Katsushi Murakami

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Katsushi Murakami (村上 克司) (Born 23 September 1942, Gifu) is a Japanese toy designer. In fact, if you're here because you like toy robots, he is the most important toy designer in history.

Working for Popy, Murakami was a major force in the company's Chogokin line, where his body of work included Gardian (later retooled as Baikanfu), Daitetsujin 17, Leopardon, God Mars and a string of Super Sentai robots, not to mention numerous vehicles. He was later a major force in devising the Machine Robo Series, pushing to incorporate then cutting-edge technology to prove that the robots could be made to the same high standard as Super Robot toys but at a small size so they could be afforded by more kids within the famous ¥600 price bracket. Murakami also designed the Psychoroid, both as a vehicle and a transforming robot toy. He remained one of the company's key designers when they were reabsorbed into Bandai and became PLEX. Murakami also continued to do mechanical design for cartoon series, including Ulysses 31 and Dairugger XV, among others.

How many Machine Robo figures Murakami directly designed is unknown, though the book All About Katsushi Murakami - Super Hero Industrial Design Art Collection credits him with Bike Robo, Battle Robo, Jet Robo and Gyro Robo at least, with a full rundown likely being omitted through pressures of space. He was also reputedly behind the design of R. JeTan, pushing to include pink in the final colour scheme due to it not being used on such a robot beforehand.