You have long been known as one of the leading creators in the sofvi world. Can you share your earliest memory of encountering Japanese sofvi?

That's kind of you to say. Thank you.

I first held sofubi in my hands in 2007, at the original Super7 store in San Francisco. They had recently had an opening of various Itokin Park customs, which were beautiful, and there were a bunch of Gargamel minis in the cases. It was love at first sight. I bought a crouching Deathra.

Around when, and for what reasons, did you decide to start making your own sofvi? Also, what challenges did you face when you made your first sofvi?

In 2009 I met Bwana Spoons at his Grasshut show in Portland, Oregon. He was releasing a new figure (Sloth and Moth), and had a bunch of amazing paintings for sale. I was making resin cast figures at that time, and Bwana agreed to have some available in his shop.

When I asked him about making sofubi, he said I should talk to a guy called Velocitron. I got in touch with Velocitron, and he got my first figure into production for me by the time I moved to Japan in 2011.

Initially, everything was just so new, it all felt perfect. I didn't really speak much Japanese though, but fortunately I had a lot of help from Datadub (Don), Refreshment Toy (Aya) and Pop Soda (Hossy).

Eventually (in 2012) Velocitron became too busy, and I had to figure out how to do everything myself. I think working with the sofubi factory directly was how I learned a lot of my Japanese.

For your original sofvi such as Ugly Unicorn, where do you usually find inspiration for your creations?

The Ugly Unicorn, my first figure, was inspired by a display of Jim Henson drawings I saw in Seattle in 2007, and the body shape of Jamira (which I saw in a Mark Nagata collection book).

The sculpting style was mostly influenced by the scale of the Super 7 2-part Monster series. Each design has different influences. For example Kesagake is inspired by the true story of A Hokkaido Grizzly Bear that went… on a rampage.

Today, the sofvi boom is growing not only in Japan and the United States, but also throughout Asia. More artists than ever are now releasing their own sofvi works. What are your thoughts on the current sofvi boom?

Some things are good, some things are bad. I'll stay positive though, and say that it's nice to have variety. Everyone can choose their favorite things, and hopefully it can be fun for all sorts of people!

Personally, I don't like that sofvi is sometimes crazy expensive, but what can I say… oh well! I try to make plenty of small affordable stuff for the rest of us, and I think that keeps collecting fun.

You previously released a sofvi of Jamira in 2014, and you are also known as a big Jamira fan, collecting Bullmark and Marmit Jamira sofvi as well. What is it about Jamira that attracts you so strongly?

I saw a picture of the original yellow Bullmark Jamira in a book of Vintage Kaiju/sofvi by Mark Nagata. I just really liked the design. It influenced my collection, my first toy design.

When I lived in Akita, I took a trip to Aomori to see the original Jamira illustration by Narita-san.

Eventually I was able to get a license to make my own sculpted version of Jamira, thanks to Kazu Akamatsu (Marmit). Unfortunately, that license is no longer available, so best of luck to those looking for it!

For the Jamira that you are releasing with ENKA VINYL this time, what were the key points you focused on in terms of sculpting and design?

I wanted this Jamira to be kind of Superdeforme, but also very large feeling. I designed him to have a bigger torso than usual, but still with the silly skinny arms that I love about the original design.

There were a few edits on the sculpt over the design period, because I had to work based off drawings, which I never do… I always just sculpt directly into clay (and wax) from my ideas and sometimes from reference images. For me, it was an extra challenge to try and sculpt something I had drawn.

What were you hoping for from ENKA VINYL when you decided to collaborate with them?

When I began speaking with Yoshimizu-san about the project, Enka did not exist yet! It was just Swimmy Design Labo. I didn't even know that Yoshimizu-san had any staff.

Yoshimizu-san used to attend the shows I hosted in my living room in Zoshigaya (2012-2016). We stayed in touch over the years since I left Japan, and eventually Yoshimizu-san offered to help me make a new Standard size Jamira!

It's exciting to work with Enka, and I hope the collaboration will help make my works available to more people in Japan and Asia.

Looking ahead, are there any kaiju or heroes you would like to create with ENKA VINYL in the future? If so, please share which characters and the reasons why.

I would love to make a small series of mini Science Patrols members and vehicles. It would be fun if they were small scale to play with Standard size kaiju sofvi!

Of course, I love Pigumon too! Pigumon is the perfect Kimokawaii monster! So cute! So ugly!

Lastly, could you share a message to sofvi fans around the world?

Collect what you like - not just what's expensive or popular. Trying to get the things that are hard to get just because they are hard to get is frustrating, and ultimately unfulfilling.

If what you like gets super popular and hard to get, then it gets harder of course, but there's always the option to trade and still have fun that way.

Anyway, it should be fun, so try to remember that.