Interestingly, according to the video there are a lot of plastic model factories located in Shizuoka because the Tokugawa shogunate gathered woodworkers there from all over the country to build and maintain shrines and created a woodwork industry there. When plastic modeling first began, the design prototypes were carved from wood and the companies naturally looked for the best people in the field. I’m sure their shrine-building ancestors would be proud of them for their great contributions to otakuism.

Of course with 3D prototyping machines and precision laser cutters these days, 3D Studio Max is probably a more relevant skill than wood-carving.

I love how their work uniforms are designed based on Gundam military uniforms. LOL. It’s so geeky that it’s cool.

[ Via Japan Probe ]