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Perhaps you haven't heard of "BAKETAN BLOG (バケタンブログ)" before, but they have been quietly cultivating their craft in the soft vinyl toy world for a decade! In this Toy People interview, we will delve deeper into the creative charm of "BAKETAN BLOG"—they don't deliberately cater to the market, creating only what they love, exuding a simple and approachable charm. Just like the dazed-looking cat on the "BAKETAN BLOG" brand logo, they quietly accompany everyone, continuing through more ordinary yet adorable days.
Toy People: What is the meaning behind the name 'BAKETAN BLOG'?
BAKETAN BLOG: The "Baketan" in Baketan Blog is actually a slang term for a certain unfortunate situation. (As it's an obscure slang, I'll skip the detailed explanation.) We used to write about these unfortunate situations in a fun way on our blog (ブログ), so our team name became "BAKETAN BLOG." Although the name wasn't deeply thought out at first, it fits us perfectly, and we really like it.
▼ BAKETAN BLOG celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023 and held its first solo exhibition, featuring numerous classic characters on the promotional poster.
Image credit:BAKETAN BLOG
Toy People: Who are the members of 'BAKETAN BLOG'? Please introduce their roles.
BAKETAN BLOG: BAKETAN BLOG is a group formed by two designers, Cherri (チェリ) and Hammu (ハッム), who are a married couple. We each design different soft vinyl toys. For the Mentaiko Monster being sold this time, the design for "Takada" was handled by Cherri, and the "Mentaiko Monster" was designed by Hammu. We perfectly blend our individual strengths to create fantastic soft vinyl toys.
▼ Cherri-sensei of BAKETAN BLOG.
Toy People: What did you major in during your studies? What kind of work did you do before this?
BAKETAN BLOG: Both Cherri and Hammu studied at schools for design and illustration. After graduating, we worked at different companies until we established our own design company in 2007, primarily focusing on design and illustration work. Additionally, Cherri has worked as a director, screenwriter, and storyboard artist for short animations, while Hammu is in charge of character design.
▼ The BAKETAN BLOG office features a giant gashapon machine!
Toy People: What was the catalyst that led you to start releasing your own designed toys?
BAKETAN BLOG: We have always loved and collected indie soft vinyl toys. When our beloved cat Maman (ママン) passed away, we thought, "It would be wonderful if we could cherish him forever." Driven by this love, we created the "Zodiac Cat (干支のネコ)" soft vinyl toy based on Maman. It's a unique and precious soft vinyl figure that we always want to touch.
▼ BAKETAN BLOG's first soft vinyl creation, 'Zodiac Cat (干支のネコ)'.
Image credit:BAKETAN BLOG
Toy People: Could you share with us your first toy creation?
BAKETAN BLOG: As mentioned earlier, the first one was Maman, sometimes sold under the name "Zodiac Cat (干支のネコ)." He is also the protagonist of our animated series, "Doushitemo Eto ni Hairitai" (I Want to Be in the Zodiac Anyway), which was broadcast in China in 2015. If you have the chance, we hope everyone will watch it; it's especially recommended for children.
▼ The anime "Doushitemo Eto ni Hairitai," which began airing on October 11, 2015, features the main character "Nezumi-senpai" voiced by the famous Rie Kugimiya. The full season can be watched for free on AcFun in China.
Image credit:Doushitemo Eto ni Hairitai 2
Toy People: What do you think it takes to create an excellent soft vinyl toy?
BAKETAN BLOG: For BAKETAN BLOG, the philosophy of making soft vinyl is "Create what you want to create!"
Toy People: What kind of environment do you like to create in? Please share what your studio looks like~
BAKETAN BLOG: The place in the photo is our very own BAKETAN BLOG workshop. There, we experiment with various soft vinyl molding methods, enjoy the fun of painting, and sometimes open it as a shop to invite fans to visit. This workshop is like our secret base, and we love it!
Toy People: Among the toys 'BAKETAN BLOG' has made in the past, which is your favorite and why? Which one left the deepest impression during its creation process?
BAKETAN BLOG: Our favorite, and the one that left the deepest impression during its creation, is definitely our Maman. This is because the soft vinyl figure carries so many of our memories with Maman.
▼ The super-popular Maman soft vinyl toy has been released in many different versions.
Image credit:BAKETAN BLOG SHOP
Toy People: How do you spark inspiration for creating toys? Do you have any special rituals?
BAKETAN BLOG: We don't deliberately search for inspiration. It often happens naturally when we think, "It would be great if there was a soft vinyl toy like this." Our bodies suddenly fill with motivation, and we ride that momentum to finish the piece in one go.
▼ Besides Maman, BAKETAN BLOG has released many other popular toys of different types, including not just soft vinyl but also action figures.
Image credit:BAKETAN BLOG SHOP
Toy People: Besides making your own toys, what kind of toys do you collect? Have you been particularly fascinated by any new toys recently?
BAKETAN BLOG: We collect a lot of soft vinyl toys from other artists! Thanks to the rise of the soft vinyl boom, more and more artists are getting into creating them. Many works have emerged that are worth seeing and that stimulate our own creativity, which makes us very happy!
▼ BAKETAN BLOG often shares their toy collection on Instagram.
Image credit:baketanblog Instagram
Toy People: What are your hobbies outside of creating?
BAKETAN BLOG: Spending time with our children! Both Hammu and I cherish the time we spend with our kids! We play games, draw, play soccer, and do homework together. Every day is filled with joy!
Toy People: Please share with us the creative story and concept behind the 'Mentaiko Monster'!
BAKETAN BLOG : This is a soft vinyl project in collaboration with the voice actress Yuki Takada. We first asked Ms. Takada what she likes. Since Ms. Takada is from Fukuoka Prefecture and has a deep affection for her hometown, we proposed a soft vinyl toy of a "girl wearing a Mentaiko (a Fukuoka specialty) monster suit." Ms. Takada loved this proposal, and since she also had past experience working part-time in a monster costume, it felt like fate (laughs), and thus the Mentaiko Monster was born. By the way, the girl soft vinyl figure inside the Mentaiko Monster is also named "Takada" (たかだ). We plan to continue making various versions of the Mentaiko Monster in the future, and we would be honored if this soft vinyl toy is loved by everyone!
▼ Voice actress Yuki Takada with the 'Mentaiko Monster (Mentaigon)'.
Image credit:BAKETAN BLOG
Toy People: To you, what are 'toys'?
BAKETAN BLOG: 'Toys' are things that bring joy to both adults and children! (子どもにも大人にも楽しいことを！)
Follow BAKETAN BLOG for the latest news!
→ BAKETAN BLOG Instagram
→ BAKETAN BLOG Official Website
That concludes our interview with BAKETAN BLOG. We not only learned about BAKETAN BLOG's creative process and the birth story of the 'Mentaiko Monster,' but also about Cherri and Hammu's deep love for their late cat, Maman.
Finally, the lottery information for the 'Mentaiko Monster TOY PEOPLE Ver.,' a collaboration between Toy People and BAKETAN BLOG, has been announced. Don't miss out!
■ Lottery Sale Information:
→ BAKETAN BLOG × Toy People 'Mentaiko Monster TOY PEOPLE Ver.'