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In the contemporary soft vinyl and art toy scene, Dehara Yukinori (デハラユキノリ) is undoubtedly one of the most significant creators who cannot be overlooked. Centered around his iconic character "Satoshi-kun (サトシ君)," Dehara continuously creates a series of three-dimensional works that blend humor with social observation, deeply beloved by fans worldwide. Starting with paper clay, his creative footprint spans Tokyo, Taiwan, Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and beyond. He consistently adheres to his original creative intention of "surprising people and making them feel entertained." Through a style that is deceptively simple yet ingenious, he freely navigates between clay, soft vinyl, figures, and illustration, collaborating across various fields such as film, animation, and advertising, thereby forging his own soft vinyl art empire.
Last year, Dehara collaborated for the first time with Hong Kong soft vinyl brand Kaiju One (壹工房) to release the joint work "DEHARA's Mazinger Z." This piece, with its unique parody aesthetic, reinterprets the classic robot "Mazinger Z (マジンガーZ)" and injects it with a full dose of "useless old man perspective"—the cockpit no longer houses a passionate youth, but rather the familiar, unfortunate Satoshi-kun, characterized by:
- Always on the verge of being laid off
- No place for him at home or work
- Ignored by his daughter for 5 years
- Shy and prone to crying
- Gets ripped off at adult entertainment establishments...
This unique dialogue, combining passion, soft vinyl, and absurd middle-aged romance, has become another surprising chapter in Dehara's creative career. Through this interview, let's explore the inspiration behind "DEHARA's Mazinger Z" and how this artist from Kochi, who always maintains a playful spirit, continues to push the boundaries of toys with soft vinyl.
Toy People: What was the catalyst that led you to start creating with clay? What was your initial starting point?
DEHARA: I've loved playing with clay since I was a child. I would make protagonists and enemies out of clay and have them fight each other. The usual outcome was both their arms breaking off, their heads falling off, and everything falling apart.
▼ Unlike other designers, Dehara consistently uses paper clay for his creations. He occasionally shares videos of his creative process on Instagram.
Toy People: "Satoshi-kun (サトシ)" is arguably one of your most iconic characters. Could you share the story of this character's birth with us? How did you originally conceive him?
DEHARA: I started drawing portraits of middle-aged men when I was in art college. When I held my solo exhibition at age 25, I named this old man character "Satoshi-kun." I have continued to create this character for the 26 years since then.
▼ Dehara's original Satoshi-kun (サトシ). Image credit:DEHARA.com
Toy People: How do you usually spark inspiration for creating toys? Do you have any unique rituals or habits when you create?
DEHARA: I usually start by drawing sketches before I begin making three-dimensional works. I enjoy observing people and watching movies. My inspiration mostly comes from these everyday occurrences.
Toy People: Please share with us your creative process for a piece! Taking 'DEHARA's Mazinger Z' as an example, do you sketch first, or do you directly start making the prototype?
DEHARA: I draw a few sketches before I start production. However, I don't draw three-view drawings like a professional sculptor; instead, I create based on a certain degree of intuition and the development process.
▼ Sketches for 'DEHARA's Mazinger Z' created by Mr. Dehara.
Toy People: What are your favorite features and selling points of 'Dehara's Mazinger Z'?
DEHARA: I like robots made of soft vinyl. Although it's a robot, it has a soft touch, which evokes a sense of nostalgia. Therefore, the Mazinger Z I created is not very linear. I particularly like the design where Satoshi-kun is sitting in the cockpit.
Toy People: Do you remember the first toy you ever created? Could you tell us about your creative experience and feelings at that time?
DEHARA: In 2000, I created Satoshi-kun holding a camera for the Hong Kong design magazine 'FLIPS4'; that was my first time making a toy. Although it wasn't soft vinyl at the time, but made of resin, I was very excited that my work could be mass-produced.
▼ 'FLIPS4's special styrofoam packaging included a Satoshi-kun resin figure, a DVD, and the magazine. Image credit:メルカリ
Toy People: Among your many works, which one is your favorite, and why? Also, which one left the deepest impression on you during its creation process?
DEHARA: My favorite is 'Satoshi Yamamoto,' because it's a character I've been creating for the longest time. There was also a project where I had to create a soft vinyl prototype within 1 minute; the characters created then were called 'IPPUN' and 'HONBAN,' and those also left a deep impression on me.
