Hobby Japan (ホビージャパン) is a Japanese publishing company known for publishing and releasing books, magazines, light novels, games, and collectibles. One of its most popular publications is the Hobby Japan magazine, which specializes in model kits & figures.

This special issue of the sister publication Hobby Japan Extra features the work of famed concept artist Yoji Shinkawa (新川洋司), most well known for his creative collaborations with Hideo Kojima on games like the Metal Gear Solid series as well as Death Stranding.

Included are character/mechanic concept design and drawings as well as models from Death Stranding like Sam Porter’s reverse trike, Frame Arms / Frame Arms Girls mecha designs from figure maker Kotobukiya’s line of customizable model kits and more.

My favorite is the character/suit design for LUDENS, the mascot of Hideo Kojima’s game company Kojima Productions ( title image above ).

I’ve never actually played any of the Metal Gear Solid games before, but I did enjoy Death Stranding, and Yoji Shinkawa’s concept art for the game is excellent, so I knew I had to pick this one up. The concept art drawings for LUDENS is a very nice bonus for me. Just like any other Japanese periodical, magazines like this one seldom get re-printed once they sell out, so if you are keen to get a copy, do it sooner rather than later in case it runs out. Recommended.

“The Arts & Crafts Of Yoji Shinkawa – Hobby Japan Extra Magazine ホビージャパンエクストラ 特集：新川洋司” details :

Dimensions – 29.7 x 21 x 0.8 cm
Softcover, 112 pages
B&W with color on select pages, In Japanese language

  
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