Tea Ceremony

Character builder extraordinaire Eero Okkonen is back with a rare diorama. This time it’s a tranquil scene in feudal Japan, a tea ceremony. I could go into some details about this, but they would pale in comparison with the extensive blog post Eero has done, head over there and read up on and see more pictures of this wondrous and beautiful build.

The New Shogunate

Eero Okkonen has a long history of building what are effectively elaborate action figures, like these two wonderfully expressive warriors - but everybody knows that action figures are the most fun when they're being played with. His newest scene pits a Samurai against a Shogunate on a serene bridge. The whole model is stunning, from the color scheme to the poses to the small details, like the snakes used as detailing on a sheath.

Samurai Sanctuary

Just looking at this MOC is relaxing. This very tranquil MOC samurai sanctuary by builder NeverEnoughLego premiered at Brickfair VA, much to the appreciation of those there (I wish I could have been there). In my brief time in Japan I spent my time in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, and I really wish I could have found a place like this to spend a little time, it's beautiful.

A Story of War

Often, a good LEGO build hints at a backstory, but a great one tells a story of its own. This fairly simple build by legophthalmos showing a samurai warrior departing for battle is an excellent example of how to effectively tell a complex story with a visual medium like LEGO. The thought-provoking narrative shown here, combined with some very slick building, makes for an impressive overall effect.

Stop Bugging Me

Just kidding.  You're not bugging me at all!  

From what I can tell from being an English teacher for nine years, Japanese boys and girls have a unique fascination with insects and even have a knack for collecting them.  They're not all just creepy crawly critters!  This makes me wonder if Takamichi Irie collected insects as a child.  He recently spent a year studying abroad and time to time expressed his feelings of being homesick, which might explain where his LEGO insect series came from.  It's amazing what you can do with just a few tiny parts (and especially with those that seem to have only a single use).  NPU, dude!  You can see the rest of the his "Small Animals" series on his Flickr.

Snail Black Widow Spider Stag Beetle