Nostalgy in Hamamatsu Diorama Factory

In the article on November 12, I introduced some diorama works in Saigagake Museum in which historical scenes were realistically created with figures. They were made by Takuji Yamada, a modeler from Hamamatsu. In Zaza West in the downtown, there is Hamamatsu Diorama Factory where you can see his other works as well as those made by other people.

As the museum is in a shopping center, the museum is open until 20:00. It is on the 2nd floor of the building, beyond a candy store selling old style sweets for children. As it is prohibited to take pictures in this store, I can’t show you how it looks. However, I I’m sure its nostalgic atmosphere attracts many people. When I went there this evening, there were some groups of high school students selecting sweets.

After I paid the admission fee at the counter of the candy store, the salesclerk guided me to the museum. Fortunately, you can take pictures of the entrance and inside of the museum.

This is the family of the modeler Takuji Yamada. On his desk, there is another diorama work that looks like this one!

“A Police and A Thief” is comical and his one of the most famous work.

This is “A Dinner In Autumn 1965.”

I think this work is more vivid. All the family members are in kotatsu or a Japanese foot warmer and watching TV.

Kotatsu can be used as a working table. I remember how I envied my cousins who used to build plastic models when we were little. I wanted to have plastic models instead of dolls, but I didn’t dare to ask my parents to buy them.

I think parents should present various options of toys so that children can choose freely whatever they like regardless of their sex. This is “Christmas Eve.”

There were also other kinds of works such as Gandum,

and 20000 Leagues Under The Sea.

If you love diorama and models, this spot may be a must to visit. On the first floor of Zaza West, there are some other works exhibited free of charge.

Hamamatsu Diorama Factory
Address: ZAZA West 2F, 15 Kaji-machi, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka
Tel. 053-489-3725
Open hours: 10:00-20:00 (last entry 19:30)
Access: 8-minute walk from JR Hamamatsu Station