The University of Tokyo LEGO club has been working on a large-scale version of a campus landmark, the clock tower, and they’ve just announced that it is now complete:
(Via Edge over at レゴ系.)
Tag Archives: Japan
Kinkaku-ji by Jumpei Mitsui
Jumpei Mitsui and Sachiko Akinaga have earned international reputations through their participation in the LEGO King Championship TV show. More importantly, they’re both well-known for their great building skills, as Jumpei demonstrates with his recreation of Kinkaku-ji, the “Golden Pavilian” in Kyoto, Japan:
(I think Hippotam over at Klocki has a time machine.)
Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki/Tojo by HIEN
Brickshelfer HIEN has updated one of his many World War II aircraft, the Nakajima Ki-44 (Wikipedia link). Named “Shoki” by the Japanese Army Air Force and “Tojo” by the Allies, the aircraft was used to intercept B-29 bombers:
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.”)
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):
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.
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.)
Horseback Warrior by Dellta
Japanese builder dellta presents a very large warrior on horseback:
(Click for gallery on Brickshelf, when public.)
Happy Year of the Boar!
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):
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.
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:
