Orient Industry shutting down

[CJ98]

One of Japan’s most longstanding and esteemed love doll makers, Orient Industry, suddenly announced that they were shutting shop due to the ailing health of their founder, who still owns and runs the privately-owned business.

First opening in 1977, the company has been producing love dolls for 47 years up until now, with its craft being recognized to the point that a 40th-anniversary exhibition was held in Shibuya in 2017 (with some displays shown above).

The company’s official website hosted the sudden announcement, saying that founder Tsuchiya Hideo decided to retire to prioritize his health, thanking all the customers and partners that have supported them up until now. To respect the founder’s wishes, the company would be shutting down as well, with production and its showroom in Okachimachi, Tokyo, also closing as well.

Sad to see this company closing as it was one of the early doll makers I saw and got me into the hobby.

[scrappy]

OMG. The end of an era. They were 'there' years before Abyss. Always loved the look of their dolls. Never bought one because they didn't market to the West and it was a PitA to work with a 'shopping deputy'.

A topic I started a while back about Orient
https://dollbarandgrill.com/forum/index.php?topic=86.0
View it NOW or the pix may disappear with the business.

[scrappy]

'History buff scrappy' has saved the three pix from the Orient site to his hard drive in order to prevent them being lost in the 'mists of the past'.