GARO is a Japanese artist creating original sofubi works under the name TURN_UP_TOYS.

The main concept behind his works is “BUG.” This idea comes from the strange contradiction found in viruses and malware: a virus infects and destroys its host, while malware is created by humans to attack the very high-tech systems humans built.

Through original sofubi figures, GARO expresses these contradictions, emotional glitches, and small distortions found in society and human behavior.

His representative works include MEGA BUG, BUG BUG, BUGるBEAR / BUGるBUNNY, and TOMODACHI VACCINE. Each series has its own characters, stories, and visual language, while sharing the same underlying theme of “BUG.”

GARO creates original characters, one-off painted works, and limited sofubi pieces for exhibitions and events in Japan and overseas.