Hello!
I’m Jun Watanabe, and from now on, I’ll be writing this column for Hobby Media. I’m a designer currently living in Japan. If you’re an avid Tamiya fan, you may already know my name. I designed an RC car called “Hornet by Jun Watanabe”, released by Tamiya in 2012. It’s Tamiya’s classic Hornet design, adorned with an unforgettable polka-dot pattern and a devilish purple and pink flare. Of course, there is a reason I designed Tamiya’s classic Hornet with such an intense colour pattern—but I’ll save that story for later.
The design of that Tamiya Hornet was a one-time project, but I have other ongoing works with Tamiya, including a collaborative line of t-shirts, nylon jackets, and bags. Although it’s not often—about once a year—I continue to work on exclusive designs for Tamiya.