You may not realize how badly you need an incredibly lifelike model of yourself until you open that box and hold it in your hand, but suddenly it needs to be riding the Xmas train…
posing for photos with your cherry blossom Lego set…
and taking up residence in your library
Psst…these make an amazing once-in-a-lifetime gift if you’re traveling with someone special or for a special occasion. There aren’t many souvenirs that deliver an only-in Japan experience AND an only-in-Japan memento that will make you smile every time you see it.
So, want to get one of these excellent items for yourself? Here’s how!
The place to get one made is the Small Worlds Miniatures Museum in Tokyo (which you should definitely see anyway for the insanely detailed only-in-Japan models). The price varies according to the size of figure you order and it takes about six weeks for them to be delivered, but I think you’ll agree it’s well worth the price and the wait!
You can choose from three sizes: 1/80th scale (like the tiny figures in the museum displays), 1/35th scale, and 1/24th scale.
Here’s what my 1/24 (L size) and 1/80th (S size) figures look like…
You can compare the 1/24th vs. 1/35th size figures in this photo (the couple on the left)
And why would anyone order the teeny tiny one? Because in addition to getting a super-mini-you, you can choose where a copy of it will live inside one of the museum models for a year! It’s super fun to come back and see yourself in one of the “worlds” (More on that soon…)
Before you go, think about what you’d like to wear and how you’d like to pose.
• You can pose by yourself or with up to three other people and there are even special days on which you can pose with your pet. Detailed price information is here.
• When choosing clothing, bold patterns and blocks of color turn out better than tiny prints, and transparent/lace layers can’t be scanned. More information here.
• If you plan to be scanned wearing cosplay, there are some restrictions on what is allowed. Detailed information here.
• There are limits on bringing your own props. They have a few loaner props (like the book in the photo below) but they didn’t allow me to use my own book for the scan. More detailed information about allowable props is here.
Okay, are you ready? Let’s go!
How to get your 3-D figure scan
Go to the third floor and tell the desk staff you’d like to have a figure made. You don’t need an appointment, but if there’s someone already being scanned, they may ask you to wander around the museum for a few minutes, then come back.
Do the paperwork and fill out your mailing label now. (They do ship overseas for an additional charge. Rates are here.) If you need time to change into your photo outfit, there’s a bathroom nearby.
When it’s time for your scan, do one last pose check before entering the ring of cameras…
then the technician will usher you into the photo area. You can be scanned standing or sitting and they allow you to shoot two different poses and choose between them later. If you don’t get everything perfect the first time, you can go back in and they’ll give you a do-over.
The staff can help you style your clothing and adjust your pose for best results.
There’s a mirror outside the ring in front of where you pose, so you can check hair, makeup, and adjust any wardrobe malfunctions right before they shoot.
When you’re ready…showtime!
They map you with a special beam while the cameras fire all at once. And…
Wait, is that it? Is it already over?
Let’s see how it looks!
The technician flicks through the view from each camera so you can see how you look from every angle. If there’s something you’d like to change, you can reshoot.
You can order figures made from one or both poses with no extra scanning charge, then they charge by the figure. Prices for each size are here. You can get multiple sizes made from one scan.
And now we wait for about six weeks until…
Your figure arrives!
I was looking forward to getting my first mini-me, but I wasn’t prepared for…
how detailed and like me from every angle it actually looked!
I haven’t opened a box that made me this excited for a very long time!
Naturally, I had to take the mini-me when I went back to Small Worlds to see where they installed the 1/80th size tiny-me! More on that in the next post, but this is us near our miniature-home-away-from-home…
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And here are the other places I take my friends when they come to town
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 