MRD Development Story EP06 (Final) | Building a Sustainable Future for RC

— Making Manufacturing Sustainable —

Thank you for reading the MRD Development Story.

From prototyping, to crowdfunding, to production and delivery—
we have come this far together.

With strong demand for commercialization from many of you,
we were able to release the MRD ZERO Conversion Kit in January 2025.

As of April 2026, we have reached a total of 5,000 units produced, including the MRD Prototype series.

Our next goal is to release MRD RTD (Ready To Drift) within 2026—
a fully assembled chassis with a transmitter, ready to drift right out of the box.

Beyond that, we aim to develop a fully completed RC drift car with a body, powered by AAA batteries,
so that anyone interested in 1/28 scale drifting can easily get started.

But this is not our final goal.

We will continue creating new products together with all of you.

And through more than 30 years in the RC industry,
there is one thing I have come to realize:

This cannot be sustained.

Because the current RC world, while full of enjoyment,
lacks the structure to support it.

Circuits, shops, and development—
none of them can easily stand on their own.

They are sustained by individual effort and passion.

That is exactly why they do not last.

That is why we made one decision from the beginning:

We build a sustainable system.

MRD and Hobby Hive are built on this principle.

The Two Steps of Hobby Hive

Hobby Hive is built on two steps.

The first is Hobby Hive Lab—
a community where anyone can easily participate.

Here, ideas are turned into real forms
through hands-on work and tools like 3D printing.

The second is Hobby Hive Creation.

This is where those ideas evolve into products
that can be delivered to many people.

This is a system where enjoy smile Co. actively supports commercialization.

Creators, testers, manufacturers, promoters, and organizers—
each person takes on a role,
and together, the project moves forward.

It starts with excitement.

Ideas are shaped by hand.

Then they are developed into products,
and delivered continuously to people.

That is the system of Hobby Hive Creation.

Why a Physical Place Is Needed

So what is needed for this relationship to continue?

Online platforms and events alone are not enough.

We needed an environment
where people can engage naturally in everyday life.

That is why we conceived the Hobby Hive Hub.

This is not just a circuit or a store.

It is a system where people gather and stay involved.

A place where you can run,
test,
build,
and connect.

A place where you can stay,
and even make it part of your daily life.

Where play, creation, and living are connected as one.

That is what Hobby Hive Hub is designed to achieve.

One example of this concept is a potential development in Yokohama
(Hobby Hive Hub Yokohama).

The first floor includes a circuit, shop, workspace, and painting area.
The second floor is the office.
The third floor provides accommodation.
And the upper floors are residential rental spaces.

Here, you can run, create, and connect.

By incorporating accommodation and residential functions,
the facility generates rental income,
creating a structure that can sustain itself over the long term.

If this model works, it can be expanded anywhere.

Wherever you are,
Hobby Hive Hub can exist.

It will spread across cities and across the world.

And as a result,
an environment where anyone can be involved will continue to grow.

What we want to achieve is simple.

To grow a community through the joy of creating.
And to sustain that place over time.

And ultimately,
to pass this joy on to the next generation.

This idea has never changed.

Since the early days with Marizo P,
when we first talked about this vision.

I shared it with Hong,
and gradually it took shape as more people joined.

And now,
those who believe in this vision have gathered,
and enjoy smile Co. is moving forward.

This is only the beginning.

We cannot do this alone.

But—

Together, we can.

Let’s build what comes next, together.

Finally, for those who would like to learn more about Hobby Hive　Creation:

You can find the full concept here:

And the origin of this idea can be seen in our first project, MZ FORMULA.
Please watch the video to see where it all began.

Here is the official website of MRD.

If you found this article helpful, I would really appreciate it.

MRD development and the Hobby Hive project are still in progress,
and we are continuously working to bring new ideas to life.

If you would like to support what we are building,
your tip would mean a lot and help us keep moving forward.

All support will go directly into development, testing,
and future projects.