Image from: RCMart.com
Last week, on July 18, 2025, the modeling world quietly lost one of its most influential figures: Shunsaku Tamiya, former president and chairman of Tamiya, Inc., passed away at the age of 90. 1, 2 For many of us, his name is etched into our hobby spaces – on paint jars, tool handles, and the instruction sheets of countless kits. But his legacy runs far deeper than the brand we know and love.
From Sawmill to Scale Models
Shunsaku inherited a sawmill from his father, Yoshio Tamiya, and transformed it into a global icon of plastic modeling. In the early 1960s, he pivoted the company toward military-themed plastic kits, setting a new standard for detail and realism. 3 His commitment to accuracy was legendary – he once purchased a Porsche 934, disassembled it entirely, and used it as reference for one of Tamiya’s most iconic kits. 3
A Global Impact
Under Shunsaku’s leadership, Tamiya expanded internationally, attending trade shows like the Nuremberg Toy Fair and establishing overseas facilities. His vision helped popularize Mini 4WD racers, RC cars, and high-fidelity military models, which became so precise that they reportedly drew the attention of security agencies in Japan, the United States, and Russia. 3
A Family Legacy
The Tamiya name continues into its third generation, with Nobuhiro Tamiya, 3 Shunsaku’s grandson-in-law, serving as president since July 1st, 2024 following Shunsaku’s retirement last year. 4 But Shunsaku’s influence remains the foundation – his passion for modeling and innovation shaped not just a company, but an entire culture.
Final Thoughts
The fingerprints of Shunsaku’s legacy are visible everywhere: Tamiya paints, tools, and kits that have fueled countless hours of creativity. His work made modeling more than a pastime – it became a way to connect with history, engineering, and imagination.
Shunsaku Tamiya wasn’t just a businessman – he was a visionary, a craftsman, and a quiet force behind the joy many of us find in scale modeling. His passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy lives on in every carefully assembled kit and every bottle of Tamiya Extra Thin Cement.
安らかにお眠りください Yasuraka ni o nemuri kudasai, 5 Mr. Tamiya. Your precision, passion, and pursuit of excellence will continue to inspire generations of modelers for years to come.
Footnotes:
- In Memoriam: Mr. Shunsaku Tamiya ↩︎
- Tamiya Chairman Shunsaku Tamiya Passes Away at 90; Helped Japanese Company Transition to Making World-Class Plastic Models ↩︎
- Shunsaku Tamiya, The Man Behind the RC Car & Model Kit Empire, Passes Away ↩︎
- Tamiya Chairman and President Shunsaku Tamiya retires, Nobuo becomes new president ↩︎
- How to Express Condolences in Japan? ↩︎
Images used in this article are sourced from various websites, click on their respective caption links to view the original content. Credit to respective creators.