From lumber to high-tech R/C cars
Published Aug 28, 2018 12:00 am
By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
SHUNSAKU TAMIYA
President and Chairman
TAMIYA CORPORATION SHUNSAKU TAMIYA has always been with the family’s model kit-making business. Since the passing of his father and company founder Yoshio Tamiya in 1988, the son filled up the void left by the family patriarch. From its sawmill and lumber business, the Tamiya business painstakingly built its reputation to become the world’s most loved maker of scale model kits. Its innovation has fueled the company’s staying power and created a good following of hobbyists and enthusiasts globally. Now, the Tamiya business has gone far into the production of radio controlled/remote controlled (R/C) objects such as cars and gliders, among others, to the delight of hobbyists and enthusiasts the world over. The sawmill It all started in May 1946, when Yoshio Tamiya, the founder, opened a sawmill and lumber business in Shizuoka City, Japan under the name Tamiya Shoji Co. Tamiya ventured into modeling in 1948, with scale wooden ship model kit. Since then, Tamiya has continued to grow, producing models known as “First in Quality Around the World”. Its main products were plastic model kits, radio control model kits, education construction kits, among others. In 1948, the sawmill operation was closed, and Tamiya became a specialized wooden model kit maker. In 1955, Tamiya releases a wooden motorized tank, which became immensely popular, ensuing a boom in wooden ship models. What followed is an evolution of the company’s wooden model kits to innovative R/C miniature objects that turned out to conquer the world’s attention. Innovation The company continued to innovate that in 1960, it began producing plastic model kits with 1/800 Scale Battleship Yamato. The company started the big scale motorcycle series with Honda CB750, followed by R/C car model Porsche, Yamaha YZR500, and scale sports car series. It released the first solar powered military miniature series in 1991. And the first solar battery powered RC car. Tamiya also entered into the Radio Controlled glider selling more than 100 million units in 1995. Due to its popularity, a 320-meter race track for R/C cars was opened in Shizuoka for public use and serving as a testing ground for the development of new R/C cars. Year 2020 saw the full operation of 1/16 R/C Tiger 1, which sets a new standard of sophistication in R/C tanking world was revealed at the Shizuoka Hobby Show. To support the growing number of Tamiya fans, the company expanded to the US market in May 1989 in California. Other subsidiaries were also established in Germany and in Hong Kong. The Philippine subsidiary Tamiya Philippines Inc. followed in September 1994 with a manufacturing operation in Mactan Economic Processing Zone in Lapu-Lapu City. PH market Expanding its production facility in Lapu-Lapu in Cebu has made the Philippines an important part of Tamiya’s life. “The Cebu factory contributes a large volume of product to Tamiya’s worldwide stock,” says Tamiya. All of the products made in the Cebu plant go straight to Japan. It is the Japanese offices that distribute worldwide to the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, the United States and many others. The Philippines is one of Tamiya’s key markets. Tamiya has been present in the Philippines for 50 years because of our great working relationship with Lil’s Hobby Center. The fact that we’ve sustained our presence in the Philippines for half a decade shows that our sales in the Philippines has been substantial enough for us to stay in it. Tamiya doesn’t necessarily produce exclusive models per se, but it has made some Philippine-only variants of our famous Mini4WD kits. The first one was released in 2016: The Lil’s Hobby Center Limited Edition Stratovector. The Stratovector was on of the most popular Mini4WD models in the Philippines during that time. The most recent one was released just over a month ago: The Nighthunter BrickYard Special, our collaboration with The BrickYard, a Tamiya Mini4WD concept store in the Philippines. “Filipino hobbyists are a passionate lot. One proof of their passion for the hobby is that they have given us great reason to be present in the Philippine market for 50 years,” says Tamiya. Tamiya expanded their business to almost every corner of the globe with its main manufacturing and assembly plant in Cebu. Tamiya also established an exceptional working relationship with one of the Philippines’ oldest hobby stores, Lil’s Hobby Center. All around the world, their red and blue Star logo is instantly recognizable to car enthusiasts and hobbyists, especially here in the Philippines where Mini-4WD is once again thrust into the spotlight. The sudden renewed interest in the hobby is due to the opening of the BrickYard in Glorietta 2, Makati. It’s a place where hobbyists can build, race, and hang out. Tamiya himself was at the BrickYard recently to sign autographs and mingle with Mini4WD, model kit, and R/C fans in the country. Suffice to say, he was ecstatic to see that the Tamiya brand and legacy is alive and well, and will continue to live in the Philippines. Hobbyists From the late 90’s, hobbyists all over the Philippines have been enamored by Tamiya’s Mini-4WDs. Thanks in part to the popular anime ‘Let’s And Go’, many tracks opened in various locations where hobbyists would gather and build and race their Mini-4WDs. Fast forward to 2018 the hobby is still thriving, thanks to the innovative design and technology that’s been lovingly crafted in each of the model cars. According to Tamiya, the family-owned sawmill and lumber supply business in 1946 took advantage of the high availability of wood. Tamiya also produced wooden models of ships and airplanes. Eventually, the business focused solely on model-making. When plastic models became popular in the 1950’s and sales of their wooden models started to decline, the company decided to also