Learn, See, and Experience How Plastic Models® Are Made: 'Behind the Scenes of Plastic Models Exhibition' Opens June 19th! @ 'World Capital of Models' Shizuoka City, Sunpu no Kobo Takumishuku

Sunpu no Kobo Takumishuku (SOUZOUSHA Co., Ltd., CEO: Yasuhiro Yamanashi), located in Mariko, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka City, will hold a special exhibition titled 'Behind the Scenes of Plastic Models' from Friday, June 19 to Monday, August 17, 2026.

For Shizuoka City, which boasts the No. 1 plastic model shipment value in Japan and an 86% domestic market share, 'plastic models' are a world-renowned local industry in both name and reality. This exhibition will unravel the background—the 'behind the scenes'—of how plastic models become products, reach store shelves, and get into people's hands, from various perspectives. We have prepared a wide range of content that can be enjoyed with all five senses, including a powerful installation, a first for Takumishuku, exhibition projects with full cooperation from model manufacturers, limited-time craft experiences, merchandise sales, and special drink menus. We offer intellectual entertainment that can be enjoyed like a school field trip by families, friends, or even individuals.

* 'Plastic Model' is a registered trademark of the Japan Plastic Model Industry Cooperative Association.

◼️ Experience 'How Plastic Models Are Made' through Video, Exhibits, Activities, Merchandise, and Food

The concept is 'The story of how an 'unfinished yet finished product' is made.'

A plastic model is completed by assembling packaged parts based on an instruction manual. The process of creating this special product, which is both 'unfinished' and 'finished,' involves an unimaginable accumulation of 'handiwork.'

From behind-the-scenes stories of production and the creators' dedication to the reasons why the plastic model industry flourished in Shizuoka City. We will present the 'behind the scenes' that only the 'World Capital of Models' can show, through various methods such as video, exhibits, experiences, merchandise, and food. It is an exhibition that you can see, learn, and experience, enjoyable like a school field trip.

◎ Takumishuku's First Installation! An Immersive Experience to 'Feel' the Factory with Large-Screen Video

Plastic models are completed through numerous processes and the hands of many people. We have reconstructed the atmosphere of factories and offices as an installation based on sound and video recorded at actual production sites. We will deliver an overwhelmingly immersive experience with 6K panorama & high-performance audio equipment.

The venue will feature a video work on a 3-sided multi-projection system, different from a normal exhibition. Since 270 degrees of your field of view will be filled with video, you can experience overwhelming immersion and realism at Takumishuku.

The installation was handled by a digital creative team formed for this 'Behind the Scenes of Plastic Models Exhibition.' Four creators active on the front lines across various genres (*) in Tokyo and beyond have realized a media art piece combining programming, video, and sound, fully expressing their love for plastic models.

* Creative director, cameraman, CG animator, data analysis, audio composer, media artist, band member, catalyst, programmer, business development, vocational school instructor, XR filming, AI implementation, etc.

◎ Exhibit on 'How Plastic Models Are Born,' which is usually unknown. Valuable archive materials will also be featured.

The permanent exhibition hall will explain each process until a model is made. We will also introduce the voices of creators full of passion for plastic models. Some items will be shown for the first time in Japan, such as original drawings, design documents, and scrap materials that are not usually accessible. Additionally, a special exhibition is planned for this occasion at the 'Model Workshop' supervised by Tamiya, Inc.

◎ Special Craft Experiences Themed After Three Model Manufacturers

Speaking of Takumishuku, it's all about easy-to-join craft experiences! We have prepared various experiences themed after three representative model manufacturers of Shizuoka. You can create special items available only during this period with your own hands.

[Tamiya x Tea Dyeing]
A chic tea-dyed mini tote bag featuring the familiar Tamiya twin stars.
[Aoshima x Stenciling]
Colorful and fun stenciling. In addition to the Aoshima logo, we have also prepared original model patterns for this event.
[Hasegawa x Lacquer Tumbler]
A tumbler made by sprinkling colored powder on lacquered paper. It boldly features the Hasegawa logo mark.

◎ Model Kits and Goods Also for Sale

Model-related products will be sold at shops and facilities both inside and outside the venue. In addition to model kits with 'Shizuoka-related themes,' original goods from each manufacturer are also planned for sale. You can take the excitement from the exhibition and experiences home with you and immerse yourself in the world of plastic models.

* Please note that the event details are subject to change without notice. Please check the official Takumishuku website and Instagram for the latest information.

◎ Plastic Model-Colored Limited Drink (from July 1st)

At the cafe 'HACHI & MITSU,' a limited-edition drink with a blue and red color scheme, inspired by the logo of the Shizuoka Model & Teaching Material Cooperative, will be available. It is a refreshing summer drink with a Blue Hawaii-flavored blue drink topped with vanilla ice cream and a cherry.

