On November 14th, 2006, Character Product released their eight
wave of Mini Big Head figures.
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| The Vol. 8. hobby box cover containing 15 randomly inserted Vol. 8. Mini Big Heads. |
The theme for Vol. 8. was inspired by legendary Joshi Pro-Wrestlers
from over the last thirty plus years from various defunct and modern
female Wrestling promotions such as AJW, GAEA, and even a minor
reference to KAIENTAI Dojo!
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| Care to open a blind box? |
Vol. 8. would feature the largest roster of figures to collect since
Vol. 1. with
a total of thirty figures plus a special, secret figure.
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| An individual Vol. 8. blind box. |
The figures of Vol. 8. are:
to kick things off, "flying angel" Manami Toyota (who just
retired this year) and fellow legend: Mimi Hagiwara.
Manami Toyota comes painted in a classic Japanese Empress
entrance attire while Mimi Hagiwara's Mini Big Head includes
entrance cape and tiara.
Mimi's entrance cape is also removable with a peg hole placed
at the back of the Mimi Mini Big Head.
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| This year's prom king and queen are... |
The only other Mini Big Head to feature a removable cape
is the Vol. 2. Bob Sapp (A) Mini Big Head from the K-1
themed set.
Two more 1980's throwback Mini Big Heads come in the form
of the legendary Dump Matsumoto along with modern power
-house Aja Kong!
Dump Matsumoto's entrance attire; complete with Kendo
stick, police hat, sunglasses and leather entrance vest is based
on the incredibly popular Joshi faction "Gokuaku Domei"
(translation: Attrocious Alliance) which Dump would lead.
The second Dump Matsumoto Mini Big Head in regular ring
attire contains a different haircuit, alternate facepaint/ring attire
colours and a small tattoo!
We can't talk about the famous Gokuaku Domei stable without
mentioning their greatest rivals: legendary Tag Team - Lioness
Asuka (not THAT Asuka) and Chigusa Nagayo of the "Crush
Gals".
Both Crush Gals were available in their entrance karate gi's as well
as their 1980's leotard ring attires. Chigusa's ring variant also sports
a more 80's hair style.
WWF enthusiasts might recognize this popular 1980's tag team:
The Jumping Bomb Angels - Itsuki Yamazaki (left) and Noriyo
Tateno (right) along with 1990's Joshi star Mariko Yoshida.
As another throwback figure, Yoshida is sporting a more
colourful ring attire from the earlier part of her in-ring
career.
There are no shortage of legends in Vol. 8's 31-Wrestler
roster with Jaguar Yokota, Devil Masami and submission
specialist Shinobu Kandori.
All three Joshi's once again feature throwback looks from
the 1990's. Devil Masami's attire also contains silver paint
highlights.
Making her Mini Big Head return is the innovator of the
Northern Lights Bomb: the legendary Akira Hokuto along
with the hard-hitting Dynamite Kansai!
Akira's entrance attire variant features a full Kabuki outfit
complete with Hannya Mask, entrance kimono and Katana
accessory!
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| Be afraid, be VERY afraid! |
Dynamite Kansai comes painted in her classic green, yellow
and black ring colours and is molded in a stiff, kick pose.
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| Four volumes apart: Vol. 4. and Vol. 8's Akira Hokuto Mini Big Heads. |
The Vol. 8. Akira design is based on her 1990's ring attire and
makeup. Akira also holds the distinction of being the only female
Wrestler to be included in two separate Mini Big Head volumes.
Mariko Yoshida's long-time rival: Yumi Fukawa and shoot
fighter Yumiko Hotta.
Hotta's Mini Big Head was inspired by her modern ring attire
and is a popular figure mold from the Mini Big Head series.
Pro-Wrestling sisters: Kyoko and Takako Inoue along with
KAIENTA Dojo's popular masked Joshi Ofune.
From the fringe on her attire to her colourful paint job and "Let
me hear you" taunt pose, the Kyoko Inoue Mini Big Head stands
out easily.
The Ofune Mini Big Head is another great example of variety in
Vol. 8.'s selection of Joshi Wrestlers. The detail in the Ofune's ring
mask is especially noticeable.
It's just a shame that more Masked Joshis didn't make it into this
volume.
Have a seat with Mima Shimoda (left) and Etsuko Mita (right)
of Joshi Tag Team "Las Cachorras Orientales" (The Oriental
Bitches) along with OZ Acamedy founder Mayumi Ozaki.
There are no shortage of weapon accessories in Vol. 8. I
especially like how Mima and Etsuko's chairs are colour
-coordinated to match their ring attires.
Another mixture of classic and modern stars are Cutie Suzuki
and FMW legend "the queen of hardcore" Megumi Kudo along
with Amazing Kong and Kayo Noumi.
The colours Character Product chose for Megumi Kudo's ring
attire is based on her 1993 match against Takako Inoue for the
FMW promotion.
Personally, I would have loved to have a variant of Megumi
in her more well-known pink and white colours as well.
From her fangs to matching hair, contacts and ring attire, one
of my absolute favorite designs from the Pro-Kaku line is the
Amazing Kong Mini Big Head.
The secret figure of Vol. 8. is deceased Referee Shiro Abe.
The Shiro Abe Mini Big Head is one of two Referee figures
next to Vol. 2.'s Nobuaki Kakuda A (referee) figure.
Ready to count a pinfall, Shiro Abe's Mini Big Head is also
the only figure in the entire line that was sculpted in a mat-
based position.
Closing thoughts:Despite not being the most popular volume from the Pro-
Kaku Mini Big Head line, Vol. 8. does feature an impressive
assortment of popular Joshi legends and a just-as-impressive
thirty-one figure roster.
My biggest problem with Vol. 8. is the strange omission of
very popular Joshi Bull Nakano. Nakano would have paired
nicely with Dump Matsumoto to at least have two original
members of the Gokuaku Domei stable. Nakano would have
also fitted well with her more-modern raised hair look.
Other worthy additions would have been Command Bolshoi/
Bolshoi Kid, Alundra Blaze, Super Heel Devil Masami, 1980's
Devil Masami, Combat Toyoda and the late Plum Mariko to
name a few.
Besides the Kensuke Sasaki and Akira Hokuto figure two-pack,
Character Product would never release full-sized figures of
any Joshi Wrestler past or present. Making Vol. 8. one of the
few pieces of Joshi merchandise available to fans and collectors.
More figure reviews coming soon!
