ACT 1 What's MEDICOM TOY?

ACT 1: What's MEDICOM TOY?

To all OPENERS readers,
Nice to meet you. I'm Ryuhiko Akashi, also known as Ryu as MEDICOM TOY.

I imagine some of you OPENERS readers may not be familiar with Medicom Toy, so for this first installment, I'd like to explain 'What is Medicom Toy?'

What comes to mind when you think of toy development?

In 1996, Japan was experiencing its third major boom in collectible figures.
The catalyst, it's said, was the intricate action figures created by Todd Toys (now McFarlane Toys), founded in 1994. These figures transcended the hobby genre, becoming widely known to the general public and fueling the boom.
Amidst this fervor, Medicom Toy was born in Shibuya, Tokyo.

What comes to mind when you think of toy development?

It requires respect for traditional craftsmanship, like sculpting from clay, alongside the discerning eye to provide correction instructions. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of pattern-making is essential when creating clothing or plush toys.
One must be proficient in technical software for tracing sculpted objects using 3D scanning.
Commercializing intellectual property from films, animation, or comics means a deep understanding of copyright law. Expertise in negotiation with factories and know-how in mold creation are absolutely indispensable.
Public relations capabilities for advertising.
Sales capabilities for marketing.
And finally, the business acumen to balance each product on the company's books.
I personally believe that toy development is an industry that demands expertise across all these fields.

At the time of its founding, the staff numbered five.

In our cramped office, with loosely defined roles, we relentlessly pursued the creation of toys.
For the first three years, we were completely absorbed in making products, receiving a great deal of both criticism and encouragement.

Notable hits from this period include the comic adaptation 'ALIEN VS PREDATOR' (later adapted into a film), spun off from the movie 'ALIEN'; the 'REAL ACTION HEROES' Kamen Rider series, our articulated 300mm figures that continue to be beloved by many customers; and the action figure 'Tetsujin 28-go', our first product manufactured in China.

There must have been many challenges,
but with the support of many talented staff members,
we were able to celebrate our 10th anniversary this year.

More on this next time.
SEE YOU SOON!

Ryu as MEDICOM TOY