Pro-Kaku Heroes Strap Figures Review

In the mid 2000's, Character Product would release special versions of
select figures from their Pro-Kaku Heroes Mini Big Head figures line.

Marketed as "Figure Straps", these figures were meant to be attached
to cell phones for the mobile minded Puro fan.

While we have already covered the special Antonio Inoki Jungle Fight
figure strap (you can read the write up HERE), today we'll be focusing
on three additional figures:

The first figure is of Joshi legend Akira Hokuto.

The packaging consists of the "Kensuke Office" promotion logo in the top
left along "Devil Woman" (鬼妻) in Japanese Kanji along with the word
"strap" at the bottom.

                       
Strangely, there is no mention of Character Product anywhere on the
packaging. The Akira Hokuto Strap is an update of the Pro-Kaku
Heroes Vol. 4. Akira Hokuto Mini Big Head.

The repainted strap version features a lighter skin tone, purple
lip paint, black kendo stick and ""Devil Woman" (鬼妻) written
across Hokuto's shirt.

Both designs are based on Character Product's full sized Kensuke
Sasaki and wife/manager Akira Hokuto two figure set.

Also under the Kensuke Office banner is none other than Kensuke
Sasaki as his Road Warriors inspired alter ego "Power Warrior"!

The yellow font on the packaging reads "Power-. Warrior".


                          

           

The front and back of Power Warrior's packaging. Character Product is listed as the
manufacturer; while the material of the strap is listed as PVC.

                        
The Power Warrior strap is a repaint of the Vol. 4. Kensuke
Sasaki Mini Big Head.

In the mid 2000's, Kensuke Sasaki would resurrect his Power
Warrior gimmick when teaming with Road Warrior Animal.
The duo was billed as the "Hell Warriors".

From the grey and green streaks in Warrior's hair to his intricate

warpaint and tights decals, the Power Warrior strap figure contains
an impressive amount of detail!

                         

Just in case you were wondering, yes, the figure straps' heads are
also removable. It's just a shame that the Power Warrior figure is
incredibly difficult to stand on it's own without a display base.

The last of today's figure straps is the Mastodon himself: Big Van
Vader!

The packaging for the Vader strap reads:
 
"20th Anniversary Coming to Japan
Cell Phone Strap
Emperor Warrior Vader"

The Vader figure strap variant is a repaint of the Vol. 9. Big Van
 Vader Mini Big Head.

The strap variant's colouring is based on Vader's early 2000's

Pro-Wrestling NOAH attire.

Like the Inoki Jungle Fight strap, the Vader strap also includes a leather
attachment with Vader's iconic catchphrase "IT'S VADER TIME"!


Closing thoughts:

When I first discovered pictures of the figure straps online, I thought
the straps were unofficial, fan-created customs. It turns out, however,
that Character Product licensed quite a few figure strap repaints that
were sold through New Japan's Toukon Shop.

The best part is, Toukon Shop is still releasing Mini Big Head style
figure straps to this day - with current stars such as Hirooki Goto,
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yuji Nagata (to name a few)!

Just how many straps exist at the moment is anyone's guess.
To be continued...

Minoru Suzuki DX Figure Review

In 2005, Character Product would release another popular figure 

in the form of the Minoru Suzuki DX Figure.

The DX Minoru figure was the second-ever deluxe figure to be made
by Character Product (the first featured a younger Minoru from his
Pancrase days with his pre-braided hairstyle).

At the time, Minoru was part of tag team with Yusuke Fuke called
"Pancrase Mission" which, as freelancers, would "invade"
promotions such as New Japan and Pro-Wrestling NOAH.

                      

This figure would be the second Charapro release to include
Minoru's signature entrance towel complete with gold signature.

                                            
                        The first Minoru Suzuki figure also with entrance towel.

The entrance towel accessory can be removed to reveal Minoru's modern
hair style and stern facial expression.  This man is not pleased...

 The clamshell and cardboard packaging feature the Pancrase promotion
logo; once again referencing Minoru's "Pancrase Mission" stable (the
modern variation would be "Suzuki Gun").

               


As a deluxe figure, Minoru comes packaged with a display base with
removable leg holders and an attachable acrylic nameplate that reads
"鈴木 みのる" (Minoru Suzuki) in Japanese.

                  

The back of the packaging includes Minoru's profile stats along with
a brief history on Minoru's career from the U.W.F. to competing in
New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

For collectors looking for an even rarer variant, Character Product
would also release a limited edition, alternate-white variant with red
signature.

The white DX variant is another throwback to Minoru's noteworthy
Pancrase run.


Closing thoughts:

When it comes to detail, presentation and overall coolness, the DX
Minoru Suzuki Character Product figure has it all (and then some)!

14 years later with Minoru once again making waves in New Japan,
the prices for these variants continue to rise as finding pristine,
unopened examples has become a challenge in itself.

The only figure that could rival the detail of the DX version is
HAO'S soft vinyl version.

What is your favorite Minoru Suzuki figure?
Stay tuned for more updates!

