▲From the left, Mr. Naohiro Washio, Mr. Takuma Takemoto, Mr. Tetsuo Sato, Mr. Yusuke Yokota, Mr. Muruchi, Ms. Mei Hata, Ms. Yuka Teresaki, and Meijin Kawaguchi (a photo session with prize winners and guests)
The “Japan Representative Finals Award Ceremony” that determined Japan’s representative for the “Gunpla Builders World Cup 2016” was held on November 23rd (Wed, public holiday) at the largest Gunpla festival hosted by Bandai, the “Gunpla EXPO World Tour Japan 2016 WINTER.”
The ceremony began with “Meijin Kawaguchi” or Mr. Katsumi Kawaguchi of the Bandai Hobby Operations Department and Ms. Masami Kyoguku, the MC, going up on stage. Meijin Kawaguchi had commented, “This year is an assembly of immensely unique creations. As the tournament continues to be held, the number of participants throughout the world are increasing and we’re immensely grateful for it.”
Additionally, Mecha Designer Mr. Naohiro Washio and Ms. Yuka Terasaki, voice of Kudelia Aina Bernstein, from Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans went up on stage as special presenters. Prize winners were awarded trophies and were asked to speak a few words.
Which creation broke through the fierce competition of the tournament and is now radiantly sitting in the position as commendable Japan representatives? Without further ado, let’s go into the report on the results of the finals and award ceremony.
■Junior Course (14 years and younger)
<3rd place>
Title: Zaku Island / Creator: Mei Hata
“I was aiming to be the best in the world so it’s frustrating.” (Mei Hata)
“It goes without saying that her presentation of the Zaku and her ability to construct a world as a diorama is at a level that will not be outdone in the open course.” (Bandai Hobby Operations Department Yasunaga)
<2nd place>
Title: High Speed Assault Trial Type DIJEH SPRINTER / Creator: Takuma Takemoto
“It’s frustrating since I wanted to take 1st place.” (Takuma Takemoto)
“Each and every part fit very well together. However, when you look at it closely, you can see that he put together a mish-mash of parts from various Gundam timelines into 1 body. I had thought, due to this fact, that this was a work with a very good sense of style.” (Bandai Hobby Operations Department Baba)
<1st place> (Japan Champion)
Title: Strike & Dark Matter / Creator: Taku Matter
※ Mr. Taku Matter was absent from the event as he lives in Ochikata.
“He has grasped fine details with his composition of color along with the distinct poses that these two mobile suits are holding. Along with its gimmick at the base, it has many noteworthy points that are worthy of a champion.” (Bandai Hobby Operations Department Goto)
■Open Course (15 years and older)
<3rd place>
Title: BLITZ GUNDAM KAI SCHWARZLILIE / Creator: Muruchi
“I have no words. Thank you very much.” (Muruchi)
“Although he has selected parts from the Cosmic Era as the focus of his creation, he has also integrated some parts from different timelines without it being out of place. Morever, his finishing touches were very thorough.” (Bandai Hobby Operations Department Baba)
<2nd place>
Title: Recycled Z’GOK – It’s Economic, Y’know! – / Creator: Yoshimoto Plasticmodel Club President Tetsuo Sato
“I’m so overwhelmed with emotion that my words won’t come out, so I would like for my underclassman Osamu Wakai to speak for me.” (Yoshimoto Plasticmodel Club President Tetsuo Sato)
“I couldn’t be happier.” (Osamu Wakai)
“The craftsmanship is splendid. The appearance of its world is very well constructed and is a work with many noteworthy points. The creation of the box was done very thoroughly and even within the judges, we nearly all held the same opinion that “it is work that you want to just look at again and again.”” (Bandai Hobby Operations Department Goto)
▲Mr. Osamu Wakai appeared while imitating Amuro
<1st place> (Japan Champion)
Title: Eternal Bonds – Yoshitsune & Benkei to a New Land – / Creator: Yusuke Yokota
“I was thinking that I should make something that would make one think that this was a Japan representative work at first glance and created this work. There is already nothing that I can do until the world tournament, however I think I would like to continuing praying without sparing time to sleep for the sake of those who have chosen my creation. Thank you very, very much.” (Yusuke Yokota)
“Even amongst the judges, this was a creation with unanimous results. This was made very thoroughly, from the precise modelling all the way until the finishing touches of the paint. He even included a world that one can immediately tell is Japan; it was an undisputed victory.” (Bandai Hobby Operations Department Yasunaga)
After the receiving the results, Ms. Terasaki said, “These creations were very wonderful and I believe that they will definitely become the best in the world. I will wish for your victory.” Mr. Washio said, “I will pray for our two Japanese representatives to become champions,” and the audience yelled as the two winners were given tickets to the world tournament.
Lastly, Meijin Kawaguchi commented, “This year, there were 30 works that were matched against each other and, no matter which work it was, all of them were unique. Rather than having creations that all went in the same direction, I believe that the entries were full of creations that conveyed, “I want to make something like this,” very thoroughly.” The event then concluded.
The radiant Japan champions of this year – Mr. Taku Matter’s work “Strike & Dark Matter” and Mr. Yusuke Yokota’s work “Eternal Bonds – Yoshitsune & Benkei to a New Land –“– will participate as the Japanese representatives of the World Tournament Finals which will be held from December 18th (Sun) at “Gundam Front Tokyo” in Odaiba, Tokyo. There, each countries’ representative creations will compete against each other to become the world’s best Gunpla creator.
The World Tournament Finals are scheduled to be streamed live on the Bandai Hobby Site, Gundam Fan Club, and GUNDAM.INFO. Everyone, let’s support our two Japanese representatives so they can win against their strong competitors that have assembled from around the world.
※ Names are written without honorifics in a portion of this article
(Gundam Info Editorial Department)
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