★How do you express your hobbies and interest? (Where is your platform? How frequently do you partake?)

I participate in my hobby every day! I might not be working with my hands all the time, but at least once a day, I’m thinking of some new concept or design, so I consider it an everyday activity. Even while I’m playing Monster Hunter, I often catch myself thinking things like, “So this monster has this style of scales,” or “This area would make such a great background!” The amount of time it takes to create the actual pieces depends on their size, but on average, it takes about 3-7 days.

★What Pulled You Into Monster Hunter (and which title you started with, if you please!)

I started with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, but I can’t remember what it was that actually got me hooked to the series…I only remember my mother buying the game for me when we stopped by the Ito-Yokado department store on my way home from school one day. I’m so grateful to her for that.

★Main Weapons

Switch Axe, Hunting Horn, Dual Blades

★Your Favorite Monsters

Rajang, Event Quest Greatest Jagras, Dalamadur, Amatsu

★Your Most Memorable Hunts Thus Far (Solo, Multiplayer, Squads, etc.)

I’ve had nothing but memorable hunts since I started playing, but if I had to choose one, I’d say the recently-updated Rajang in Iceborne. I get endless goosebumps seeing its remastered model on a big screen TV, with all the visually stimulating details in its musculature and fur. Of course, it bopped me the first time I saw one!

★How long have you been making Monster Hunter related creations?

I started in 2011, so this is my 9th year!

★The finer points of your works

While I’m working on any depiction of a monster, I have in mind an image of its mode of life. Though monsters may all seem the same, I think they must have different physical traits and mentalities, much like humans do, and the kinds of battles they’ve endured would depend upon their age and personality; they may have endured a number of turf wars or life-and-death struggles with hunters, and I try to convey those experiences in the scarring of their flesh, scales, and horns. Technically, I’m very particular in my use of watercolors, so I take utmost care in the textures created by my brush strokes and how the colors blend, since these are effects that are unique to the medium.

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★A creation that has left a deep impression on you

“All of them!” is what I would like to say, but there is one piece that I was given the pleasure of creating for Appreciation Fest 2018, “When the Sapphire Star Shines”. Mr. Moteyama from the Monster Hunter Official Fanclub contacted me with the request: “We want you to make a big one!” which allowed me the privilege of taking on the epic challenge of a B1 size (728mm x 1189mm) canvas. It was so much fun drawing and painting on such large paper, and I barely finished by the deadline! It was a unique occasions where I felt like the project was so fun that I never wanted to stop working on it!

★Your next planned project

There are way too many subjects that I want to depict, and that makes it difficult to decide what’s next! If anyone has any requests, please feel free to contact me, I would love to hear them!

An extracurricular that I dedicated my youthful life to!

★How do you express your hobbies and interest? (Where is your platform? How frequently do you partake?)

Hello! I’m Shibainu Oimo! I create monster figure diorama pieces for interior decoration. I introduce my pieces on my YouTube channel, “Shibainu Oimo,” which I use to show recordings of the diorama creation process. When it comes to figures, there’s always the thought of how they look lined up on a shelf, but I found myself wondering how else could be used to decorate a space, and so that’s how I began designing decorative dioramas, recreating the fields which these monsters inhabit! Besides creating these dioramas, I also draw light-hearted pictures of monster too.

★What Pulled You Into Monster Hunter (and which title you started with, if you please!)

Out of the blue one day, my sibling came home carrying a Wii and a copy of Monster Hunter 3, and this was how I first came to know about the series. We could play the Arena together in split screen mode, and I remember we would be up late at night, trying our hardest, over and over, to beat Barroth before time ran out. Barroth’s attack was terrifying, so I would use the Heavy Bowgun to attack from long range… Thinking back on it now, it’s no wonder I took so long to beat it…

★Main Weapons

Bow, Long Sword

★Your Favorite Monsters

Lagiacrus, Zinogre, Mizutsune, Amatsu

★Your Most Memorable Hunts Thus Far (Solo, Multiplayer, Squads, etc.)

