Skater John, the hit character from emerging illustrator SHIBA-CHAN, who is gaining significant traction primarily across Asia, is now available as a collectible sofubi figure.

"Skater John" originated as an illustration in 2018. It has garnered widespread attention, spanning collaborations with smartphone brands and NFT projects, extending from the physical realm into Web3. The sofubi figure released by MEDICOM TOY faithfully reproduces SHIBA-CHAN's illustration at approximately 350mm in height. John, depicted wearing a cap and speeding on a skateboard, is rendered with dynamic energy. To commemorate the release, we spoke with the creator, SHIBA-CHAN, about the untold story behind Skater John's creation and his impressions of the finished sofubi.

—Could you start by telling us about your journey before becoming an illustrator?

SHIBA-CHANBefore going independent as an illustrator, I worked as a graphic designer and web designer for a company. When I decided to go freelance, I aimed to become a creator who could handle design, illustration, and web development all on my own.

—How did John come into being?

SHIBA-CHANIt was when I was watching a San Francisco Giants game on TV.
The stadium is right by the sea, so home run balls sometimes go into the ocean. There were people in canoes waiting for those balls, which might or might not come their way during the game.
At the time, I was living a busy life in a small room, like a birdcage. Their way of life seemed incredibly free, and I aspired to be like them.
I wanted to turn that aspirational worldview into a character, and that's how John was born.

When creating John's world, I drew inspiration from how foreigners envision "Japan." Paintings that depict symbols of Japan like "Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Tower, ninjas, pagodas..." all in one picture. People living in Japan don't really draw things like that. I've always found those kinds of images very interesting, so when I created John, I wanted to make him the "American version of freedom" from a Japanese perspective.
I've always found those kinds of images very interesting, so when I created John, I wanted to make him the "American version of freedom" from a Japanese perspective.
"Cap, hoodie, skateboard, hamburger..." That's John's worldview.

—This is also reflected in his profile: "John is a dog who enjoys skateboarding, surfing, and HIP-HOP, and is popular with women in New York." What sentiments did you imbue him with?

SHIBA-CHANJohn's theme is "freedom."
Doing what he wants. Not overthinking things, being carefree, and just enjoying every day. That's John's style.
He's a character embodying my ideal self, who, while thinking that life is truly simple and "enjoyment is everything," continues to grapple with worries daily.

—The catalyst for John becoming a global sensation was a photo of a sofubi figure posted on Instagram. What was that situation like from your perspective?

SHIBA-CHANIt was around 2020. Just before the pandemic, an art collector from France was visiting Japan. He saw it on Instagram, contacted me wanting to buy the figure, and even came to my town to purchase it.
After he introduced it on Instagram, many art collectors and art shop owners began to take notice.

—Your merchandise is also sold in France, the UK, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

SHIBA-CHANAs the figure became very popular, we received inquiries from many countries, and we wholesaled figures to various places. Taiwan, in particular, had many inquiries, leading to the opening of a cafe called "COFFEE AND JOHN" in 2022, themed around Skater John.

—Among Skater John's many collaborative merchandise, the smartphone cases garnered a significant response.

SHIBA-CHANFor K-pop, members of groups like Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, who have astronomical follower counts on social media, have been using the smartphone cases.
I'm so happy that fans who saw them on Instagram are also using John's smartphone cases!
That led to more opportunities to connect with K-pop fans. What Skater John shares with K-pop idols is the importance of community.
I hope that communities will connect with each other in the future and grow into an even larger movement.

—In May of this year, your first solo exhibition, Skater JOHN Solo Exhibition "DEPARTURE," was held at GALLERY X BY PARCO in Shibuya, themed around Skater John's journey from Shibuya to the world. What were you able to achieve with that exhibition?

SHIBA-CHANIn the pop-up space, I was able to express John's worldview on a large scale!
I think many fans were surprised by the unified use of John's theme colors, "blue and white."

—MEDICOM TOY is releasing a Skater John sofubi figure this time. Could you share any memorable interactions during the production process?

SHIBA-CHANSeveral Skater John figures have been released before, but John's first figure was made by a friend, and the 3D version of John was created referencing the form of that figure.
I was very fond of it and didn't have any particular questions about the three-dimensional representation of John. However, Mr. Akashi from MEDICOM TOY pointed out, "Isn't the form slightly different from John in the illustration?"
I had never questioned it before, but that was the first time I realized it wasn't a faithful reproduction of the illustration. I was very happy to have that realization. Unlike previous figures, this one is a faithful three-dimensional representation of the illustration.

—Finally, could you please share a message for those who will be purchasing the "Skater John" sofubi?

SHIBA-CHANAfter graduating high school, I moved to Tokyo. Lost and unsure of myself, I often went to Harajuku with friends. Back then, Ura-Harajuku was booming, and I was shocked by the coolness of the Ura-Harajuku culture I encountered for the first time after moving to Tokyo. It still has a significant influence on me. I wanted to recreate the impact I felt back then through my own creativity.

It's a dream come true for me to have MEDICOM TOY, a company that led the Ura-Harajuku boom, create a figure of John. The production period might be the same as other figures, but it's no exaggeration to say this figure contains 25 years of my aspirations.
Please pick one up!

Sofubi Skater John
Sculptor | HaRu
Size | Approximately 350mm in height
Release Date | Pre-sale starting November 23, 2024, at Co;lab by Discus (11/23–12/1) and EG ART SHOPhttps://www.egartshop.com/Skater John OFFICIAL SHOPhttps://skaterjohn-shop.com/Scheduled for release in December 2024 at MEDICOM TOY direct stores and all online stores.
Price | ¥35,200 (tax included)
*Limited quantity. Please forgive us if sold out.
*Photos are of a sample under supervision. The actual product may differ slightly.
©️ OFFICE SHIBACHAN