start manufacturing plastic models. Tamiya struggled at first, but then they hit gold when they decided to begin selling model car kits, which became an instant hit. Since then, Tamiya established itself as a plastic model company. What sets them apart is the attention to detail in each model kit, with each part fitting perfectly together in forming a well-engineered and accurately profiled body. Much of their success is in part thanks to the Master Modeller, Shunsaku himself. The son As the son of the founder Yoshio, Shunsaku has been destined to follow his father’s footsteps. He eventually run the overall operation of the company. The young Tamiya became the company president with his father’s passing in 1988. “I was pretty much involved with modeling my entire life given that Tamiya is a private family corporation,” says Tamiya. Tamiya stepped down as President, but kept the chairmanship in 2008, when his son-in-law Masayuki Tamiya took over. But he once again became president and chairman after Masayuki passed away in 2017. As a young modeler, Tamiya committed himself into designing and creating scale models that were true to form. Bringing with him his passion for cars, he visited museums, manufacturers, and racing teams to measure tanks, aircrafts, and racing cars. He painstakingly designed and built each model to scale. In 1967, Tamiya released its most iconic static scale model, the 1:12 Porsche 934 RSR. Tamiya’s almost obsessive attention to detail made it a beautiful and realistic scale model. The master modeller went as far as purchasing a Porsche 911 and taking it apart just to get accurate measurements of each part for the model. That very car has now been reassembled and is displayed in the Tamiya Headquarters in Shizuoka, Japan. Tamiya also brought the idea of adding radio controls to their static scale models after noticing that the Porsche 934 model wasn’t selling well due to its price point. Thus, their venture to R/C cars began. Since then, Tamiya has changed the landscape of plastic model kits, even setting standards that other manufacturers had to adapt to, including the rechargeable battery packs for R/C cars. Future Will Tamiya be evolving further with practical applications? “Tamiya has always been rooted in tradition, but we always look to improve our products and lines. As for practical applications, one of our related products for hobbyists—our paints and painting paraphernalia—have always been popular even with non-hobbyists. We even heard that some car-enthusiasts even use our paints to do small touch ups when the paint of their real vehicles get damaged,” says Tamiya. At present, the Tamiya Group continues to expand for the world’s hobby fans. The enjoyment of modeling can be found throughout the world, and Tamiya, as a leader in the industry, takes pride in offering all modeling enthusiasts with both a fun and fulfilling modeling experience. From the development and production of new items to the organizing of various events, the Tamiya Group aims to further expand its global reach.
SHUNSAKU TAMIYAPresident and Chairman
TAMIYA CORPORATION SHUNSAKU TAMIYA has always been with the family’s model kit-making business. Since the passing of his father and company founder Yoshio Tamiya in 1988, the son filled up the void left by the family patriarch. From its sawmill and lumber business, the Tamiya business painstakingly built its reputation to become the world’s most loved maker of scale model kits. Its innovation has fueled the company’s staying power and created a good following of hobbyists and enthusiasts globally. Now, the Tamiya business has gone far into the production of radio controlled/remote controlled (R/C) objects such as cars and gliders, among others, to the delight of hobbyists and enthusiasts the world over. The sawmill It all started in May 1946, when Yoshio Tamiya, the founder, opened a sawmill and lumber business in Shizuoka City, Japan under the name Tamiya Shoji Co. Tamiya ventured into modeling in 1948, with scale wooden ship model kit. Since then, Tamiya has continued to grow, producing models known as “First in Quality Around the World”. Its main products were plastic model kits, radio control model kits, education construction kits, among others. In 1948, the sawmill operation was closed, and Tamiya became a specialized wooden model kit maker. In 1955, Tamiya releases a wooden motorized tank, which became immensely popular, ensuing a boom in wooden ship models. What followed is an evolution of the company’s wooden model kits to innovative R/C miniature objects that turned out to conquer the world’s attention. Innovation The company continued to innovate that in 1960, it began producing plastic model kits with 1/800 Scale Battleship Yamato. The company started the big scale motorcycle series with Honda CB750, followed by R/C car model Porsche, Yamaha YZR500, and scale sports car series. It released the first solar powered military miniature series in 1991. And the first solar battery powered RC car. Tamiya also entered into the Radio Controlled glider selling more than 100 million units in 1995. Due to its popularity, a 320-meter race track for R/C cars was opened in Shizuoka for public use and serving as a testing ground for the development of new R/C cars. Year 2020 saw the full operation of 1/16 R/C Tiger 1, which sets a new standard of sophistication in R/C tanking world was revealed at the Shizuoka Hobby Show. To support the growing number of Tamiya fans, the company expanded to the US market in May 1989 in California. Other subsidiaries were also established in Germany and in Hong Kong. The Philippine subsidiary Tamiya Philippines Inc. followed in September 1994 with a manufacturing operation in Mactan Economic Processing Zone in Lapu-Lapu City. PH market Expanding its production facility in Lapu-Lapu in Cebu has made the Philippines an important part of Tamiya’s life. “The Cebu factory contributes a large volume of product to Tamiya’s worldwide