Photo/Illutration Yasumasa Matsui, a former TV announcer appointed as a “plastic model history research adviser” at Tamiya Inc. Photo taken in Tokyo’s Minato Ward (Ryujiro Komatsu)

A year after he retired from TV Asahi Corp., after 37 years working as an announcer and news reporter, Yasumasa Matsui finally achieved his childhood dream.

Matsui, now 61, left the news business in March 2023 and began his career as a freelance announcer while involving himself in activities to revitalize his hometown of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture.

He started on a new undertaking this past March when he became a research adviser specializing in the history of plastic toy kits, a new post created at leading plastic model maker Tamiya Inc.

The job description requires Matsui to assemble the company’s past products and reference materials.

His first project is to renovate the Tamiya Archive Room inside the company’s headquarters office in Shizuoka.

“I just reached the doorstep of my dream,” Matsui said.

He has been a plastic model hobbyist for more than 50 years.

When he was living in Toyama Prefecture as a youngster, Matsui was fascinated by the complexity of plastic model kits, marketed as kids’ stuff.

He would pore over the instruction booklets, especially ones that also provided background information on the plastic models and their origins, before assembling them, and went to great lengths to paint and remodel the kits to make them look as realistic as possible.

His collection started to grow rapidly.

Matsui’s enthusiasm for plastic models never waned, even more after he graduated from college.

As an announcer, Matsui worked for some of the broadcaster’s popular programs such as “News Station” and “Music Station.” He also served as a play-by-play announcer for professional baseball games.

But when he went on business trips, he would make time to stop by plastic model shops.

“When I found a finished piece of a rare model on display, I visited the shop repeatedly to negotiate a price so I could purchase it,” Matsui recalled.

His hobby also came in handy for his work.

When there were accidents involving aircraft and ships, he crafted models to show on TV at the studio where he worked.

As a reporter, he covered the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered a triple meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

He even made a model of a nuclear reactor.

Matsui was approached by Tamiya Chairman Shunsaku Tamiya, 89, who knew about his extensive knowledge and love of plastic models, with an offer to work for the company.

The former newscaster decided to accept the proposal to prevent masterpieces of the world-famous plastic model manufacturer from being scattered and lost.

His dream is to establish a museum devoted to the history of Japanese plastic models.

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