Shy Gal’s Building Blog

Review of nanoblock Akechi Mitsuhide Domo-kun CN-26

February 24, 2026July 11, 2025shygal

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This post is a review of the nanoblock Akechi Mitsuhide Domo-kun build. Akechi Mitsuhide Domo-kun is part of the charanano collection. Wondering what else is part of the charanano Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: CN-26

Number of Pieces: 320

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

Akechi Mitsuhide Domo-kun build front view

Domo-kun is the mascot for the Japanese broadcaster NHK. I remember him being all over in shop windows and with life-size statues in Japan. For more information about Domo-kun you can check out his Wikipedia page here. I also have seen Domo-kun in various costumes over the years.

Speaking of costumes, this version of Domo is dressed up as a samurai. As the name of the build implies, it appears that Domo is dressed up as Akechi Mitsuhide, a samurai living in the 1500s and is best known for killing Oda Nobunaga. For more information about the historical figure, check out the Wikipedia page.

Akechi Mitsuhide Domo-kun build side view

The first thing I noticed with this build is that it would be tricky to tell exactly what colors to use and when. The brown they used is red, so it looks like it could be dark red. Several blue round pieces are also similar. This meant I needed to be extra careful when I grabbed the bricks to put onto the build.

Besides making sure you grab the correct color, this build is straightforward. It begins by building a base layer. You then build Domo-kun up in layers. It’s a little hard to tell which details you add as you create. Once you get towards the top you add the top of Domo’s mouth with an upside-down ball joint.

Akechi Mitsuhide Domo-kun build back 3/4 view

Once you build the main body of Domo-kun, there are 2 more additional things to build on. First is the very straightforward legs. The other detail is his hand holding a sword. It is a straightforward build but has very nice details.

Akechi Mitsuhide Domo-kun build in display box

Things I liked:

The details to create the sword

Things I didn’t like:

The colors are too close to each other in the directions

Review of nanoblock Pokemon Quest Squirtle NBPM_040

February 19, 2026June 23, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Pokemon Quest Squirtle build. Pokemon Quest Squirtle is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBPM_040

Number of Pieces: 80

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

I began this kit by laying the base layer out on my nanoblock pad.

The second layer adds the stomach and shell outline.

The next several layers create the stomach and shell. It closes up with flat-topped bricks with a couple of studs where the head attaches.

Then I connected the arms.

The next step is to build the head off the body. I needed to be careful to ensure the crossbars on the base were correct so that I could attach the head. After building the head, I attached it to the body.

I added the legs and a support so that the final build can stand.

The final step is to attach the sticker that has Squirtle’s face on it.

Pokemon Quest Squirtle build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I liked how simple the build was

Things I didn’t like:

I wish the build didn’t have a sticker, but it is required for the face

Review of nanoblock Hatsune Miku CN-08

February 17, 2026July 25, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Hatsune Miku build. This Hatsune Miku is part of the nanoblock charanano collection. Wondering what else is part of the charanano Collection? Click here for a list.

Number: CN-08

Number of Pieces: 310

Difficulty Rating: 3/5

Hatsune Miku is a Vocaloid that sings in rhythm-based video games. These games are primarily on the PlayStation family of systems, but there are games on most video game system families. Hatsune Miku has also done TV and live concerts, but I’m not sure how the details of those shows work.

Overall this build was trickier than most because I couldn’t use my pad for building the head. It was also hard to attach the model’s body to the legs since there were only 2 studs to connect to.

This nanoblock build begins by creating the head. The head is a bit tricky from the beginning. This is because the studs on the front row of the head don’t line up with the rest of the studs. It’s a bit hard to tell from the directions. You build up the head in layers like an average build. However, I had problems with the first two rows of bricks popping out of place for a while building, which was annoying.

The next step is to build the core of the body. The steps are very straightforward. Even adding the arms and hands is straightforward.

The next step is to attach the legs and the model to the base. This is tricky because it is hard to get things lined up since there are only 2 raised studs on the base to attach to. I had to move the legs a few times to get everything lined up.