stock,” says Tamiya. All of the products made in the Cebu plant go straight to Japan. It is the Japanese offices that distribute worldwide to the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, the United States and many others. The Philippines is one of Tamiya’s key markets. Tamiya has been present in the Philippines for 50 years because of our great working relationship with Lil’s Hobby Center. The fact that we’ve sustained our presence in the Philippines for half a decade shows that our sales in the Philippines has been substantial enough for us to stay in it. Tamiya doesn’t necessarily produce exclusive models per se, but it has made some Philippine-only variants of our famous Mini4WD kits. The first one was released in 2016: The Lil’s Hobby Center Limited Edition Stratovector. The Stratovector was on of the most popular Mini4WD models in the Philippines during that time. The most recent one was released just over a month ago: The Nighthunter BrickYard Special, our collaboration with The BrickYard, a Tamiya Mini4WD concept store in the Philippines. “Filipino hobbyists are a passionate lot. One proof of their passion for the hobby is that they have given us great reason to be present in the Philippine market for 50 years,” says Tamiya. Tamiya expanded their business to almost every corner of the globe with its main manufacturing and assembly plant in Cebu. Tamiya also established an exceptional working relationship with one of the Philippines’ oldest hobby stores, Lil’s Hobby Center. All around the world, their red and blue Star logo is instantly recognizable to car enthusiasts and hobbyists, especially here in the Philippines where Mini-4WD is once again thrust into the spotlight. The sudden renewed interest in the hobby is due to the opening of the BrickYard in Glorietta 2, Makati. It’s a place where hobbyists can build, race, and hang out. Tamiya himself was at the BrickYard recently to sign autographs and mingle with Mini4WD, model kit, and R/C fans in the country. Suffice to say, he was ecstatic to see that the Tamiya brand and legacy is alive and well, and will continue to live in the Philippines. Hobbyists From the late 90’s, hobbyists all over the Philippines have been enamored by Tamiya’s Mini-4WDs. Thanks in part to the popular anime ‘Let’s And Go’, many tracks opened in various locations where hobbyists would gather and build and race their Mini-4WDs. Fast forward to 2018 the hobby is still thriving, thanks to the innovative design and technology that’s been lovingly crafted in each of the model cars. According to Tamiya, the family-owned sawmill and lumber supply business in 1946 took advantage of the high availability of wood. Tamiya also produced wooden models of ships and airplanes. Eventually, the business focused solely on model-making. When plastic models became popular in the 1950’s and sales of their wooden models started to decline, the company decided to also start manufacturing plastic models. Tamiya struggled at first, but then they hit gold when they decided to begin selling model car kits, which became an instant hit. Since then, Tamiya established itself as a plastic model company. What sets them apart is the attention to detail in each model kit, with each part fitting perfectly together in forming a well-engineered and accurately profiled body. Much of their success is in part thanks to the Master Modeller, Shunsaku himself. The son As the son of the founder Yoshio, Shunsaku has been destined to follow his father’s footsteps. He eventually run the overall operation of the company. The young Tamiya became the company president with his father’s passing in 1988. “I was pretty much involved with modeling my entire life given that Tamiya is a private family corporation,” says Tamiya. Tamiya stepped down as President, but kept the chairmanship in 2008, when his son-in-law Masayuki Tamiya took over. But he once again became president and chairman after Masayuki passed away in 2017. As a young modeler, Tamiya committed himself into designing and creating scale models that were true to form. Bringing with him his passion for cars, he visited museums, manufacturers, and racing teams to measure tanks, aircrafts, and racing cars. He painstakingly designed and built each model to scale. In 1967, Tamiya released its most iconic static scale model, the 1:12 Porsche 934 RSR. Tamiya’s almost obsessive attention to detail made it a beautiful and realistic scale model. The master modeller went as far as purchasing a Porsche 911 and taking it apart just to get accurate measurements of each part for the model. That very car has now been reassembled and is displayed in the Tamiya Headquarters in Shizuoka, Japan. Tamiya also brought the idea of adding radio controls to their static scale models after noticing that the Porsche 934 model wasn’t selling well due to its price point. Thus, their venture to R/C cars began. Since then, Tamiya has changed the landscape of plastic model kits, even setting standards that other manufacturers had to adapt to, including the rechargeable battery packs for R/C cars. Future Will Tamiya be evolving further with practical applications? “Tamiya has always been rooted in tradition, but we always look to improve our products and lines. As for practical applications, one of our related products for hobbyists—our paints and painting paraphernalia—have always been popular even with non-hobbyists. We even heard that some car-enthusiasts even use our paints to do small touch ups when the paint of their real vehicles get damaged,” says Tamiya. At present, the Tamiya Group continues to expand for the world’s hobby fans. The enjoyment of modeling can be found throughout the world, and Tamiya, as a leader in the industry, takes pride in offering all modeling enthusiasts with both a fun and fulfilling modeling experience. From the development and production of new items to the organizing of various events, the Tamiya Group aims to further expand its global reach.