I went on a Shagaru Magala hunt as a 4-player party, but first one, then two members backed out, leaving only two of us in the party. It was a grueling battle, and we were down to our last few potions…I didn’t think we had a chance to clear it, but somehow we just barely beat the clock and cleared the hunt. We returned to the Gathering Hub after, we sat our characters together and chatted about the battle. “That was a close one!” “I was down to my last potion!” Having such a happy conversation after the struggle we put in is a very fond memory for me.

★How long have you been making Monster Hunter related creations?

I started creating decorative dioramas in 2018, making this my third year.

★The finer points of your works

I devote a lot of effort to faithfully recreating scenes; the areas the monsters pass through, their distinct scenery, the harvesting points, and all the gimmicky little details are things I pay special attention to. I also use actual materials such as stones, plantlife, and dirt to give the scenes realistic expression. I record as I create them, so I also do my best to record from a number of interesting angles.

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★A creation that has left a deep impression on you

My re-creation of Zinogre in the Misty Peaks area. It’s been viewed and praised by a number of people, but familiarizing myself with using different materials and applying new techniques for the work are the parts that stick with me most. I feel it was my most fulfilling piece, from both a creator’s and an observer’s perspective.

★Your next planned project

In addition to the field scenery, I want to try adding endemic life and a turf war to a diorama… There are so many other things I want to create as well, so I’m more than happy to have fun and take my time making any and all works!

A world of wonder that stirs my ambition for creation and design!

★How do you express your hobbies and interest? (Where is your platform? How frequently do you partake?)

We’re the Monster Hunter Dancers (MHD)! Members: – Hiroaki – Hiroshi – RAM – Taisuke – Monhan Mask Man – Yuusuke We do all sorts of Monster Hunter activities, from complete gesture recreations on Youtube, Twitter, and so on, thinking up dances based on MH monster BGMs, and streaming games live at Taisuke’s cafe, COATL! We also occassionally perform on stage as well!

★What Pulled You Into Monster Hunter (and which title you started with, if you please!)

A member of the dance team we were on at the time invited us to try out Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, and that was our first time!

★Main Weapons

Mainly long sword and great sword!

★Your Favorite Monsters

The Valstrax! I would have been so happy if it had been added to Iceborne.

★Your Most Memorable Hunts Thus Far (Solo, Multiplayer, Squads, etc.)

The MHW:Iceborne Eastern Japan Championship that took place November 24th, 2019! The quest was “The True Tyrant,” and we really gave it our all on the day of the match. (Even more so than when we danced at Kyocera Dome, haha) We didn’t place very well, but it was a super-intense and exciting experience!

★How long have you been making Monster Hunter related creations?

Roughly two years now!

★The finer points of your works

We really strive to accurately portray the movements of all the characters, such as the monster and cat movements. We also really paid attention to the details in weapons we made (haha). Further, we make sure not to detract from the wonderful original tracks in Monster Hunter when we do our arrangements for the dances (apologies for the liberties we’ve already taken! m(__)m) Lastly, we give our all to show our love and appreciation in every hunt we set out on!

★A creation that has left a deep impression on you

I always think back on the video of our recreation of the Meowscular Chef! We even made the actual platters! Thankfully we got so many views on Twitter that we finally got a taste of what “going viral” felt like, lol

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★Your next planned project

We were thinking to make a “dance-along to the Alatreon BGM!”

To us, Monster Hunter is a fun, passionate, and life-fulfilling piece of entertainment!

★How do you express your hobbies and interest? (Where is your platform? How frequently do you partake?)

I play Monster Hunter everyday, and post illustrations on Twitter as a hobby☆ I do all of my drawings on the Nintendo 3DS☆ I do pictures and comics of Monster Hunter subjects and memes that everyone online enjoys, so check out my account between hunts, if you have the time☆

★What Pulled You Into Monster Hunter (and which title you started with, if you please!)