The final detail is Hatsune Miku’s long hair. These builds are held in place with ball joints. The actual builds are very straightforward and simple.

Overall I really like the amount of detail that nanoblock can put into the charanano line. I really like the coloring used to create the headset and how clear the headset is. I feel like the legs are the weak point of the build and look a little odd.

Things I liked:

The amount of detail in the head with the headset

Things I didn’t like:

How the final legs look

Review of nanoblock Pokemon Quest Bulbasaur NBPM_039

February 12, 2026June 23, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Pokemon Quest Bulbasaur build. Pokemon Quest Bulbasaur is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBPM_039

Number of Pieces: 50

Difficulty Rating: 1/5

Pokemon Quest Bulbasaur build front view

I began by laying the base layer of bricks out on my nanoblock pad.

Bulbasaur went up in layers. After a couple of layers, dark green spots were added to the side.

In the next step, I began working on the bulb in addition to the head.

The head and body went up several layers. Eventually, I added the ears and closed up the bulb.

Then a bulb tip was added to the build.

Next, I added the 4 feet.

The final step is to attach the sticker that has Bulbasaur’s face on it.

Pokemon Quest Bulbasaur build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I like the detail of the darker green spots on the sides

Things I didn’t like:

I wish the build didn’t have a sticker, but it is required for the face

Review of nanoblock Donko NBCC_227

February 10, 2026October 14, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Donko build. Donko is part of the nanoblock Character collection. Wondering what else is part of the Character collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBCC_227

Number of Pieces: 180

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

I think that Donko is one of the Donki mascots for the mega stores in Japan. I’m not sure, but there is a link to donki.com’s official character page on the directions.

The build begins by laying a base layer of bricks out. I used my nanoblock pad. Over the first couple of steps, the base is enlarged and creates the solid base of the build and Donko’s feet.

The Donko build goes up in straightforward layers, tracing around the outline of the build. Wings, eyes, and a beak are added, sticking out from the outline.

The build begins to narrow after the eyes, and the head is closed up. At the same time, the puff on the hat is added.

Creating the base of the hat was a bit tricky because I wasn’t completely sure where each brick went, because there was so much overhang.

After the white hat base layer, the purple is very straightforward to build and close up the hat.

My finished build doesn’t exactly match the box because I didn’t put on the stickers. I generally don’t put stickers on my build because it means I can’t take the build apart for storage.

Things I liked:

I went to the Donki site and looked at Donko, and I feel that the build does a good job of capturing her

Things I didn’t like:

I was disappointed that this kit included stickers because nanoblock has been doing so many printed bricks

Review of nanoblock Pokemon Quest Charmander NBPM_038

February 5, 2026June 23, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Pokemon Quest Charmander build. Pokemon Quest Charmander is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBPM_038

Number of Pieces: 100

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Pokemon Quest Charmander build front view

I began the build by laying out the bricks on my nanoblock pad.

The body goes up in layers, with the stomach being traced around in orange bricks.

Pokemon Quest Charmander build side view

Then I built the layer with the arms and created the base for the head.

Then I built Charmander’s head in simple layers.

Then I built the flame on the tail.

Pokemon Quest Charmander build back view

I added the legs and a support so that the final build can stand.

The final step is to attach the stickers that have Charmander’s face on them.

Pokemon Quest Charmander build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I liked how simple the build was

Things I didn’t like:

I wish the build didn’t have stickers, but it is required for the face

Review of nanoblock Rilakkuma Onigiri NBCC_172

February 3, 2026October 14, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Rilakkuma build. Rilakkuma Onigiri is part of the nanoblock Character collection. Wondering what else is part of the Character collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBCC_172

Number of Pieces: 170

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

This kit is made up of 2 parts. There is the Rilakkuma rice ball and a red ball that I’m not sure what it is supposed to be.

The first section is the actual Rilakkuma onigiri. It begins with a base layer of black and white.

Rilakkuma Onigiri main build back 3/4 view

After building 4 layers, it is time to start building Rilakkuma. It’s a face with white on on the other 3 sides. There is a custom-printed brick to create Rilakkuma’s nose.

