Antonio Inoki Mini HAO figures review

Starting in 2004, Japanese toymaker HAO Arts Office created a special
spin-off line based on the company's popular HAO Collection figures.

The spin-off line was simply called the "Minifigure" (ミニフィ
ギュア) or "Mini HAO" (ミニHAO ) line with figures being based
on popular Wrestlers, Shoot Fighters, Baseball Players, Models and
even Sumo Wrestlers!

Today, we'll be looking at two figures from the Mini HAO line:

the Mini HAO Collection Antonio Inoki Red and Blue towel
figure variants.


Celebrating New Japan Pro-Wrestling's 35th anniversary in 2007,
HAO added a handful of few New Japan legends and current
Wrestlers to the Mini HAO line.

Each figure came in a small, HAO-style clamshell package. The "35th Anniversary"
logo is prominently displayed in the top left corner of the packaging. The back of the
Mini HAO packaging has Inoki's stats and mentions that the Inoki figure was licensed
by New Japan Pro-Wrestling Ltd.
　　

Just like other figures from the HAO Collection, the Mini HAO
Antonio Inoki figure is made of soft vinyl.

Inoki's ring name is written as "A.INOKI" at the tip of Inoki's
fight towel.

Inoki is sculpted in a pre-fight pose tossing his fight towel to the
wind before the start of the match.

As for articulation, the Mini HAO Antonio Inoki figure features
articulation at the right arm and neck.

HAO also released a limited edition, alternate colour variant of the
Mini HAO Antonio Inoki figure with a blue fight towel!

As the case with many HAO alternate variants, the blue fight towel
variant is estimated at an edition of just 500 units.

Sadly, Inoki's fight towel cannot be rotated or posed differently.

Compared with a HAO Collection Great Muta, Toukon Shop Keiji Mutoh and Character
Product Great Muta Mini Big Head figure.

Scale wise, the Mini HAO Antonio Inoki figures stand just under 3
inches (7cm) and are recommended for collectors looking for
likenesses noticeably bigger in scale compared to Character
Product's Mini Big Head figures.

The other Pro-Wrestlers featured in the Mini HAO line are:
Shinsuke Nakamura (Black tights)
Shinesuke Nakamura (Blue tights)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (White tights)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (Black tights)
Masahiro Chono  (Black sunglasses)
Masahiro Chono (Silver sunglasses)