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Kami-Robo enthusiasts with a passion for making their own paper fighters
had a special opportunity to bask in the limelight of Kami-Robo mania during an event titled
"Kami-Robo by Everyone," held at the Kami-Robo Entertainment Shop
in Omotesando Hills on Nov. 25 and 26, 2006.
Each participant received a photo of their fighter alongside one of Yasui's originals in the ring.
For the photo shoot, Yasui took on the task of deciding which fighters would go into the ring
alongside Kami-Robo wannabes, arranging the pose, and snapping the shot.
Below are the pictures and Yasui's comments.

 
TAKUMI and Naoki Hashimoto: Kami-Robo Brothers  

"Blood Bat" by TAKUMI Hashimoto and The King of Evil

"Narcillian" by Naoki Hashimoto and The King of Evil

 
 

The first fighter I came across in "Kami-Robo by Everyone" was "Oyama Neko," made by the Hashimoto brothers. It really blew me away. I'm still impressed by it. The boys have a real talent for working with paper, as seen in the fighter with a sharp beak, or the one with bat's wings. They use small tricks, like twisting parts, to create a bigger, stronger image. Also, I like their use of color. The patterns on their fighters are like murals, which makes them so beautiful and amazing. "Turtlemetamo" is also amazing. Their fighters were inspired by Kami-Robo; but, they're so unique, and different from mine. It's good that the Hashimoto brothers seem to have no preconceived ideas about how Kami-Robo should be. They've also named them perfectly. They've even got icons for them. On the box for "Snake Lizard," they even drew a square mark of his face. I'm really impressed with their approach to coming up with names and developing character.

During the Omotesando event, they joined my workshop. They were into working with thin silver wire, used for connecting body parts. These twisted wires are a distinctive point in their design of Kami-Robo. I hope they keep following their instincts, not influenced by what other people say.

And I cannot thank them enough for giving me Blood Bat and Narcillian.

 

Sullivan and Guerlain brothers

 
Sullivan's work and Bird Man

Guerlain's works and Bird Man

 
 

Using a straw for the elbow must appeal to the heart of a child. When I was a child, I loved playing with wires. I twisted wires into dolls the exact same way they did! Connecting the parts with Scotch tape must have also been fun for them. By rolling the body with Scotch tape, the figure takes on greater volume. I'm sure it was fun to make. Their choice of black tape for hair is also very cool. Wire dolls can be made to resemble a human, with nice, delicate features. But that's harder to achieve when making paper robots, no matter how skilled the person is. The fighter made from clips and gold pipe cleaner is also interesting. I feel genuinely happy to see such works. They're interesting and touching. I hope they send me more of their works.

 

Kumahachi (age 30)

 
 

Kumahachi's "Ninja" and "Super Sparrown" with Fujiyama and The Ole

 
 
 

Kami-Robo made by grownups are very fashionable and fun. They wear gloves, or wear cool jumpers. The expression on Ninja's face is amazing.

 

Satofumi

 
 
Satofumi's White Night & Yajirushirenji with Birdman & Arrown
 
 

He's got awesome designs. Link Yellow, Black Moon and Simple Straw are particularly good. I also think it's clever that he assigns particular colors to fighters, making them very distinct. For instance, Yajirushirenji's colors are brown and black. The pictures of his Kami-Robo, which were included with the robots, were also impressive. The shots are very dramatic. I hope to see more of his work. Yes, send us more photos.

 

SHUREN Suzuki

 
 

SHUREN Suzuki's "Maoo!" and The King of Evil

 
 

"Maoo!" looks distinguished resting in his box. I assume SHUREN did this to make his fighter look like a hot product sitting on a store shelf ready to be bought. I can relate to that feeling. The patterns he came up with for the body are something unique to children. An adult could never come up with this. It's so fresh. He used a tissue box to make it, the same way I did as a child. But when I was 6 years old, I could've never come up with something three dimensional! Thanks for sharing your work.

