Hasegawa Corporation

Lore & Background

Hasegawa opened in 1941 as a manufacturer of wooden teaching materials, such as woodwork models. It entered the plastic model field in 1961 with its first plastic model glider airplane kits. In June 1962, the 1/450 battleship Yamato was released after high development costs and became a success, selling about 150,000 units in the same year, with continuing success in following years. The profitable line of 1/90 F-104 Starfighter and 1/70 P-51 Mustang model kits became the turning point that prompted Hasegawa to turn away from woodwork models and to plastic models completely.

Hasegawa is noted for releasing a large number of minor variations of their major products, often adding or modifying a small number of parts, or only changing the decals for the kit. This strategy allows them to maximize their return on investment in kit tooling quicker, as such minor variations cost little to produce compared to the cost of manufacturing the original. Most such variations are usually only released once.

Lacking their own lineup of paint products, Hasegawa kits come with instructions that specify the use of Gunze Sangyo products, most notably paints in the GSI Creos brand. This is in contrast to Tamiya, who specifies the use of its in-house brands. Currently, Hasegawa kits are imported into North America by Hobbico's Great Planes Model Distributor division. Hasegawa ended their long-time agreement with Dragon Models Limited for US distribution in early 2010. Hasegawa also imports Revell kits into Japan and sells them under both the Revell brand and its own brand label, and Revell frequently re-boxes Hasegawa kits for the European and North American markets.

Reader's Guide

Hasegawa's significance lies in its long-standing position as a major Japanese model kit manufacturer, competing directly with Tamiya from its base in Shizuoka. While its product line is smaller than Tamiya's, Hasegawa has built a reputation for producing highly accurate kits, though they are generally considered less easy to assemble than Tamiya offerings. The company's strategy of releasing many minor variations of its major kits—by adding or modifying a few parts or simply changing decals—has allowed it to efficiently recoup tooling costs and maintain a steady stream of new releases. This approach, combined with its early success with the 1/450 Yamato and later with aircraft kits like the F-104 Starfighter and P-51 Mustang, helped Hasegawa transition fully from wooden teaching materials to plastic models. Its distribution relationships have shifted over time, including ending a long-term agreement with Dragon Models Limited for US distribution in early 2010, and it now relies on Hobbico's Great Planes division for North American imports. Hasegawa also plays a role in the global market by importing Revell kits into Japan and allowing Revell to re-box its kits for Europe and North America. The company's lack of its own paint line, instead specifying Gunze Sangyo products, distinguishes it from Tamiya and reflects its focus on kit production rather than accessory lines.

Did You Know?

• Hasegawa's first plastic model kits were glider airplane models, released in 1961.
• The 1/450 battleship Yamato sold about 150,000 units in its first year after release in June 1962.
• Hasegawa kits specify the use of Gunze Sangyo paints, as the company lacks its own paint lineup.