Plum (PMOA)
An in-house Japanese manufacturer born from industrial plastic molding and the 2008 financial crisis
At a glance
- Status
- Active.
- Based in
- Suwa Nagano Prefecture Japan.
- Known for
- Love Live figures; the catalog also includes Is the Order a Rabbit and Yuru Camp.
- Good fit
- collectors devoted to Love Live or gentle everyday anime.
- Before buying
- check availability when a figure is announced; distribution can be limited and reprints are infrequent.
- Research coverage
- Developing
TL;DR
- Plum, the figure brand of PMOA Co., Ltd., makes its products at factories in Suwa and Chino, Nagano Prefecture. Visitors can tour the production floor.
- Deep roots in Love Live! across every era, alongside Is the Order a Rabbit?, Yuru Camp, and Re:Zero Binivini Baby. Figures run about 8,000 to 25,000 yen ($55-$165 USD).
- After the 2008 financial crisis, PMOA used its existing plastic-molding expertise to launch Plum. Its factories handle production from mold cutting through packaging.
The Plastic Molder That Became a Figure Brand
PMOA Co., Ltd. was founded August 1, 2000 in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, as an industrial plastic molding operation. The figure brand launched a decade later. When the 2008 financial crisis hit, the company used its existing equipment and manufacturing knowledge to enter the figure market. PLUM stands for 'Pretty Lovely Unique Mechanism.'
The Nagano location is central to Plum's identity. Both the Suwa and Chino factories handle production in-house, and the company offers public tours where visitors watch the entire process from mold cutting through final packaging. Very few figure manufacturers open their production floor to the public.
Love Live!, GochiUsa, and In-House Japanese Production
Love Live! is the franchise most closely associated with Plum. Its catalog spans characters from multiple Love Live! series and groups, giving fans a broad selection to explore. Is the Order a Rabbit? (GochiUsa) and Yuru Camp round out a catalog that favors charming character portrayals over aggressive dynamism.
Plum also produces plastic model kits, and the Re:Zero Binivini Baby line adds a smaller-format option. At 8,000 to 25,000 yen, the pricing stays reasonable because Plum's own factory handles the work without outsourcing overhead.
Franchise Loyalty and Distribution
Plum is best suited to collectors drawn to Love Live! or anime about everyday life, especially those interested in figures made at its Japanese factories. Distribution can be more limited than for major brands, so availability may be easiest to assess around each announcement.