 
ASANOBU Kakita (third year of junior high school)  
 

"Bird Man" and "The Ole" by ASANOBU Kakita, together with the original Bird Man and The Ole

 
 

The quality here is outstanding. He uses different wire than I do. I like the fact that he already knows what he wants. It's always better to draw on materials you're comfortable with. Also, when you look at the joints tied with this wire, you instantly recognize whose work it is. It's like a signature. Blasting King Date Masamune's face has a particular look about it, which I like. I hope he sends more pictures and works.

 

Pro-wres Love FS

 
 

"Gym Boy" by Pro-wres Love FS and Fujiyama

 
 

His icons and designs are good. "Daigo, Atlas of the Heisei Era." This is so wild! Their shoulders are uniquely designed, causing the silhouette to change when the arms are moved. I also like the fact that he uses the backside of paper. The hands of "Haganemaru, Muaythai sumo wrestler" have an unusual bend, which makes me think he does a lot of slapping. It's also fun the way he makes up words for names. I'd like to come up with a fighter for his Muaythai sumo wrestler plot. Nonon, his female ring announcer, is good, too. She has a very feminine physique. Gym Boy's face is extremely simple--it's almost too simple, which I like.

 

Takuya Hashimoto

 
 

"Satan Ote" by Takuta Hashimoto and Genie Jr.

 
 

I fell in love with Satan Ote in an instant. I'm curious about Hashimoto's age, since he didn't write it down. He's talented. I also like Blue Diceman. One time, I thought about making a fighter based on dice, but couldn't pull it off. Blue Diceman has one eye, like the side of a die with one dot. Like me, he writes the completion date on the back in black. Down the road, it's fun to think back about such things. His use of shiny materials is funky. Also he gives each fighter different colored wire, which is a great way to highlight the design.

 

Mitsuki Nakamura

 
 

"Bird Man" by Mitsuki Nakamura with the original Bird Man

 
 

I was blown away by the effort that went into making this fighter. I like that he used vinyl tape, which is what I used when making Bird Man. I suspect he picked up on the texture, and that's why he did it. Vinyl materials have a special texture, which I particularly like. He also drew Bird Man's face with such detail. It's very precise. Children's work always reflects the interests of the child. So much effort goes into that particular point. Grownups just don't operate that way.

I almost cry when I think that he gave me such a precious work.

 

NAYUTA Hayashi (age 12)

 
 

"Chienso" by NAYUTA Hayashi, with Skeltonger and Suzanne

 
 

I was blown away by the effort that went into making this fighter. I like that he used vinyl tape, which is what I used when making Bird Man. I suspect he picked up on the texture, and that's why he did it. Vinyl materials have a special texture, which I particularly like. He also drew Bird Man's face with such detail. It's very precise. Children's work always reflects the interests of the child. So much effort goes into that particular point. Grownups just don't operate that way.

I almost cry when I think that he gave me such a precious work.

 

NAYUTA Hayashi (age 12)

 
 
"Sound Wave" made by NORIHIRO Kushihara, and Thunder Tiger
 
 

I was blown away by his Kami-Robo. They're radically different from the way I make my Kami-Robo. He has a unique sci-fi Kami-Robo approach, which I could never imitate. Take a look at the elbows, and how he made nodules using super glue. It's amazing that his technique brings plastic models to mind, rather than paper craft. It really demonstrates the wide range of creative approaches using paper. I can't wait to see more of his work. I hope he'll send me something.

 

Black Birdman

 
 

"Godzilla" by Black Birdman, and Bremen Brothers

 
 

Black Birdman is good at making fighters based on characters we already know. His Lupin and Jigen fighters, however, are a different kind of surprise, and they're equally entertaining. He made the joints with pipe cleaners and fluorescent wire pieces, which look beautiful and are eye-catching on the black body of Godzilla. I think he put a lot of thought into making this. Instead of relying on the vibrant colors of magic pens, he makes great use of colored paper. That sets his Kami-Robo apart. When I was a child, I really worked at creating a Gundam robot out of paper, so I can easily relate to the enthusiasm that goes into replicating a certain character.