One of Shizuoka Prefecture’s many model kit manufacturers, Hasegawa was founded in 1941 to create wooden teaching material models, similarly to fellow Shizuoka denizen Aoshima. Like Aoshima, they would enter the plastic model business in the 60s, creating a model of the battleship Yamato (no, not the one with secret Iscandarians on it).
They also began engaging in developing naval model kits alongside Aoshima, rival Tamiya (they of the paints and glue) and Fujimi. These kits would make it to the West through a variety of importers, notably through Dragon Model and Revell, with whom they made a mutual pact; Revell would import Hasegawa’s goods to the West and Hasegawa would import Revell’s into Japan.
Hasegawa’s business is largely in traditional model kits; even their supposedly snap-fit kits are really just traditional kits that are slightly easier, and so anyone seeking to get into them should remember that. In addition to kits of automobiles and planes, they also have an extensive sci-fi catalog, covering franchises like Macross (sadly, without Freyja anywhere in sight, how boring), Kow Yokoyama’s Maschinen Krieger (also produced by Wave) and even Cutie Honey.
However, Hasegawa does have a history adjacent to the space; having run events like Pla-Plane all the way back from the 1970s, they are also a common fixture at Hobby Round, Volks’ own hobby event, showcasing products like their Egg Girl toyline, among other events. While not one of the major players in the early mecha musume craze that would be the predecessor to today’s girlpla scene, Hasegawa’s place in model kit history should not be understated, even if it’s not quite something this guide can reasonably discuss.
Most relevant to this guide, however, Hasegawa would start developing Virtual-ON kits in 2004, continuing to do so to this day, an honor they would share with Wave and (who else) Kotobukiya. However, they would finally come with their own true girlpla line in Artificial Spirit Genesis, due for release in 2026, as a true participant in the girlpla niche.
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