The final model of the “Kage” Series
The final model of the “Kage” Series.
Following the success of “Hohoemi,” “Omokage,” and “Kageshin,” Orient Industry entered a new stage in its history.
The voices of users, together with the experience accumulated through years of product development, were brought together in the creation of “Kagehana.”
Following the success of “Hohoemi,” “Omokage,” and “Kageshin,” the name of Orient Industry gradually became known throughout the industry.
The company was increasingly featured in the media, and orders began arriving in large numbers. However, this growing popularity also brought a new challenge.
Production could no longer keep up with demand, and at one point, customers faced waiting periods of up to three and a half months. As interest in the products continued to grow, Orient Industry found itself struggling to meet that demand.
The greater the demand became, the more necessary it was to rethink the entire production system.
This experience became an important turning point that would lead Orient Industry into its next stage.
Temporarily Halting Production to Rebuild the Entire System
With the company approaching its limits, Orient Industry made a difficult decision: to temporarily stop accepting orders and halt production altogether.
The goal was not simply to increase production volume. Instead, the company wanted to establish a complete and reliable production system that would allow it to continue delivering products to customers with greater stability.
As part of this effort, Orient Industry established a new factory with approximately three times the space of its previous facility. The entire production environment was reconsidered and rebuilt.
The company also expanded its workforce, assigning dedicated staff to areas such as materials and manufacturing-process development, as well as specialized after-sales support.
It was no longer enough to simply improve the product itself. From materials development and manufacturing to customer support after purchase, Orient Industry began building a system capable of supporting its products over the long term.
Then, in 1990, following its formal incorporation as a company, Orient Industry began a new chapter in its history.
“Kagehana” — The Culmination of the Kage Series
With its new production system finally in place, Orient Industry was ready to introduce its next model: “Kagehana.”
Following “Omokage” and “Kageshin,” Kagehana would become the final model in the Kage Series. It was developed as the culmination of the experience and knowledge gained throughout the series.
The goal was not simply to create another new model. To achieve a higher level of overall refinement, every aspect of the product was reconsidered, from its materials and internal skeletal components to the smallest details of its construction.
Balancing Articulated Movement with Beautiful Body Lines
“Kageshin” introduced built-in joints in the arms and legs, allowing users greater freedom when creating different poses. At the same time, this type of internal structure could make it more difficult to preserve the natural curves of the body.
With “Kagehana,” one of the goals was therefore to achieve both functional articulation and beautiful body contours.
The aim was not simply to make the body more movable. It was also important for the figure to maintain an attractive and natural appearance even when standing or resting in a neutral position. To achieve both goals, the internal structure and design of various components were carefully reconsidered.
Reconsidering Everything from Materials to the Smallest Details
The improvements introduced with “Kagehana” went far beyond what could be seen from the outside.
Latex was used as the outer skin material, and the material itself was improved with the aim of achieving more consistent quality.
The internal skeletal structure was also revised, with individual components reconsidered to create a construction designed with long-term use in mind. Special hardware was introduced at the connection points of the hands and feet to help prevent damage.
These changes may appear small at first glance. For users, however, such details can make an important difference in everyday handling, durability, and peace of mind.
Materials, internal structure, connection points, and the balance of the entire body — every element was reconsidered in “Kagehana” in pursuit of a level of refinement worthy of the final model in the series.
Supported Weight Increased from 120 kg to 145 kg
The improvements to the internal structure also resulted in a significant increase in the supported weight.
While “Kageshin” had a supported weight of 120 kg, “Kagehana” increased this figure to 145 kg.
The result was a concrete reflection of the efforts made to improve the strength and durability of the internal structure.
The End of the Kage Series
In this way, “Kagehana” brought together the development experience that had accumulated from “Hohoemi,” through “Omokage” and “Kageshin,” and transformed it into a single, highly refined model.
“Kageshin” had responded directly to user requests for greater freedom of movement by introducing built-in joints. “Kagehana,” meanwhile, addressed the challenges that came with that development, improving the body’s curves, material stability, internal structure, and connection points.
Rather than treating each product as a finished destination, Orient Industry continued to take feedback from actual users and carry the lessons learned during development into its next generation of products.
“Kagehana” was both the final model of the Kage Series and its culmination.
The production system was rebuilt from the ground up. Materials and internal skeletal components were reconsidered. Even the smallest details were refined. At the same time, the company sought to balance the freedom of articulated movement with the beauty of the body’s natural contours.
With “Kagehana” as its final model, development of the Kage Series came to an end.
From “Hohoemi” to “Omokage,” “Kageshin,” and finally “Kagehana,” this journey represents the history of Orient Industry’s pursuit of better products while continually listening to the voices of its users.
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