Then the rice ball was closed up using white bricks.

The final step is to add the ears on top of the riceball.

The second section is to build the red ball. I flipped around the first step, so I had to redo it a couple of times. Other than that, the entire ball was extremely straightforward.

Rilakkuma Onigiri mins build front 3/4 build

Things I liked:

I like the custom-printed nose brick

Things I didn’t like:

Since I’m not sure what the red thing is supposed to be so I think it could be left off

Review of nanoblock Pokemon Quest Pikachu NBPM_037

January 29, 2026June 23, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Pokemon Quest Pikachu build. Pokemon Quest Pikachu is part of the nanoblock Pokemon collection. Wondering what else is part of the Pokemon collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBPM_037

Number of Pieces: 60

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

Pikachu is basically a cube with a tail, ears, and legs attached.

I began by laying the base layer of bricks out on my nanoblock pad.

I then added the next couple of layers of yellow bricks.

Once I added the brown, I also added the bricks for the hidden tail attachment.

Next, I built and attached the tail.

Then I added the top layer of the cube that acts as Pikachu’s body.

Next, I added the ears. Then I added the legs

The final step is to attach the sticker that has Pikachu’s face on it.

Pokemon Quest Pikachu build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I liked how simple the build was. I think it should have been a level 1 difficulty

Things I didn’t like:

I wish the build didn’t have a sticker, but it is required for the face

Review of nanoblock Chairoikoguma Ebifurai NBCC_175

January 27, 2026June 23, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Chairoikoguma Ebifurai build. Chairoikoguma Ebifurai is part of the nanoblock Character collection. Wondering what else is part of the Character collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBCC_175

Number of Pieces: 160

Difficulty Rating: 2/5

This build begins with a base layer of yellow bricks. The first 4 steps create the base and round out the bottom of the build.

Next, I attached a stack of bricks to the back of the build. This stack included the printed copyright brick.

Then I work on the layers of the shrimp and start to work on the bear inside the breading. I added layers that builds the bear. I added the eyes and the printed brick for the nose.

After building the bear, I began to close up the shrimp. It took 3 steps to close up the build completely.

Next, I added the ears. Then I added the shrimp tails to the top of the build. The final step is to add the tail.

Chairoikoguma Ebifurai build front 3/4 view

Things I liked:

I like the shrimp tails sticking out of the build

Things I didn’t like:

I’m not a fan of the white under the bear head

Review of nanoblock Citta Del Vaticano NBH_152

January 22, 2026July 25, 2025shygal

This post is a review of the nanoblock Citta Del Vaticano build. Citta Del Vaticano is part of the nanoblock Sights to See collection. Wondering what else is part of the Sights to See collection? Click here for a list.

Number: NBH_152

Country: Vatican City

Number of Pieces: 780

Difficulty Rating: 4/5

This build is split into 2 sections. There is the building and the plaza.

Overall, telling which brown to use was a bit tricky for the Camel and Gold Brown. Sometimes the instructions said which color to use, but other times, they didn’t tell me.

The first section that the instructions cover is the actual building. The first step was to raise the 20×20 by a level. This meant when I was connecting the 2 bases, I had a very solid connection.

The next step is to lay out the base layer of bricks on the 20×20 level.

The building goes up in straightforward layers. I like the detail that goes into each layer so the building looks more detailed.

After adding several layers, I added the roof over a few steps.

Then, I added the blue dome to the roof.

The next step is to build the plaza. I found the plaza surprisingly tricky.

The first step is laying out the white and grey brick base layer on the 20×20 baseplate.

Next, I added the semicircles around the plaza. Building the chains was pretty straightforward, but curling the bricks wasn’t very clear. I’m unsure I got things lined up properly when I attached them to the base.

The kit comes with a couple nanoids that I didn’t include because I’m relatively sure they don’t match the scale.

Things I liked:

I like that one of the bases is raised, so when the bases were connected, there was a solid base

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t like how it wasn’t clear when to use which brown in some steps