This is a rarity. These days, most anime figures are produced in China. Good Smile Company, however, has a factory in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, producing high-quality collectibles. Let’s take a look inside.
Recently, Japanese TV show Gacchiri Monday visited the factory, which opened in late 2014.
![[Image via Ryou_I_01 | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/kn0242vxq8foqceumtj4.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/kn0242vxq8foqceumtj4.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/kn0242vxq8foqceumtj4.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/kn0242vxq8foqceumtj4.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/kn0242vxq8foqceumtj4.jpg 1600w)
Besides shaping the figures, everything is done by hand at this factory.
![[Image via MoeJP | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/kbjpf6avlubacfo82oko.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/kbjpf6avlubacfo82oko.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/kbjpf6avlubacfo82oko.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/kbjpf6avlubacfo82oko.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/kbjpf6avlubacfo82oko.jpg 1600w)
This Good Smile Company employee is explaining how until now, the vast majority of figures are entirely made in China.
![[Image via MoeJP | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/dizhudpur9nfk59fhzs6.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/dizhudpur9nfk59fhzs6.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/dizhudpur9nfk59fhzs6.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/dizhudpur9nfk59fhzs6.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/dizhudpur9nfk59fhzs6.jpg 1600w)
This is the company’s first figure factory in Japan.
![[Image via arakichi1969 | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/fmxrtrzlrkt0qmp5vn3y.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/fmxrtrzlrkt0qmp5vn3y.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/fmxrtrzlrkt0qmp5vn3y.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/fmxrtrzlrkt0qmp5vn3y.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/fmxrtrzlrkt0qmp5vn3y.jpg 1600w)
The goal is to make high-quality made-in-Japan collectibles.
![[Image via arakichi1969 | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/m1gom97ifj2on5yopwuw.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/m1gom97ifj2on5yopwuw.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/m1gom97ifj2on5yopwuw.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/m1gom97ifj2on5yopwuw.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/m1gom97ifj2on5yopwuw.jpg 1600w)
The painting is, of course, also done by hand.
![[Image via MoeJP | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/ljmsookedhbb2utcr7wb.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/ljmsookedhbb2utcr7wb.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/ljmsookedhbb2utcr7wb.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/ljmsookedhbb2utcr7wb.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/ljmsookedhbb2utcr7wb.jpg 1600w)
There are so many small details to discover in the painting.
![[Image via MoeJP | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/g7si0zp0ace2idvjmpck.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/g7si0zp0ace2idvjmpck.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/g7si0zp0ace2idvjmpck.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/g7si0zp0ace2idvjmpck.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/g7si0zp0ace2idvjmpck.jpg 1600w)
Can you see the difference between before and after?
![[Image via MoeJP | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/icbf4xa7njb3rc5s2exv.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/icbf4xa7njb3rc5s2exv.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/icbf4xa7njb3rc5s2exv.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/icbf4xa7njb3rc5s2exv.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/icbf4xa7njb3rc5s2exv.jpg 1600w)
The top part was painted navy, which you might think is unnoticeable, but diehard fans appreciate these small touches.
![[Image via ParaRiorg01 | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/wm0ix3zo59xi4pn6q5zh.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/wm0ix3zo59xi4pn6q5zh.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/wm0ix3zo59xi4pn6q5zh.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/wm0ix3zo59xi4pn6q5zh.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/wm0ix3zo59xi4pn6q5zh.jpg 1600w)
So, for example, a hundred colors were used in painting this figure.
![[Image via ParaRiorg01 | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/rpb72zfmrhfmmdfkqvpy.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/rpb72zfmrhfmmdfkqvpy.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/rpb72zfmrhfmmdfkqvpy.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/rpb72zfmrhfmmdfkqvpy.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/rpb72zfmrhfmmdfkqvpy.jpg 1600w)
Impressive work.
![[Image via arakichi1969 | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/vcay3gyof62a2jkbqern.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/vcay3gyof62a2jkbqern.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/vcay3gyof62a2jkbqern.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/vcay3gyof62a2jkbqern.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/vcay3gyof62a2jkbqern.jpg 1600w)
Here, they are polishing each individual part to make them smooth and so that none of the plastic bits stick out.
![[Image via arakichi1969 | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/tjaugsxcy3ecoqyvudrn.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/tjaugsxcy3ecoqyvudrn.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/tjaugsxcy3ecoqyvudrn.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/tjaugsxcy3ecoqyvudrn.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/tjaugsxcy3ecoqyvudrn.jpg 1600w)
Then, the parts are checked and separated in quality control.
![[Image via hiro19640615 | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/n0dvpou86osezyd5shue.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/n0dvpou86osezyd5shue.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/n0dvpou86osezyd5shue.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/n0dvpou86osezyd5shue.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/n0dvpou86osezyd5shue.jpg 1600w)
![[Image via hiro19640615 | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/d2kihkkfnue4cpopv0tm.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/d2kihkkfnue4cpopv0tm.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/d2kihkkfnue4cpopv0tm.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/d2kihkkfnue4cpopv0tm.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/d2kihkkfnue4cpopv0tm.jpg 1600w)
Small imperfections are noticed.
![[Image via cupo_figua | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/kvddmi31m4hexqo5mfik.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/kvddmi31m4hexqo5mfik.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/kvddmi31m4hexqo5mfik.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/kvddmi31m4hexqo5mfik.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/kvddmi31m4hexqo5mfik.jpg 1600w)
This face didn’t pass the quality test.
![[Image via hokuhokuson | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/irw5uzgd4dhioelnyfaa.png 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/irw5uzgd4dhioelnyfaa.png 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/irw5uzgd4dhioelnyfaa.png 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/irw5uzgd4dhioelnyfaa.png 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/irw5uzgd4dhioelnyfaa.png 1600w)
That teeny black dot makes this face unacceptable for release.
![[Image via holy_area | Gacchiri Monday]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/iqnesdnfjvptbuuxdpza.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/iqnesdnfjvptbuuxdpza.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/iqnesdnfjvptbuuxdpza.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/iqnesdnfjvptbuuxdpza.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/iqnesdnfjvptbuuxdpza.jpg 1600w)
Some much work, care and attention goes into these little cute figurines.
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DISCUSSION
I have over one hundred Nendoroids now. I thought I would never get addicted to collecting figures. I also keep all the boxes and extra accessories and it’s taking up a whole room.