The doll is about 3cm tall. Despite of its tininess, the form is dynamic and vivid. Upon closer look, one may be startled by its powerful expression. The subjects are anime soldiers. He doesn’t copy existing characters, but designs them himself one by one. Once started, as if looking at a finished work already, he doesn’t stop his hands. His techniques are quick, rhythmical and as efficient as a real craftsman’s. It is said that he started making the dolls at around 10 years old. To the question why they are so small, he simply answers, “because it’s easy to make”. Surely he seems to feel a comfortable touch from this tactual work inside his hands.
© Portrait: Satoshi Takaishi & Nobuo Onishi