Hayabusa Mogura House Figure Reviews

                               


With this installment, we'll be looking at the the highly sought after
Hayabusa DX Figures from Japan.

In 2004, Mogura House (a toy company best known for their Pro-
Wrestling NOAH and Rikidozan figures) released a series of
"deluxe" Hayabusa figures in four different colour variants:

The first deluxe variant is the simple, white and gold variant.

All four variants feature Hayabusa in his large Ninja-esque kimono
complete with a Japanese Kanji emblem on the front.

The packaging for the Hayabusa DX figures is the same scale as
Character Product's deluxe Figures.

Most collectors (myself included) think the Hayabusa DX Figures were
made by toy maker "Character Product/Charapro" when in fact, the
figures were made by Mogura House (see above logo) and were
licensed under Hayabusa's own "Project Hayabusa" company.

                        


The back of the packaging lists a brief profile of Hayabusa's stats
and basic information along with a lengthy history of Hayabusa's
in-ring accomplishments all in Japanese.

The second variant is a simple repaint of the previous white and
gold variant with a simple red pattern along Hayabusa's ring tights.

On closer inspection, the red decal contains the design of a
Phoenix along Hayabusa's ring tights.

Taking a page from Character Product's very own DX Figures,
Mogura House also included an acrylic display base, attachable
acrylic name plate that reads "HAYABUSA" and added similar
styled leg holder rings that attach to each base with pegs.

The third variant of the Hayabusa DX Figure features brown
and white colouring.

One of the noticeable traits of the brown coloured variant is the
darker headband portion of Hayabusa's ring mask.

                                

                                     
The back of the Hayabusa figures includes a beautiful soaring
Phoenix decal (that intentionally also looks like a pair of eyes)!

                                    

The final (and rarest) of the Hayabusa DX Figures is the red and
white variant. It is estimated that the red version was limited to just
500 pieces upon the figure's original release (the standard limit for
Mogura DX Figures).

Like the brown version, the red variant also includes a darker
headband.


Closing thoughts:
It's easy to see why the Hayabusa DX figures by Mogura House
are so rare and sought after. Their detail is phenomenal (the
most detailed of any Hayabusa figure released to date) and
their wicked Phoenix taunt pose is a personal highlight.

The only real downside to the DX Hayabusa figures is the
inability (and a very small one at that) to remove Hayabusa's
entrance attire.

Mexican Lucha Figures Review

                                              

As a change of pace from my regular coverage of Japanese Puroresu figures,
today's blog post is all about the interesting world of Lucha Wrestling figures
from Mexico.

Mexico has a strong tradition of Lucha Libre figures dating back several
decades. Some of the more well known Lucha figures were released under
the  AAA, XMAToys and the CMLL banners.

Let's take a look at the Lucha figures I was able get my hands on:

No, it's not Japanese high flyer The Great Sasuke, the first Lucha figure
is of the Wrestler "Octagon" with a very thin red belt and matching
headband.

Each hard plastic figure features the same mold and stands at roughly 4
inches in height.

As with other bootleg products, there are no company logos or
copyright information located anywhere on these figures.   

The most noticeable aspect of these figures is their paint job, which is
quite minimal and sloppy when compared with other bootleg toys from
around the world..
                           

The next figure looks to be based off 1980's Luchador Ultraman with
added red stripes.




                    

Since each figure was hand painted, no two figures are ever alike.

                               

Do you know the identity of this Luchador? If so, leave a comment!

                         
                           
Our next mystery Lucha is the first of the set to feature a cape and
illustrated knee decals on his ring tights. This Lucha figure is of
Tinieblas.

The cape accessories for these Lucha figures were made out of plastic
bags and are glued to the figures themselves.

Despite their rough appearance, these Lucha figures have been in production
since the early 1980's; being sold everywhere from Flea Markets to Arenas
in Mexico!

                       

                      
The next caped Lucha figure sports a purple cape and white stripes
along his tights.

The capes for these figures are see-through.

                             

This simplistic design was based on Luchador Sicodélico and comes
with a matching green cape.

                            
Some of the caped versions of these figures were lifted from mono-
colored variants that were touched up with a few strokes of paint.
                       

Next up is an intimidating (and mysterious) character design that is also
sporting a cape.


                           





                      

In most cases, these bootleg figures are based on real-life Wrestlers.
In other cases, figuring out the identities behind certain designs are
a little harder to decipher.

The last of my Lucha haul is of former WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio Jr.

"A" for effort!

The makers of this figure even replicated Rey's modern WWE-era 619
ring pants!

                              
Closing thoughts:
These Mexican bootleg figures are gritty, rough around the edges
and, in some cases, almost indistinguishable from one another.

But, even in their crude, sloppily-painted appearances, these eye
catching-Mexican imports are a modern reminder of the lasting
impact Lucha Libre has had on the people of Mexico and the
world over.

For starters, their inexpensive price point and uncountable number
of multi-coloured variants out there make these Lucha figures
exciting to collect and even greater to display in groups. And,
their various designs make the perfect template to imagine your
very own Lucha champion!