Concerned if the current economic conditions are affecting pending and future product releases. The Yen is at a 20 year historic low and may put the brakes on new projects (134¥/$).
Calzephyr, I have just received locomotives for the new UP E8A and E8B product releases. So, I think that Kato is still producing effectively. - Tonkphilip
Am seeing all kinds of preorders and new releases from the Japanese hobby markets I shop, too. And that's not just Kato, Tomix and Greenmax are both booming right now as well. If it is going to affect the train/hobby market in Japan, am not seeing anything that even appears to be trending that way yet.
What I have noticed over the past few years with Kato is the re-issue of existing tooling (City of LA and E8s). No new announcements for newly tooled passenger consists (North Coast Limited) that many of us have been looking forward to buying.
Well I have received 8 new locomotives from Japan in the last 5 months, all were new runs, and all have sold out or just about have.
Yep... re-issued FEF and GS4 tooling. BUT... nothing completely new to the market. There is a rumour of a Kato Big Boy circulating for the past year. Wondering if Kato has halted that release.
It's more than a rumor, and I'm sure that is consuming most of their new product development time and money right now. Fortunately, they take things slow and do them right.
Ditto-in March was in the Kato flagship store in Shinjuku and it was doing brisk business. And the more local Poppondettas I have been in more recently are well stocked and very busy. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
