. Yet, I feel that many of the projects and ideas he left behind are being disseminated into the world in various forms.

In April, an event organized by 4KDO10, who deeply admired NAGNAGNAG, will be held, and in July, a new initiative called ZeL will commence.
Please look forward to them.

Garamon
Produced by NAGNAGNAG
Prototype Production | PIED PIPER
Size | Approx. 330mm (height) | NEW ART GUILD Guarantee Card Included
Purchase Method | Lottery Sale at the MEDICOM TOY NEXT store from March 1, 2025 (Sat) to March 9, 2025 (Sun)
Release Date | Scheduled for March 2025 Shipping
Price | ¥550,000 (incl. tax)
© Tsuburaya Productions

MEDICOM TOY NEXT
Opening Date | March 1, 2025 (Sat)
Address | Shibuya PARCO 4F, 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours | 11:00 - 21:00
Phone | 03-6452-5003 (From March 1 (Sat))
Regular Holidays | Irregular