Q. Please tell us about the brand you are participating in.

Miyoshi

"KING OF ARTIST" is a series of prize figures created by first-class sculptors who aim to create the definitive version of the character. The brand started with "ONE PIECE", and Mr. Yamashita has supported us since the first one. The first installment of "KING OF ARTIST" is "ONE PIECE KING OF ARTIST THE MONKEY. In "D.LUFFY", to commemorate the cumulative circulation of the original manga exceeding 300 million copies, "Luffy drawn by Oda Sensei", which was published in a full-color full-page advertisement in the US newspaper "The New York Times" and became a hot topic, was made into a figure.

Q. Why did you decide to team up with Yamashita-san?

Miyoshi

"KING OF ARTIST" is a top brand in the prize division, and for many years we have only asked Yamashita-san to work on "ONE PIECE". So, this time too, I couldn't think of anyone other than Yamashita-san to appear.

Q. Please tell us how excited you were when your participation was decided.

Yamashita

When I think about it, it's been about 10 years since I was first asked to do this. I make more than three figures a year, so I've probably made about 30 by now. When I heard about the project, I wondered if I was the right person for it, but I was really looking forward to competing with other sculptors for the first time in a while.

Q. Why did you choose the characters and scenes you created?

Miyoshi

I know the taste and characteristics of Yamashita-san's sculptures, so I thought, "What would be interesting if Yamashita-san made something like that?" and chose Teach. Yamashita-san is good at tough sculptures, so if he made Teach, it would be an interesting expression, and it would definitely be cool. It's a so-called pirate-like, rough and dirty, but it looks really cool. I told him that I wanted to make that kind of sculpture.

Q. What were your thoughts when the characters and scenes were decided?

Yamashita

My first impression was that it looked like a lot of fun (laughs). It's a character that I've never made with any other brand. It's just my preference, but I've always liked characters that have a heavy, chunky, ornamental presence.

Q. What kind of conversations did you have as you progressed with this production?

Yamashita

Since this character has been released by other brands, I wanted to create a pose that would not overlap with existing works, rather than cutting out a scene. As with every production, I take special time to consider the composition and overall balance.

Miyoshi

After we decided on the character, we left it up to Yamashita. Rather than frequent rallies, we would show him the character once it had been solidified to a certain extent, and we would discuss together the parts that Yamashita was concerned about, such as the angles of the parts, and make fine adjustments. However, we always discussed the fact that we wanted to make sure not to lose the "coolness that comes from the dirtiness" that I mentioned earlier.

Q. What are the characteristics and artistic qualities of a sculptor?

Miyoshi

I think Yamashita's modeling is on a level that goes beyond "making it look like a character." Even the slightest lines on the skin have a texture and flavor that is unique to Yamashita's drawings. I think it's amazing that as an artist, he is able to create a character that looks like a character, without even having to make it look like a character.

Q. Please tell us your honest thoughts about the current state of the product.

Yamashita

The finish is still around 50% and the details will be added from here. Personally, this is my favorite part where the character starts to come into view, so I'm looking forward to it.

Miyoshi

Is this the main dish? But as far as I can see, it captures Teach's characteristic balance and I thought, "Ah, that's it!" I think it will surpass even more from here.

Q. Please tell us the points you are particular about.

Yamashita

It's not just the composition, but also the craftsmanship and "Teach-ness." There's a gun on his waist, he's wearing two cloaks, and even rings and nail marks, so there's more information than in the characters I usually make, so I tried to make it as full as possible.

Miyoshi

There are many elements such as the material and texture of the clothes, so I think it was probably a character that Yamashita-san found worth creating. Only modeling can draw parts that are not drawn in the original work, and I think that is why we can entertain customers through figures. I hope you enjoy the wide range of expressions that are unique to "KING OF ARTIST".

Yamashita

It's fun to show these differences in texture through sculpture, and I think that being able to do that is what it means to be a sculptor. On a slightly different note, I'm also a big fan of "Weekly Shonen Jump" and have been reading manga since I grew up. This is probably a fan mentality, but I wanted to incorporate the unique texture of Jump 's paper...

Q. Is there anyone you don't want to lose to? Is there a rival?

Yamashita

I don't know, but I know Keiji Iwakura and Shintaro Egashira, so I'll be aware of them. I'm looking forward to it.

Miyoshi

I have worked with both of them before, and I know very well how high the quality of their work is. But, as the Prize Division, I still don't want to lose.

Q. To be honest, do you think you can win?

Miyoshi

On the note I had with me (that I had prepared for the interview), I wrote, "Check out the quality of the prizes!" (laughs).

Yamashita

Sounds good, let's go with that!

Q. Lastly, please give a message to everyone.

Yamashita

I guess it was like, "What do you think of this Teach?" Since this was the first time I was able to make the pose.

Miyoshi

It would be great if it becomes "Teach for real." I would like to create something that has never been done before and have it become a symbol.