* The drink will be available from Wednesday, July 1st.

◼️ What is the 'World Capital of Models, Shizuoka'? ~ The Plastic Model Industry in Shizuoka ~

World-renowned model manufacturers such as Tamiya, Aoshima Bunka Kyozai, and Hasegawa have their headquarters here, and a supply chain of small and medium-sized enterprises responsible for mold making, molding, printing, and packaging is closely coordinated in the surrounding area. This development is no accident; it is an industry and culture nurtured by a combination of various factors, including the foundation of craftsmanship rooted in the traditional craft skills of excellent artisans invited from all over the country by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the early Edo period, the rich nature and topography that promoted the woodworking industry, and the logistics function of Shimizu Port.

In Shizuoka City, under the slogan 'World Capital of Models, Shizuoka,' the government and the model industry are collaborating on a promotional project called the 'Hobby Town Shizuoka Promotion Project.' For SOUZOUSHA Co., Ltd., which operates 'Sunpu no Kobo Takumishuku' as the city's designated manager, this 'Behind the Scenes of Plastic Models Exhibition' is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with local model manufacturers and associations to convey the spirit of craftsmanship that still breathes in Shizuoka in a more three-dimensional and multifaceted way.

A latter-term exhibition is also planned for this event. From Friday, July 17th, the 'Encounter of Models' exhibition will be held at the newly established 'OMOYA Gallery' in the same area.

For about two months, Takumishuku will be all about models. We hope you will take this opportunity to visit and see, learn, feel, and experience a new side of Shizuoka's craftsmanship, and appreciate its depth and essential value.

◼️ 'Behind the Scenes of Plastic Models Exhibition' Overview

[Name] 'Behind the Scenes of Plastic Models Exhibition'
[Dates] June 19 (Fri) - August 17 (Mon), 2026
[Hours] 9:30 - 17:30 *Varies by venue
[Website] https://takumishuku.jp/news/mokei_exhibition_2026/
[Venue] 'Sunpu no Kobo Takumishuku' (3240-1 Mariko, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka City), and surrounding facilities (Takumishuku area)
・Video: 'Takumishuku Traditional Craft Hall'
・Exhibition: Permanent Exhibition Hall, Model Workshop
・Experience: Workshop 'Bamboo and Dyeing' (Dyeing), Workshop 'Wood and Lacquer' (Lacquer), Model Workshop
・Merchandise: 'Kotokoto STORE,' 'Gosaku Shoten,' Model Workshop
・Limited Drink: Cafe 'HACHI & MITSU'
[Participation] Free admission, no reservation required (free viewing)
* Some content, such as craft workshops, is paid. For experiences, we recommend making a reservation in advance as there is a limit to the number of participants.
[Organizers]
Host: 'Sunpu no Kobo Takumishuku' (SOUZOUSHA Co., Ltd.)
Supervision/Cooperation: Aoshima Bunka Kyozai Co., Ltd.
Cooperation: Tamiya, Inc. / Hasegawa Corporation
Support: Shizuoka Specialty Industry Association / Shizuoka Industrial Promotion Association
Sponsorship: Shizuoka AV Center Co., Ltd. / Kondo Lease Co., Ltd.

◼️ 'Sunpu no Kobo Takumishuku' Facility Overview

'Sunpu no Kobo Takumishuku' is a traditional craft experience facility in Shizuoka City that opened in April 1999. Since 2021, the architectural design firm SOUZOUSHA Co., Ltd. has been the designated manager, and the facility was renewed for the first time in 22 years under the concept of 'a place that connects history and the future.' We have invited leading craftsmen as workshop heads, and in addition to workshops where you can experience Suruga bamboo ware, pottery, indigo dyeing, tea dyeing, woodworking, and lacquerware, we have opened 'Yomogi Kintsuba Tokiya,' which inherits the taste of a long-loved local Japanese confectionery shop, and 'HACHI & MITSU,' a cafe using honey from a local apiary, on the premises. We have updated it into a complex facility where you can enjoy food, drinks, and shopping in addition to traditional craft experiences.

Furthermore, to provide opportunities for more customers from within and outside the city and prefecture to visit and experience traditional crafts, we have opened various facilities outside the workshop premises in cooperation with the surrounding area. These include 'Kogei no Yado Waraku,' a renovated old private house with Shizuoka crafts in the guest rooms; '1HOTEL,' where you can stay with your dog; and 'Fukisarashi-yu,' a bathing and sauna facility built by relocating and hand-assembling magnificent beams and other timber using a log construction method. All of these were created by renovating existing buildings, leveraging the technology and knowledge we have cultivated as an architectural company.

We aim to make this area (Mariko Izumigaya district, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka City) a major hub for connecting handiwork and its bearers to the future 100 years from now, and we will strive to produce successor candidates for craftspeople by providing manufacturing experiences.