Bome (ボーメ, Bōme) is the pseudonym of a Japanese sculptor, primarily sculpting anime-styled women for mass commercial release. The name is a contraction of Baseball Cap (野球, Yakyū ) and Eyeglasses (めがね, Megane), both of which he wears regularly. He started making garage kits and now works for Kaiyodo,[1] a Japanese company that specialises in anime-related figurines. Bome's work has proved sufficiently popular and successful for Kaiyodo to release a Monsieur Bome Collection, including figures from such popular anime and video games as GunBuster, Full Metal Panic, Dead or Alive, Kiddy Grade, Xenosaga and Jingai Makyō. Bome has, amongst others, also sculpted characters from Neon Genesis Evangelion and Sailor Moon.

Bome's work, like some of the anime on which it is based, often combines cute facial features with exaggerated sexual attributes such as large, gravity-defying breasts. Many figures are scantily clad or posed so that undergarments are visible. Occasionally, they may possess removable clothing which will expose knickers or bras. At least one figurine (Jungle Emi) was allegedly bare-breasted in its Japanese release; it was supposed to include a removable halter top bra in its worldwide release, however many disappointed fans found that the halter top is actually not removable. His latest (and possibly final) model in the Mon-Soeur Bome series, Akira from Sukapon-Do, is a rework of a model he previously did - with her breasts covered back up. See the "Erotica" section of the website listed in this page's References for the original model.

Collectors and toy-buyers regard Bome's work as being of good quality due to its accurate paintwork, of fine detail, accurate representation of the character, naturalistic poses and high manufacturing standards. This opinion is reflected by the 1998 exhibition of Bome's work as part of Ero Pop Tokyo, an event, organised by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, held in Los Angeles during May to June.

Works in Order

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Mon-sieur Bome series

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Other works

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Tenjou Tenge
  • Aya Natsume (& Tokubetsu Variant)
  • Maya Natsume (& Tokubetsu Variant)
Kiddy Grade
  • Eclair & Lumiere Alternative version
Other Kaiyodo Figures
  • Himekuri
  • Ryoko Mitsurugi (Samurai Girl)
  • Asuka Sugo 1 & 2 (Cyber Formula)
  • Super Sailor Moon & Various Sailor Moon Characters
  • Elfarcia
  • Asuka Souryou Langley (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
  • Ruri Hoshino (Nadesico)
  • Pricia (Virtual Call 3)
  • Multi & Akari (To Heart)
  • Yuko Asahina (Tokimeki Memorial)
  • 1/5 Minky Momo (1992, Kaiyodo)[2]
  • Usagi 1-gō (1993, Kaiyodo)[2]
Other Figures
  • -Narusegawa Naru

Exhibitions and events

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Solo exhibitions

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  • "Bome" – January 1998, Feature Inc., New York[3]
  • "Monsieur Bome" – February 2002, Wonder Festival 2002 [Winter], Tokyo Bigcite[3]
  • "Bome : The 10th Anniversary Exhibition" Parco Factory – October 2007, Parco Factory, Tokyo[3]
  • "Psyche" – December 2009, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Tokyo[4][5][6]
  • "Psyche" – December 2010, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Taipei[4][7]
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References

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  1. ^ "Atarashii bunka "figyua" no shutsugen: puramoderu kara bishōjo e (ETV tokushū 11-gatsu 30-nichi (Nichiyōbi))" ["Figures", a new culture: from plastic models to bishojo (Sunday, 30 November)] (in Japanese). NHK. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Aomori Museum of Art 2014, p. 4.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Bome : Ātisuto debyū 10-shūnen kinen-ten" [Bome : The 10th Anniversary Exhibition : Debut in the contemporary art scene] (in Japanese). Parco Museum. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Bome – Artist". Kaikai Kiki Gallery. Archived from the original on 2017-03-09. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  5. ^ ""Psyche" Bome – Pioneering bishojo figure artist Bome to be featured in a solo exhibition at The Kaikai Kiki Gallery". Kaikai Kiki Gallery. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  6. ^ Bome; Murakami, Takashi (28 July 2010). "Introduction". Bome – Selected Works 1983-2009 (in Japanese). Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. ISBN 978-4939148392. OCLC 969450508.
  7. ^ Motohashi, Yasuharu (27 January 2010). "Bome tenrankai "Psyche" : Bishōjo figyua ga gendai āto sakuhin toshite seiritsusuru riyū" [Bome show "Psyche" : Reasons why pretty girl figures are accepted as contemporary art works] (in Japanese). ACROSS. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Major works and exhibitions : Amazon.co.jp、figyua zokei sakka "Bome" tokushu opun" [Amazon.co.jp features "Bome" the figure artist] (in Japanese). Amazon Japan. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  9. ^ "Genealogy of the Figurine: from Dogu to Kaiyodo". Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Bishōjo no bijutsu-shi" [The art history of bishojo] (in Japanese). Aomori Museum of Art. Archived from the original on 2015-08-11. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  11. ^ Aomori Museum of Art (2014). Bishojo no Bijutsushi-ten : List of works on exhibit (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Bishōjo no bijutsushi : ukiyoe kara poppu karuchā, gendai bijutsu ni miru "shōjo" no katachi [Art history of bishojo: Exhibition catalog — the forms of "girls" seen in art from ukiyoe wood block prints to pop culture and contemporary art] (in Japanese). Kyoto: Seigensha. 2014. ISBN 9784861524585. OCLC 884231614.

Bibliography

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  • Bome Works - Figurine Super Collection. blitz mook (in Japanese). Kadokawa. 1999. ISBN 978-4073111023.
  • Bome Works from 1983 to 2008 (in Japanese). Softbank Creative. 28 March 2009. ISBN 978-4797352986. OCLC 676403388. - 10th anniversary since debut as an independent artist with 100 works.
  • Bome; Murakami, Takashi (28 July 2010). Bome – Selected Works 1983-2009 (in Japanese). Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. ISBN 978-4939148392. OCLC 969450508. - exhibition catalog, "Psyche" 2009.