Tomo Tanaka is a "miniature artist." That doesn't mean he is of small stature. Oh no, but his art certainly is.
Tanaka, who lives in Osaka, works with very small scales—such as 1/12 and 1/24 scale—and makes items for small-scale display. Tanaka creates everything from glasses to samurai swords and from cookware to meals (though, unlike this miniature cook, these meals aren't edible—though, that's not really the point here).
[Photo: nunus_house]
Using tools like tweezers and x-acto knives, Tanaka can spend weeks on a single project, making his miniatures from everything from toothpicks, resin, and bits of wire. As noted on Matome Naver, Tanaka taught himself how to make these miniatures. He has a corporate day job and works as an artist in his spare time.
[Photo: nunus_house]
What's so amazing about Tanaka's art isn't only its size, but rather, that he is able to capture the texture and feelings of the items he portrays.
In the video below, you can see him make teeny Date Masamune samurai armor:
If you want to purchase his work, sometimes Tanaka auctions off pieces online (sorry, Japanese language only), and he also holds classes, giving instruction in the fine art of miniature making. Typically these are in Kansai (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto), but he also has them in Tokyo.
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
These glasses are more impressive when you realize they can do this.
[Photo: miniature_MH]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
[Photo: nunus_house]
Check out Tanaka's work on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter as well as on his official site.
Top photo: nunus_house
To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft.
Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.