Kawaii fun: Rody toy exhibition opens at National Design Centre

SINGAPORE — There is something kawaii going on at the National Design Centre this weekend, with more than 250 inflatable and colourful Rody toys displayed in the main atrium. This is the SJ50 Rody Exhibition, which opened on Thursday (Oct 20).

“This year ... there are many events celebrating Japan-Singapore diplomatic relations in terms of food, films and music — not so much for design. So, we organised this exhibition to highlight the design factor by getting Singapore and Japanese children to submit their Rody designs,” said Hakuei Kosato, managing director of organising company La Ditta Limited, which received more than 750 entries.

“We also invited designers from Singapore and Japan to design a Japan Rody and a Singapore Rody featuring images and motifs representative of Singapore and Japan. These miniature Rody toy entries are exhibited as well.”

Kosato explained that Rody was chosen as the star of this exhibition because it simply brings a smile to people when they see it. He also likes that Rody, unlike many of the anime characters in Japan, does not have a story — which makes it more interesting for people to come up with whatever they want Rody to be. He acknowledges that Rody was orginally from Italy, but said “it was born in Italy and grew up in Japan as it has become so popular”.

To showcase Japanese culture, the Rody toys are arranged Karesansui-style, typical of a Japanese zen rock garden. “Hopefully, people can reflect as they look and walk around the exhibition,” quipped Kosato. The exhibition will also be showcased in Japan at the Good Design Marunouchi in December.

“We are delighted to support this exhibition at the National Design Centre with our design counterpart, the Japan Institute of Design Promotion,” said Jeffrey Ho, executive director of DesignSingapore Council. “Besides celebrating 50 years of bilateral relations, this exhibition also provides a platform for knowledge exchange and sharing of perspectives between designers from Singapore and Japan. I hope it will spark dialogue and interaction among the design, art and craft communities in both countries.”

To make the exhibition a bit more special, Kosato is also attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the Most Number of People Riding Inflatable Animal Toys by getting 
250 people to ride on the inflatable Rody toys at the same time on the last day of the exhibition on Nov 12. These Rody toys will also be available for sale for the first time in Singapore on 
that day.

“Rody toys have never been sold in Singapore before, but they’re wildly popular in Japan and Taiwan now. I hope the kids and parents here will like Rody as it has taken off in Japan,” said Kosato.