I’m pretty sure the first Monster Hunter game I played was 『MHP2G』☆ I’d turn it on whenever I found the time to, call me a true-blue monster hunter☆ I’d get so excited every time my hunter rank went up and new quests were added, I couldn’t stop playing☆

★Main Weapons

In past installments, I mainly used Great Sword, Long Sword, Dual Blade, Insect Glaive, Bow, and Heavy Bowgun, but starting in MHW, I’ve been using Long Sword, Dual Blades, Lance, Light Bowgun, and Heavy Bowgun☆

★Your Favorite Monsters

All of the monsters have their own unique characteristics, and I love them all☆ I have especially fond memories of the last bosses and the flagship monsters☆

★Your Most Memorable Hunts Thus Far (Solo, Multiplayer, Squads, etc.)

The level 140 Guild Quest, the Special Permit Quest, and the collaboration monsters on multi-play difficulty☆ More recently, being able to battle the Fatalis from Iceborne with friends and Twitter followers has been a blast as well☆ The feeling of accomplishment whenever I clear a difficult quest is amazing, I love both co-op and single play☆

★How long have you been making Monster Hunter related creations?

I started shortly before MHW was released, so I’ve been at this for roughly 3 years now☆ I’m so grateful for all of the feedback I’ve received ever since☆

★The finer points of your works

I just draw whatever catches my interest, so I don’t know if I have any “finer points” to it, but I take great joy in learning that people who see my creations enjoy them just as much as I enjoy creating them☆

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★A creation that has left a deep impression on you

It has to be an illustration I did for the MHXX first anniversary celebration when I had just started out☆ I was a newbie to Twitter, so the massive amount of “likes” that it got made me so happy, and though I didn’t know it at the time, I even got a reply from the MHXX producer. I was beyond surprised that one of the creators of the actual monsters in MH was also on Twitter☆ Another that comes to mind is Millsy-chan, the barmaid who appears in MHXX. She’s my favorite character in the series, so making that piece also left a lasting impression on me☆

★Your next planned project

Monster Hunter Rise is set to release this year, so I hope to play and draw lots of it☆

Wowza! To me, Monster Hunter is like another precious world☆

★How to do you express your hobbies and interest? (Where is your platform? How frequently do you partake?)

Hi! I’m Goemon! I create miniature dioramas centered around Monster Hunter figures and share them on social media. I got interested in this hobby after seeing the videos by Shibainu Oimo, who was featured in Volume 3 of the Craftsman’s Workshop. I started off casually, but found it to be more fun than I’d imagined and ended up getting hooked. The Monster Hunter series is known for its hunting action gameplay, but the setting itself is equally fantastic, and there are numerous ways to enjoy it as well. I feel like my dioramas are simply an extension of the game’s setting. Naturally, I want as many people as possible to see my creations, but my main motivation is to show others that there are various ways to enjoy the world of Monster Hunter.

★What Pulled You Into Monster Hunter (and which title you started with, if you please!)

I first started playing Monster Hunter after a friend recommended it to me back when I was a student. My introduction to the series was Monster Hunter 2. At the time, I didn’t have an internet connection, so I played exclusively offline, but still found myself staying up all night to play it. I had known about the Monster Hunter franchise ever since the original first came out, but I was like, “why didn’t I start playing sooner?!” (laughs) After finishing school and getting married, I recommended Monster Hunter 3 to my wife and got her hooked, and we’ve been playing multiplayer together ever since. Monster Hunter World enables you to connect with all kinds of people through its online multiplayer, and I still keep in touch with friends I made in that game. The Monster Hunter franchise is amazing in so many ways.

★Main Weapons

I usually use the hammer, gunlance, hunting horn, dual blades, and long sword. But all of the weapons are super fun to use!

★Your Favorite Monsters

Most definitely Pukei-Pukei! I took a liking to it during the collaboration event between Monster Hunter World and The Witcher 3. I also like the more powerful monsters, such as Diablos, Rajang, and Goss Harag.

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★Your Most Memorable Hunts Thus Far (Solo, Multiplayer, Squads, etc.)

