The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) paid tribute to the late Shunsaku Tamiya, Chairman of Tamiya, Inc., whose passing on 18 July at the age of 90 marked the end of an era for the global model-making community and the Filipino workers whose lives he helped transform.

Tamiya, a revered figure in the world of hobby and scale models, was best known for steering his family’s company into a global leader in toy and plastic model manufacturing. Under his leadership, Tamiya lived up to its motto of being “First in Quality Around the World.”

In 1994, Chairman Tamiya made a pioneering move that would leave a lasting imprint on the Philippines. He established Tamiya Philippines Inc. in the Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu – one of the earliest Japanese investments facilitated by PEZA during the tenure of then Director General Lilia De Lima.

The decision not only brought high-precision manufacturing to Philippine shores but also helped cement MEZ’s status as a hub for world-class industrial excellence.

“Chairman Tamiya’s enduring trust in the Philippines is a gift that continues to uplift thousands of lives,” said PEZA Director General Tereso Panga. 

“He exemplified the kind of investor and partner that transforms not just economies, but communities.”

Today, Tamiya Philippines stands as an anchor locator in Cebu, employing over 900 Filipinos. The company reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the country in 2023 by investing over P2 billion in a new facility at the Cebu Light Industrial Park, further expanding its manufacturing footprint and creating more quality jobs for Cebuanos.

PEZA also recognized Chairman Tamiya’s symbolic contribution to the agency’s identity. Upon assuming office, DG Panga designated the “Tamiya Dyipne” – a scale model of the iconic Philippine jeepney made by Tamiya’s Cebu facility – as PEZA’s official token to foreign investors. The Dyipne now serves as a symbol of Filipino-Japanese collaboration and is given to executives across the globe during PEZA’s investment promotions.

“His life’s work is permanently etched into PEZA’s institutional DNA,” the agency said. 

“It is a bridge between two innovation-driven nations – Japan and the Philippines – built on decades of mutual respect, craftsmanship, and shared vision.”

Chairman Tamiya’s passing is not just a loss to the toy industry but also to the thousands of Filipinos whose careers and communities were shaped by the opportunities he created. His legacy lives on not only in the miniature worlds built by hobbyists but also in the real-world development he helped bring to Cebu and beyond.

“For a man who brought joy to millions through model building,” PEZA concluded, “he may never have realized just how many lives he uplifted behind the scenes. Dōmo arigatō gozaimashita, Chairman Tamiya.”