After building my first Gundam kit I was immediately hooked and felt that rush of excitement whenever I got to build more of them. I then thought to myself, "Why not do more with this and start a business?". I settled on the name Waku Waku Hobby (ワクワクホビー) for the business since "ワクワク" is a term in Japanese used for excitement and that is the feeling that I want to convey when you engage in your hobbies. I hope to bring the excitement of hobbies to as many people as possible!

Our Little Start in Little Rhode Island

Starting in the small state of Rhode Island, I noticed that it was hard to come by stores that were specifically dedicated to just Japanese hobbies (figures, model kits, and manga all in one) in the area. It has been a privilege getting to participate in local community events and do local deliveries. The business moved operations to Ohio starting February, 2026. However I want to come back in the future once the business succeeds in Ohio. Look forward to our return in the future, where we started!

Moving and Growing in Ohio

In February, 2026, the business moved operations to the Lake County area in Ohio. A physical brick & mortar location is in the works as of writing this (2/12/2026). I hope that one day that can happen through earning your trust, business, and building up a community.

Make sure to follow Waku Waku Hobby on our social media pages to stay in the loop of new releases in our inventory and our attendance at local events in Rhode Island!