Timeline
Established the world’s first retail store specializing in character figures, that specialize only in high-priced art and craft items
Established the brand, ART OF WAR™, a name that takes its inspiration from the title of the classic Chinese treatise, Art of War by Sun Tzu.
ART OF WAR™ is registered as a trademark in Japan, the EU, USA, China, Korea, and other countries.
When the company was established, we started out as the world’s largest maker of made-to-order garage kit figures based on licensed content from companies such as Hakusensha, Tsuburaya Productions, Time Warner Entertainment, and Capcom.
Our showroom was designed by a leading architect who mainly specializes with commercial architecture projects such as jewelry stores
Representing the creative beauty of the formative arts of the Sengoku Period
We collaborated with Mr. Hiromichi Miura, an advisor to The Association for the Research and Preservation of Japanese Helmets and Armor, to create a uniquely designed one-quarter scale replica of military armor. The item, was well received around the world as being representative of the beauty of the formative arts of the Sengoku Period
New Challenges
We are reproducing the world-renowned beauty of armor from the Sengoku Period. It is important to note that although armor has been partially preserved as weapons, it has rarely been accurately reproduced as fully-clothed figures. What concerns us is that most of the armor of famous military commanders have been lost, so it is difficult to imagine what they really might have looked like. We therefore started researching and creating armors to preserve the beauty of the Azuchi-Momoyama period for future generations
We were certified as a management innovation company by the Japanese government in 2001 in recognition of our reputation as a cultural creation business
We planned and produced faithful reproductions of “Uesugi Kensin (Mogami Dogusoku )”, Sanada Yukimura (Buddha Dogusoku )”, “Oda Nobunaga” statues using the same materials and manufacturing methods as the actual armor of the time. We achieved this through intensive discussion with various parties and analysing what the production process would have been
Worked on the 1/4 size statues of military commanders: Oda Nobunaga, Sanada Yukimura, and Date Masamune
Reproduced a Sengoku Period jinbaori, a surcoat that covers armor, and kosode, a garment with small wrist openings, with the Kyoto Dyeing and Technical Federation
Uesugi Kenshin’s kosode with a gold and brown nuriwaki painting
Began planning and production of urushi lacquerware to reproduce drinking vessels from the Sengoku Period
Top: Began production of Uesugi Kenshin’s sake cup and bottle
Bottom: Began production of Setoguro, Kizeto, Shino, Karatsu, and other Japanese pottery art representative of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period
Began supervision on painting of military commanders
Top: Military commander Sanada Yukimurapainted by Takano Haruo
Bottom: Military commander Oda Nobunaga painted by Takano Haruo
Completed 1/2 scale reproduction of armor sets “Kuroda Nagamasa’s large buffalo-width peach-shaped helmet and complete set of Gusoku” and “Oda Nobunaga’s Nanban helmet”
Based on thorough research, this is the world’s first accurate reproduction in 1/2 scale
Developed Japanese-made mechanical watches
©Kentarou Miura (studio GAGA)/ Hakusensha
Production was entrusted to Orient Watch, Japan’s leading manufacturer of mechanical watches. This product was made possible by the high level of technology and quality that can only be achieved through domestic production.
Orient Watch is a manufacturer that has gained overwhelming popularity among mechanical watch enthusiasts thanks to its advanced technology.
This product has been featured in “The World Encyclopedia of Watches.”
Held exhibitions entitled “The Beauty of Azuchi-Momoyama Period” throughout Japan to showcase the two and three dimensional aesthetic form of arts and crafts from that period
Exhibited at Tokyo Gift Show to show the beauty of statues, paintings, lacquerware and pottery from the Azuchi-Momoyama Period
Produced Japan’s first authentic Historical Figure series
Started an artist brand management division
(C)原哲夫
© Hara Tetsuo
Started planning and production of original Buddhist statues designed by Hara Tetsuo – the illustrator of the manga, Fist of the North Star, and other titles – and production of paintings, hanging scrolls and drinking vessels
Created a limited edition of thirty 1/1 scale Ken-oh and “Naoe Kanetsugu, helmets using the same traditional techniques as real helmets
We utilized the original traditional Japanese process of laminating real iron, beating it out by hand, and forming the shape. The helmets were also decorated with various authentic materials such as leather, wood, and stone
© Buronson, Hara Tetsuo / NSP 1983, Copyright License HIA-408 Fist of the North Star
© Ryu Keiichiro, Hara Tetsuo, Aso Mio / NSP 1990, Copyright License HID-609 Hana no Keiji
Created a new series of original Buddhist statues entitled BuddhismArt
Exhibited at 1st Licensing Japan
Launched original character brand SAMURAI ANIMALS
Began creating our own character brand and promoting it through licensing
Exhibited at 2nd Licensing Japan
以降、全てのライセンシングジャパンに出展
We have exhibited at every Licensing Japan trade show
Exhibited SAMURAI ANIMALS at Tokyo Gift Show
Nominated at the 2015 LIMA International Licensing Awards as one of six finalists in the 2015 Best Character or Toy Brand Program of the Year category
AMURAI ANIMALS™, was nominated as one of six finalists in the 2015 Best Character or Toy Brand Program of the Year category, alongside world-famous properties from licensors such as Marvel Entertainment/Walt Disney Company, Hasbro and Sanrio
Established Atelier Kensin and created a limited edition of fifty 1/4 scale statues of military commanders
Left: Oda Nobunaga statue(Nanban Dogusoku)
Right: Sanada Yukimura statue(Buddha Dogusoku)
Released the latest work in the 1/4th scale “Masamune Date” Warlord Statue with Kuro-urushi Gomaidou Gusoku”.
Exhibited at Licensing Expo Japan 2018
Exhibited at Licensing Expo China 2018
Exhibited at Japan Content Showcase 2018
Delivered a lecture in St. Petersburg, Russia
Exhibited at The Great Berserk Exhibition Tokyo
We presented our three dimensional products and sold art of war’s goods.
Later, We displayed our product at the Great Berserk Exhibition in five different locations in Japan.
We will exhibit at Licensing Expo LA 2025.
Company Profile
| Name of Company | KENSIN CO., LTD. |
| Trade Mark | ART OF WAR® |
| Date of Foundation | February 18th, 1997 |
| Address | B1/F, Nihonbashi Yuwa Bldg., 3-3-8, Nihonbashihongoku-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0021, Japan |
| Telephone Number | 03 (5299) 5617 |
| Fax Number | 03 (5299) 5618 |
| President | Sakakibara Yutaro |
| Capitalization | JP¥10,000,000 |
| Business Outline | Original character licensing business, Consulting, OEM Manufacturing, Development and sales of in-house and licensed character toys and art crafts. |
| Trading Territories | Japan, North America, East Asia, Europe, Middle East, etc. |
| Major Clients | UBISOFT EMEA, Hakusensha Inc., Shueisha Inc., North Stars Pictures Inc., De Agostini Japan KK., Nippon Television Music Corporation, Maruzen Co., Ltd, Mitsukoshi Ltd., NHK Promotions Inc., Shogakukan Inc., Togyoku Doll Co., Ltd., Yoshitoku Co., Ltd., Media Factory Inc., Capcom Co., Ltd., Business Association Amazon.com. Inc., eBay Inc., Warner Entertainment Japan Inc., Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd., Daiei Film Co., Ltd., Sammy Corporation, Konami Corporation, Yuke’s Co., Ltd., Cave Interactive Co., Ltd., Takeshobo Co., Ltd., ZenWorks Co., Ltd., Licensing International Japan, Tokyo Otaku Mode Inc. |