Sofubi, it's all sofubi.

In Japan "Sofubi" usually implies "nihon-sei sofuto biniru" = Soft Vinyl produced in Japan.
Whether its a monster or a kewpie - the material and the process are "Sofubi"
So whether you say Japanese Vinyl or Sofubi - you are saying the same thing - its a matter of geography and context.
You are referring to the material and process.

Here is an analogy to make you think:
In Japanese, beer is pronounced Bee-Roo - so should we refer to Asahi, Suntory and Kirin as Bee-Roo?
In the west they are normally just referred to as Japanese Beers.

As the term Kaijiu has made its way into the english lexicon - as with many loan words the meaning has shifted from its original origin.
I think the term Kaiju as a synonym for Sofubi is a already a done deal despite advocates to the contrary. (but more power to them none-the-less)

In japanese there are many English loan words that have shifted from their original meanings.
3 Examples that come to mind are Smart, Handle and Juice. Any guesses to their meaning in Japanese?

Language is a virus. There is no right answer.

Smarto is a slim/thin person right?

I've heard that "juice" is used to refer to pop in Japan. What's "handle"?

I like "those Pokemon things!"

When I had a store, I spent half my days explaining "not quite". Now that I get it a few times a week at non-toy-related work, I just say "yeah, kinda".

I like "those Pokemon things!"

In Japan "Sofubi" usually implies "nihon-sei sofuto biniru" = Soft Vinyl produced in Japan.
Whether its a monster or a kewpie - the material and the process are "Sofubi"
So whether you say Japanese Vinyl or Sofubi - you are saying the same thing - its a matter of geography and context.
You are referring to the material and process.

Here is an analogy to make you think:
In Japanese, beer is pronounced Bee-Roo - so should we refer to Asahi, Suntory and Kirin as Bee-Roo?
In the west they are normally just referred to as Japanese Beers.

The Finkshit collaboration was just for shits and giggles . . . nothing as commercial as brand marketing or merchandising!

Language is a virus. There is no right answer.

[Language is a virus from outer space!

That's one theory - then there is the MacKenna school - where language was a side effect of ingesting too many psychedelics.

The anime example is a good one as the Japanese term comes from animation but it has been re-imported into English to mean Japanese animation. Following this etymological trajectory the term Sofubi coulof be used to mean Japanese Soft Vinyl (toys) in English. But while this is logical the evolution of language is much more organic.

Terrance McKenna, what a brilliant dude. I love listening to that guy talk. Truly changed the way I think about human consciousness and culture. On the subject of linguistics, McKenna, and psychedelics I'll toss out- Sex, Drugs, Einstein & Elves: Sushi, Psychedelics, Parallel Universes and the Quest for Transcendence, as suggested reading.

McKenna is a trip to read as Brain Food - whether you buy into his arguments or not.
Someone needs to make a Kaiju of Transforming Machine Elves!

Not sure if this has been posted here or not - but I humbly sumbit an excursion in etymology.

http://www.pecha-kucha.org/presentations/244

Hadnt seen this before Don - really good stuff, learned a few things, and definitely worth a watch/listen. But why no mention of Secret Base?

While the Fink Shit indisputably invented the fight figure genre, it was SB that invested first in teh genre, popularized it and made it what it is today - so I was surprised that as you decided to include fight figures in your presentation, you skipped from Fink Shit to Gargamel fights and Real Head, but dont mention SB.

Apart from that (IMHO) omission - first class!

I agree with you - SB are not kaiju IMO either, but I would say the same about Real Head too. And certainly not an insult to either. Gargamel I think make it under the wire though due to their standard size and mini figs.

Cool - glad to know the blu-ray directors cut will include the "lost" SB footage tho

Where was this originally presented?