Tag Archives: Japan

From samurai and ninjas to giant mecha like Gundam or the beautiful films of Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese history and culture inspire LEGO builders all over the world. With contributors fluent in Japanese, The Brothers Brick also brings you coverage of the people and events in the large LEGO fan community in Japan itself.

Wagiri.

Bruce wondered what ayucow’s recent, rather strange “Wagiri” vignette might mean. Here’s the vignette in question:

I wasn’t sure myself, so I checked out ayucow’s blog post, where he tries to explain:

This was my entry for the 5th Odaiba Click Brick Building Contest. It’s the sort of creation that causes one to struggle when asked “What is this?” If forced to answer, I would say, “After cutting a top sirloin or pork roast into thick slices, you’re all fired up and exclaim, ‘For dinner this evening we eat meat! Yay!'”

(The term wagiri itself simply means “cut in a cross-section” or “sliced in the round.”)

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Japanese History Vignettes by Enryu

Classic-Castler Enryu recently posted two vignettes inspired by Japanese history.

Here’s “Dappan” (more info in Enryu’s C-C post):

And here’s “Tachioujou” (C-C post):

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Earth Park by Sachiko

Back on the old blog, I posted a couple times about a series of TV episodes in Japan called “LEGO King Championship.” You can read more about the show here, and see a YouTube video here. Unfortunately, the images I linked to in my original post quickly expired, and the YouTube footage doesn’t do justice to the creations.

After a very long wait (well, I’ve been waiting), Sachiko Akinaga has uploaded a great set of pictures that show off the “Earth Park” that won her the title of LEGO Champion:

Click the image for the full gallery on Brickshelf.

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Up a hundred stairs and through a gate...

I can’t count the number of Shinto shrines I visited growing up in Japan. I visited plenty of shrines in big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, but my favorites were always the small shrines tucked into a grove deep in a forest or perched atop a tall hill. No matter what one’s religious alignment, I don’t think it’s possible not to feel the pervading sense of peace and holiness in these beautiful, tranquil places.

Brickshelfer Paul Donis evokes a mountainous path leading to a shrine with his “Torii gate”:

(Via VignetteBricks.)

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Horseback Warrior by Dellta

Japanese builder dellta presents a very large warrior on horseback:

(Click for gallery on Brickshelf, when public.)

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Happy Year of the Boar!

Yeah yeah, I already posted a roundup of LEGO creations inspired by Japanese new year’s celebrations, but Soren kindly pointed out an important masterpiece I missed. Without further ado, I give you “Wild Boar Girl” by mizuki:

Have a great 2007, everybody!

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New Years 2007 Japanese LEGO Creation Roundup

As I predicted in a recent post, New Years Day in Japan has brought a spate of timely LEGO creations, including many inspired by the Year of the Boar.

First up, a boar ATV by Izzo:

Next, a new years card (or nengajyou) from mumu and his wife:

Here’s another new years card from Ayucow over at Bacalogue (turning boars into vehicles is quite the theme this year):

A boar by sumi_handy’s son:

Finally, two creations by inago100. Here’s a very large batch of new years eve noodles, or toshikoshi soba (link):

And new years decorations (link):

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DIY Japanese New Years Card

2007 will be the Year of the Boar. Of course, tigers eat boars for breakfast, so I’m thinkin’ it’ll be a good year.

As I explained on New Years Day 2006, Japanese homes begin to fill up with new years cards — called nengajyou — this time of year.

I assume we’ll see lots of boar-themed LEGO creations over the next week or so, but mumu gets things rolling with the first new years card. According to his blog post, he created a LEGO boar that LEGO/graphic design site 05cube! has integrated into a nice DIY card-maker. Here’s mine (note personalized message to our beloved readers):

Click my card to go to 05Cube! and make your own. There are enough English instructions that you should be able to get by. :) Just leave a comment here if you have any trouble.

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BrickDonald’s, anyone?

Sachiko Akinaga is a champion builder who lives in Japan. My favorite creation from her latest batch of updates is a McDonald’s value meal:

Check out what happens when some minifigs come along and spill the Coca-Cola:

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Micro Edo Castle by Patrick Yrizarry

This was on the top of my “to blog” list before the power went out last Thursday. What I like so much about Patrick Yrizarry’s microscale Edo castle is all the detail he’s packed into it, from the moat to the gate and the courtyard full of trees of various shapes:

Here’s an angle that shows off the gate:

(Via Bruce’s new blog, MicroBricks.)

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Winners of the 5th Original Model Contest in Japan

For the past five years, LEGO specialty store Click Brick in the Odaiba shopping district of Tokyo has held an “Original Model Contest.” (Via mumu’s I Love Cute LEGO and VignetteBricks.)

You can view all of the entries in Sachiko Akinaga’s Brickshelf gallery, but Edge informs us that the winners have been announced. Here they are:

HIRO’s “Friends”:

kobachan’s “I’m Sorry Matsui”:

Mokuami’s “Brace Yourself! General Dokuro’s Tower”:

My personal favorite, Pisatake’s “Meeting Totoro at the Bus Stop in the Rain”:

Azumu’s “Dancing Cat”:


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The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Featured Blog: American Comics LEGO Archive


I think I’ll start something new: Every so often, highlighting a blog I like.

Since I just blogged custom minifigs (the humanity!), it seems only natural that I highlight Xeuren’s American Comics Lego Archive. Back in December, I highlighted Xeuren’s blog on Pan-Pacific Bricks. And I quote:

You’ll never see modified minifigs on my other blog, but in the interest of objectivity, I absolutely must highlight Xueren’s American Comics Lego Archive blog.

Well, both Josh and I have blogged custom minifigs at this point, so that first bit no longer applies.

Xeuren updates his Brickshelf gallery irregularly, but if you want a near-daily dose of comic book-inspired custom minifigs, check out his blog.

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