The “Yamato love” of product designer Kota Nezu
Seven Irresistible Allures of Space Battleship Yamato
Kota Nezu is a renowned product designer who has lent his talents to a wide range of creations, from commercial and concept cars to motorcycles, toys, and even robots. A self-proclaimed pop culture enthusiast, his love for Space Battleship Yamato is particularly profound. With a sparkle in his eye, he shared with us the captivating charm of this legendary series.
Photographs by Takeyoshi Aoki (wpp) Interview & Text by Ryosuke Kobayashi
znug Design’s Kota Nezu
Creative communicator and designer. Born in Tokyo in 1969. After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at Hoshigaya University, he joined Toyota Motor Corporation and served as the concept development leader for the i-unit exhibited at the Aichi Expo. In 2005, he founded znug Design and worked on concept planning and design for a number of industrial products.
He has promoted projects such as the electric bike zecOO and the small mobility rimOnO, while also working on a wide range of representative works, including the human-machine integration “Zero Type Human Machine,” Secom’s “cocobo,” Groove X’s “LOVOT,” Toyota Motor Corporation’s concept car “Camatte,” Tamiya mini 4WD, and a thermo mobile mug.
1. Robots with personality: Analyzer ignited my passion for robot design!
Known for designing a wide range of robots, from the beloved home companion robot LOVOT to the Zero-type Human Machine, Nezu’s fascination with robots began at a young age.
“While I love Doraemon, Analyzer left a huge impression on me. Leiji Matsumoto’s robots, with their unique voices and personalities, were revolutionary. They looked like intricate machines, yet their designs had a playful, humorous quality. The way they were portrayed as having distinct personalities really resonated with me, even as a child. It challenged the notion of robots being purely functional, paving the way for companion robots like Gundam‘s Haro. It made me believe that robots and humans could coexist and even form bonds. That’s why I believe it’s important to design technology that makes people happy.”
Caption:
LOVOT was unveiled in 2018 as a “new kind of home robot that doesn’t do chores, but nurtures love.” Nezu, the designer behind its adorable appearance, emphasizes its endearing features: eyes that follow you, a lovable eagerness to approach, and a body perfect for warm hugs.
Caption:
Zero-type Human Machine is a heavy-duty work suit designed for disaster relief and construction, aiming to enhance human physical capabilities. Nezu oversees the total branding and design for this innovative suit. This photo shows the humanoid heavy machinery robot co-developed with JR West.
2. Transforming battleships: from aircraft carriers to mobile fortresses, the gimmicks are awesome!
“As Yamato fought its solitary battles, I was always impressed by the ingenuity of the Gamilas, who kept things exciting by deploying a variety of new warships. For example, the idea of a battleship transforming into an aircraft carrier was simply brilliant! Once the fighter planes were launched, the deck became redundant, so they cleverly transformed it into a heavily armed gun platform. Even as a child, I found it incredibly cool and logical. The three-tiered aircraft carrier made perfect sense for efficiency. And the concept of Dessler’s presidential office transforming into the Dessler Warship was equally ingenious.”
3. A forerunner of unconventional design? The Gatlantis grand fortress
“That massive fortress at the end of Farewell to Yamato…it was unlike anything I’d ever seen. It resembled a deep-sea creature, both in appearance and its eerie presence. While I consider Andromeda to be the pinnacle of coolness, there’s something captivating about that enormous fortress with its unconventional, almost unsettling design. It’s oddly compelling. Perhaps watching Farewell opened my eyes to the appeal of unorthodox and unconventional designs.”
4. Unrivaled mecha design! Andromeda‘s unfair advantage!!
Nezu’s love for Andromeda knows no bounds, as evidenced by his extensive collection of related merchandise.
“There are several reasons why I consider the Andromeda to be unfairly cool. Firstly, it’s depicted as being more powerful than the already formidable Yamato, which is already a bold statement. This is emphasized by its two Wave-Motion Guns. Yamato’s single Wave-Motion Gun at the bow was treated as a symbolic, ultimate weapon, but Andromeda casually doubled down on it! And then there’s the Dispersion Wave-Motion Gun, a new technology capable of taking down multiple enemies. From a design standpoint, the sharp, polygonal structure of the bow section makes it look far more robust and multi-faceted than the comparatively sleeker Yamato. As a kid, I instantly thought, ‘This one’s definitely stronger!’ Since then, I’ve developed a bit of a hexagon obsession. (Laughs) I used to be an avid builder of Tamiya’s Military Miniature series, and even the armored vehicles of that era had a distinct polygonal aesthetic. It was a matter of practicality – constructing vehicles with flat surfaces was more feasible given the technology of the time. But there’s a clear connection between their cool factor and the design of Andromeda.”
Caption:
A Sd.Kfz, a German military vehicle (Left), with its polygonal shape, captivated the young Nezu. (Right) A similar multi-faceted design can be seen in “bt + bst” (Beauty & Beast), Nezu’s original RC car project.
Caption:
Andromeda‘s designer, Kazutaka Miyatake, aimed to make the Yamato look outdated by comparison. The resulting design achieved precisely that, leaving a lasting impression on many young viewers, including Nezu.
5. That first art book: the thrill of discovering a world of design
“The Yamato artbook was the first of its kind that I begged my parents to buy for me. I poured over every page, absorbing every detail. It made me realize, even at that young age, that the richness of the anime stemmed from the incredible amount of thought and background work that went into it. It was then that I understood the sheer scale of work that went into creating an animated series, and it was both inspiring and intimidating! The illustrations of the first bridge and the Wave-Motion Engine were particularly fascinating. There was one page, however, that made me blush. It was probably just Matsumoto-sensei’s playful side, but there was this image of the recreation room on the Yamato with a projector showing a nude woman. I remember thinking, ‘I can’t let my parents see this’!” (Laughs)
Caption:
Space Battleship Yamato Complete Record Collection: Design Materials, a comprehensive art book published by Office Academy in 1979. Filled with Leiji Matsumoto’s illustrations, this luxurious book cost 2,000 yen at the time. Nezu continued his passion for art books, later acquiring similar ones for Gundam.
6. Diverse design philosophies, the unique aesthetics of each faction’s ships and fighters!
“Each faction, be it Earth, Gamilas, or others, had its own distinct design philosophy. The Earth Federation ships, being the protagonists, had a classic, righteous look. The Gamilas warships, with their prominent orange gradients, had an unsettling, almost monstrous appearance. The White Comet Empire warships, on the other hand, were characterized by their insectoid or crustacean-like designs. I was always excited to see what kind of mecha the next enemy would bring, and they consistently exceeded my expectations. While I may not have been able to articulate it back then, I did sense a stylistic consistency within each faction. Looking back, I think Yamato played a significant role in establishing this approach to design.”
7. The soundtrack, that first encounter with the mighty pipe organ!
“My first conscious experience with a soundtrack was when I watched Farewell to Yamato. The most memorable track for me was the White Comet Empire’s theme. I’d never heard a pipe organ before, and I remember thinking, ‘What is that incredible sound?!’ (Laughs) My father was very particular about handling vinyl records, so I listened to the cassette tape instead. The White Comet Empire theme is probably the most played piece of music in my entire life. It’s literally ingrained in my memory.”