Shunsaku Tamiya, former president and chairman of Tamiya, Inc., passed away on July 18. His death was announced on July 21, with funeral services attended by close family and friends. Mr Tamiya led the transformation of Tamiya into a world-renowned manufacturer of high-precision plastic model kits, radio control vehicles, and motorized Mini 4WD racers.
He joined the company founded by his father originally as a transport firm, and switched to supplying lumber after the war. That brought about an expansion into wooden models, primarily of ships and planes. After a fire destroyed the company’s lumber supply, it focused primarily on the models.
Not long after, plastic technology improved and began taking over the model kit market. Shunsuke Tamiya spearheaded the shift to puramo (a portmanteau of “plastic” and “model”) and in the process changed the industry. He helped fuel enthusiasm for cars, as well as other types of transportation, for generations of children and adults alike.
Shunsaku Tamiya was responsible for creating Tamiya’s signature branding and reputation for quality. He invited his brother Masao to create the “twin stars” logo and hired illustrators to create the “white box” look that made Tamiya stand out in sharp contrast to the box art of other model makers.
Most of all, he was the driving force in the unmatched precision Tamiya kits have come to be celebrated for. Famously, while creating the model kit for the 1976 Porsche 934 Turbo RSR, Tamiya-san sent his designers to Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory several times to get the measurements and details just right. However, despite repeated trips there were still doubts about the kit’s accuracy. So Tamiya bought a Porsche 911 and completely disassembled it to get every detail correct. Eventually, the car was put back together, and Shunsaku Tamiya personally ferried Jody Scheckter and his wife to the 1976 Japan Grand Prix in it.
In 2018 Shunsaku Tamiya was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival for his contributions to the hobby industry. His contributions to the imaginations of petrolheads, however, will live on for many more years to come. Shunsaku Tamiya was 90 years old.
Reliable quality indeed.
MANNNNNN…. I know modeling has become less popular today due to the younger generation and their lack of patience (think “social media” and instant gratification), but Tamiya introduced me to the world of JDM cars. I have built quite a number of 1/24 model cars under his brand, including my first Lamborghini Countach LP500S, an NSX, Supra Turbo, the holy grail Ferrari F40 as well some other cars. I’ve also built a number of Fujimi models, but I always looked for Tamiya. I currently have a few unbuilt / unfinished models (Miata, Prelude, 300ZX, R34 GT-R), and sadly probably won’t ever finish them.
My uncle from Hong Kong would get me a Tamiya model every Christmas during my middle school / high school years, and I would also peruse the model car aisle at Longs Drugs. It was rather odd that Longs Drugs would sell model cars to begin with, but in addition to the Monogram / Revell, they carried a strong selection of Tamiya, and I believe the prices were definitely higher than the American counterparts. I remember begging my dad to buy me that Tamiya Ferrari F40 model; it was $19.95 and I had stared at it each time I went there. I believe he bought it for me as a birthday gift, and I definitely remember putting in the effort in painting / building that one.
Thank you, Mr Tamiya, for making helping me create some of my childhood past times. I hope your company continues to thrive.
Not many people like Tamiya san are left. Rest in Peace sir.