It’s always memorable when you successfully complete a hunt despite being one defeat away from failing, but two instances in particular really stick out for me. One is when I hunted Yian Kut-Ku for the first time! I can still hear the triumphant fanfare after numerous attempts trying to defeat it, learning from each mistake. The other one is when my wife and I were playing Monster Hunter XX and went up against Crimson Glow Valstrax. At the time, there was no two-player health setting, and there was no way to recruit other players once the quest started, so we picked up as many Herbs and Blue Mushrooms as we could find, and just managed to defeat it within the time limit. It was quite a rush.

★How long have you been making Monster Hunter related creations?

I’ve been making dioramas for just over two years now! So far, I’ve made 43 different creations, and am currently working toward a goal of 100.

★The finer points of your works

The figures are the focal point of my dioramas, so I try to create unique environments that bring out the best in each one. My compositions are designed to evoke feelings of calm, the monster’s intimidating presence, or whatever else matches the figure’s pose. I feel that if people think the figures look like living, breathing creatures, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do. I also enjoy choosing materials for my dioramas, so I try to use naturally occurring items and things I have on hand rather than buying ready-made materials. I often use fish bones, tea grounds, incense powder, and various other items for my creations!

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★A creation that has left a deep impression on you

There are many creations that I’m fond of, but my favorite would be my 37th piece, “Kulve Taroth’s Triumphant Stroll through El Dorado”! I had wanted to make El Dorado since I started creating these dioramas, but I didn’t really have the materials or the confidence at first, so I didn’t attempt it until after I’d been doing this for about a year. I used the gold-colored materials I’d steadily been accumulating and spent a great deal of time on it, so I felt immense pride after seeing it through to completion!

★Your next planned project

There are tons of things I’d like to make, but my next project is a diorama featuring the demon frog Tetsucabra. It’s making a leaping pose, so I want to do everything I can to capture its dynamic nature and give it a sense of realism! Further down the line, once the figure series Standard Model Plus Vol. 20 is released, I’d like to make a battle featuring Goss Harag vs. Rajang!

An experience that constantly pushes one to “rise to the summit” of their endeavors.

★How do you express your hobbies and interest? (Where is your platform? How frequently do you partake?)

I enjoy posting on YouTube and social media. Aside from that, I like video games, fishing, relaxing in the sauna, skateboarding, going drinking, and ramen.

★What Pulled You Into Monster Hunter (and which title you started with, if you please!)

When I was in elementary school, I was playing in the park with three of my friends and one of them brought a PSP with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. I was immediately hooked after seeing my friend lure Tigrex into a Pitfall Trap and then use a Barrel Bomb S to denotate two Barrel Bomb Ls that were placed in there. At the time, I only had a PS2, and I remember buying a copy of Monster Hunter 2 at a local game shop. Also, it’s a bit embarrassing, but I was pretty freaked out by my first Velociprey encounter.

★Main Weapons

Long Sword

★Your Favorite Monsters

Zinogre

★Your Most Memorable Hunts Thus Far (Solo, Multiplayer, Squads, etc.)

The most memorable was definitely when I was in junior high school and a group of friends and I got together after school and defeated Jhen Mohran. I’d like to go ahead and share number two on my list as well… It was when I defeated Amatsu. I remember being deeply impressed by watching the sky as it cleared up. Can I say my third best too? Thanks. It was when I defeated Rathalos in Monster Hunter Freedom. In it, you need a Rathalos egg in order to advance the story, so it was quite a rush taking down an enemy that you definitely had to beat. It’s still pretty scary thinking about trying to get that egg, so again, not something that I share very often.

★How long have you been making Monster Hunter related creations?

I upload videos of me performing the movements of hunters and monsters from the games to social media.

★The finer points of your works

Naturally, I do things such as the attack animations, but when doing so, I also try to capture the small details of each movement, like how the characters return their arms and legs to their starting positions after performing a move.

★A creation that has left a deep impression on you

Definitely recreating the movement of using the Insect Glaive. There’s a certain trick to swinging it around (much respect to the development team). It looks cool and wasn’t really something that was in my usual repertoire, so I had some trouble mastering that one at first.

★Your next planned project

Sorry, that’s a secret.

The embodiment of the very spirit of adventure!