▼ Satoshi Yamamoto can be said to be DEHARA's most representative character, released in various different shapes and color schemes. Image credit:AMAZON
▼ In 2024, Mr. Dehara undertook the 'ONE TAKE, ONE MINUTE' challenge, creating a prototype within one minute without any post-modification, and directly producing a product from that prototype.
Toy People: Are there any celebrities or artists you particularly admire or like? Have these individuals influenced your creative style?
DEHARA: I was influenced by the illustrator Teruhiko Yumura. His artistic style is known as 'Heta-Uma' (skillful clumsiness), which looks like a child's drawing and has a unique brushstroke.
▼ Teruhiko Yumura's art collection 'Teruhiko Yumura Hit Parade'. Image credit:Pay ID
TOY PEOPLE: You serve as a tourism ambassador for your hometown, Kochi Prefecture. Is this related to your love for your hometown? Has your hometown influenced your creations in any way?
DEHARA: I really love my hometown, Kochi Prefecture. The people there love to drink and are very interesting. Kochi has strong sunlight, and the colors of the plants and the sea are very vivid and vibrant. I think this has also influenced the color palette I use in my works.
▼ DEHARA, who deeply loves his hometown Kochi Prefecture, was selected as a Kochi Prefecture Tourism Ambassador and has carried out many promotional activities for his hometown. Image credit:高知イーブックス
TOY PEOPLE: We heard that last year at the "Dorome Festival," you won the championship by finishing a sho (1.8 liters) of sake in 19.35 seconds! Has your love for sake brought any inspiration or influence to your creations?
DEHARA: I like getting drunk, and I also like watching other people get drunk. Watching these people makes me feel a sense of freedom. Kochi has a lot of fresh Japanese sake, so I drink it often.
▼ On April 28, 2024, Mr. DEHARA participated in the "Giant Sake Cup Gulping Contest" at the "Dorome Festival" (どろめ祭り) held in Konan City, Kochi Prefecture, and won the championship by drinking a sho of sake in 19.35 seconds. Image credit:高知イーブックス
明日放送の『キテレツが咲く』は是非見て欲しい。もう15年前から挑戦しているどろめ祭り大盃飲み大会に密着して頂きました。
6/26(水)19:00〜
テレビ高知#キテレツが咲く#テレビ高知#どろめ祭り pic.twitter.com/rfRYEkzO56— デハラユキノリ (@deharayukinori) June 25, 2024
TOY PEOPLE: What kind of environment do you prefer for creating? Could you share a glimpse of your studio with us?
DEHARA: I have one studio in Tokyo and one in Kochi. The Tokyo studio offers a wide view of the sky. The Kochi studio is located in an area with many drinking establishments. I like both of my studios very much.
Image credit:deharayukinori
TOY PEOPLE: You frequently visit Taiwan for events. What are your impressions of Taiwan? Do you have any favorite places or foods?
DEHARA: I really like Taiwan; the food is delicious, and the people are very kind. There are also many figure fans who have supported me for a long time, which deeply moves me. In Taiwan, I enjoy walking into unfamiliar shops without looking at a guidebook; although I often order the wrong thing, this experience is very interesting.
▼ At TTF 2023, Mr. DEHARA took photos of every fan who attended his autograph session and shared them online. Image credit:deharayukinori
TOY PEOPLE: Besides your own works, do you collect other toys or special collectibles? Could you share some with us?
DEHARA: I like collecting movie flyers, although I haven't organized them properly yet. I also purchase paintings, figures, sculptures, and other works by contemporary artists.
Image credit:@deharayukinori
Toy People: Besides creating toys, what other interests or hobbies do you have? Please let your fans get to know you better!
DEHARA: I enjoy watching movies, but my greatest pleasure is going out for drinks with friends. Sometimes I also play basketball.
Toy People: Finally, please write or draw your answer to the question—"What is a toy to you?"
DEHARA: 遊び! PLAY
Toy People is honored to collaborate with Kaiju One to release this Toy People exclusive edition of "DEHARA's Mazinger Z," created by Sensei DEHARA! Lottery registration will begin soon, so please stay tuned to our latest updates, Toy People fans!
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→ deharayukinori Instagram
→ DEHARA.COM
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→ kaiju_one Instagram
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