Its been 10 years to the day since Aki Takanori set up his company Good Smile Company and to celebrate, they held a huge event in the middle of Akihabara. The day was split into two parts - one for business partners in the early afternoon and the other for fans and consumers.
I went along and stayed for the early afternoon session and for a wee bit in the late afternoon.
Good Smile Company 10th Anniversary
We is being greeted by some ladies and the chap who sends me all those Good Smile posters that you see in the office ^^
The ladies wearing the latest in balloon fashion.
Checking in at the reception.
The traditional congrats flowers with names of the various companies displayed along with them.
The BRS ladies - folks who have seen Culture Japan Season 1 Episode 1 may recognize them.
A ton of noms - which I didn't get to eat much of as I bumped into a load of comrades - half of them were my clients too ^^;
Good Smile had *all* the figures they've made on display. They also make the Max factory stuff too but only had the "Good Smile Company" branded ones out.
Will post all figure photos in a separate post.
Big Boss Aki Takanori looking very smart.
Or maybe it was the 70th anniversary? ^^;
Doors just opened and folks are slowly starting to make their way in.
The Good Smile mascot - Gusuma Seijin.
Spoke to the boss of Indotei about making some vacuum packed Mirai-chan curry.
I wish I had eaten more ToT
This is Max Watanabe - the boss of Max Factory. We've been working on a challenging project of late ^^;
The balloon girls are starting to increase in numbers.
Indotei curry - orange curry on rice with a dollop of coconut.
Time for Aki-san to greet the audience.
The Balloon girls on stage ready to...
...give Aki-san a bite of their soft...
...sushi...
...sushi...
Up n coming Nendoroid releases. Photos in a separate post later.
The boss of Banpresto makes a speech - he used to be Aki-sans boss.
Was speaking to the Bushiroad staff about their boss Kidani-san when all of a sudden he appeared on the screen behind me! I obviously was saying all things good about him ^^;
The Milky Holmes girls left a message too.
Good Smile Company announces that they are opening a Shanghai office. They've also discovered a load of talented sculptors in Shanghai and will be working with them on a load of projects soon.
The Nendoroid Planet iPhone app will be available from the App Store at end of May - June. Will be a catalog of all the Nendoroids available and include some 3D models too. Shame Nendoroid Mirai didn't make it for the release of the app ^^;
PSP game Nendoroid Generations being worked on by Bandai Namco.
Good Smile talking about hiring university graduates. I need to talk about how university students look for jobs in Japan - tis a very interesting process.
Good Smile participate in a load of racing shenanigans too and they had a live feed of what was going on at one of the tracks.
Nearing the end of the first session of the day. The top lady at Good Smile makes a speech.
Then all of a sudden, the rest of the Good Smile staff get on stage. Aki wonders whats going on.
Everybody attacks Aki and hurls him up in the air.
Time for Max to give a speech.
At the back of the hall are all the GSC figures throughout the years.
Gorgeous illustration by Huke - Gumako in BRS style.
And then in the late afternoon, the hall is cleared for the consumer and fan session.
Picked up some goodies on the way out.
Box O Good Smile Goodness.
Good Smile headphones.
Watching how Good Smile have evolved throughout the years is always stimulating and am honored to be able to work with such a coolsome company.
What is your fave Good Smile Company figure to date?