Unmenken - Blue/Red

Atsushi Kotaki, born in Tokyo in 1972, is a distinguished Japanese artist renowned for his handcrafted soft vinyl figures under the brand KIK.KAKE TOY, which he established in 2008. Each piece is meticulously produced and painted by hand, reflecting Kotaki’s dedication to craftsmanship and detail. His creations have been showcased and sold at art toy events both in Japan and internationally. Self-produced art toys are designer collectibles created and manufactured independently by the artist or small teams without the backing of a large toy company or mass-market brand. These toys are often highly personal, artistic expressions and are usually made in limited runs. Key Characteristics include independent creation where the artist is in control of the entire process from concept, sculpting, and painting to production and packaging. These are usually made in small batches, often 10–100 pieces, which adds to their rarity, made using materials like resin, sofubi (Japanese soft vinyl), or 3D-printed components. Shigeta Tanaka is a self-taught illustrator and designer renowned for his distinctive contributions to the sofubi (soft vinyl) toy scene. In 2007, he established Goccodo, a creative studio where he began producing original soft vinyl figures that blend nostalgic elements from 1980s and 1990s manga, anime, sports, and subcultures with contemporary design sensibilities. Beyond his original designs, Tanaka has collaborated with numerous brands and artists, contributing to projects involving well-known franchises like Marvel Comics, as well as popular manga series including “Kinnikuman,” “Captain Tsubasa,” and “Fist of the North Star.” His design expertise extends to creating logos and apparel for various entities, including professional wrestling and martial arts organizations.