Mogura House Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada figure set review

Welcome back to the world's largest source of Japanese Pro-Wrestling collectibles
information on the web.

Our next figure review covers another awesome two-pack from one of the sport's
greatest rivalries. Blog #130 is all about Mogura House's Mitsuharu Misawa vs
Toshiaki Kawada DESTINY 2005 DX figure set.

Released in 2005 by Japanese toy maker Mogura House, this special two figure set
was created to commemorate Pro-Wrestling NOAH's  "DESTINY 2005 5th
ANNIVERSARY TOKYO DOME" event which was held on July 18th, 2005.

The main event of the card featured a highly anticipated face off between
legendary All Japan Pro-Wrestling rivals Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki
Kawada (who, at the time, had not fought against one another for five years
prior to Mitsuharu Misawa leaving All Japan to form his own promotion Pro-
Wrestling NOAH).

On April 24th, 2005, Toshiaki Kawada appeared in Pro-Wrestling NOAH;
calling out Misawa for "one more match" paving the way for the DESTINY
event to take place.


                           

Misawa comes dressed in his NOAH-era entrance attire and hands on hip.
I've always liked this Misawa figure and feel it's one of Mogura's finer
sculpts.


                           

As a limited edition variant, Misawa's entrance and ring attire are covered in
glitter (green for the coat and silver for Misawa's tights).

A deluxe size acrylic display base, four figure holders and an acrylic name
plate which reads "Mitsuharu Misawa VS Toshiaki Kawada" is also included
with this two figure set.

                            

Unlike the Mitsuharu Misawa figure (which is an updated variant) the Toshiaki
Kawada figure is a simple re-release that was originally produced by fellow
Japanese toy company Character Product (also known as "Charapro") in 2003.

While you can't go wrong with an original Kawada figure, I wish Character
Product was a little more involved with this set by creating a new Kawada
sculpt with included entrance coat that Kawada wore from the 2005 Destiny
event.

The beautiful, glossy sticker on the bottom right corner of the packaging reads
"2005.7.18.
PRO-WRESTLING NOAH
DESTINY
東京ドーム                
限定

モグラハウス"
which translates to:

July 18th, 2005
PRO-WRESTLING NOAH
DESTINY
Tokyo Dome
Limited edition
Mogura House


The back of the packaging contains close ups of Misawa and Kawada along with
their stats and a brief bio for each legend.

Strangely, there is no mention of Character Product for allowing Mogura House
to use the Kawada figure in this set.

DESTINY 2005 would be Pro-Wrestling NOAH's most successful event to date
with 62,000 fans packing into the Tokyo Dome to watch both Misawa and Kawada
square off.

Unfortunately, the 27 minute epic would serve as Misawa and Kawada's final match
as Misawa would sadly pass away just 4 years later on June 13th, 2009.

Furthermore, the DESTINY 2005 limited edition two pack remains the only action
figure set to contain both Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada packaged together:
bringing a close to one of the greatest Pro-Wrestling rivalries in both Pro-Wrestling
and Puroresu history.

In my personal opinion, when it comes to Japanese two-packs, the Misawa vs
Kawada action figure set just can't be topped.

Mogura House Kenta Kobashi (Chop variant) figure review

For blog #129, we'll be taking a look at another Kenta Kobashi figure variant
released by Japanese toy maker Mogura House in the early 2000's.

Without further adieu, let's take a look at Mogura House's Kenta Kobashi
Chop variant figure.

                               

Kenta comes in Mogura's early 2000's blister packaging. The Mogura House
logo is prominently displayed in the top right corner along with the Pro-
Wrestling NOAH logo on the left.

                                

The Kobashi figure is dressed in his black and purple Pro-Wrestling NOAH era
ring attire. This variant also features Kobashi with a chop hand sculpt and
without a championship belt.

                                      

The back of the packaging features Kobashi's stats and a brief bio leading
up to Kobashi's involvement in the Pro-Wrestling Noah promotion.

                                 

Producing as many variants of their legends as possible, Mogura House also
released the exact same Kobashi figure with a Pro-Wrestling NOAH GHC
Heavyweight Championship belt (you can read about more about the belt
variant HERE)

Martial Arts Pro-Wrestling Collection figure review

Following the success of the popular All Japan Wrestler collection prize series
in 2004 (which was inserted into canisters of Georgia Brand coffee for a limited
time), Japanese toymaker BOFORD decided to release a follow up series, this
time, however, made for retail.

                                                     

For blog #128, we'll be looking at BOFORD's Martial Arts Pro-Wrestling
Figure Collection.

Each figure set came packaged in blind box fashion. You didn't know which
figure set you got until you opened a box!

In total, there are 9 sets to collect plus one "secret" set.

Like other minifigure assortments during the era, there was also a "Closed Box"
(hobby box) assortment available that contained multiple, randomly selected blind
boxes - for stores and completionists in mind.

                               

Collection 1 features Dory Funk Jr. applying his finishing move the "Spinning
Toe Hold" on the villainous Tiger Jeet Singh.

Dory's "never quit" mentality is present as he applies the submission hold on
Tiger.

Tiger doesn't look too happy with his current predicament!

Each of the 10 figure sets are organized by "Collection". Collection 1 reads
"SPINNING TOE HOLD
______________________
Dory Funk Jr.
  VS Tiger Jeet Singh"

                          

Each figure set is removable from the included ring base. Collection 1, in particular,
features a peg on Tiger's back.

BOFORD made good use of their licensing agreements with each Wrestler
by including alternate variants with even more signature attacks!

Now it's Tiger's turn to slash Dory with Tiger's sabre sword (which Tiger would
famously enter the ring with - cutting the air as he walked through the crowd)!

With one eye closed and arms raised, Dory is trying his best to defend himself.

Collection 2 reads:

"SABRE ATTACK
_________________
Tiger Jeet Singh VS Dory Funk Jr.

Collection 3 includes the second half of the legendary Funks tag team Terry
Funk vs fellow hardcore legend "The Phantom of Arabia" The Sheik Ed Farhat!

                              

Complete with era-accurate red headband, Terry is sculpted performing his
signature "Texas Jabs" attack.

                            

The Sheik does a great job of selling Terry's punch!

There's definitely a charm to the Martial Arts Collection and it's assortment
of Chibi-fied legends.

Collection 3 reads:

"TEXAS JAB
_____________________
Terry Funk VS The Sheik"

                                                                     


                                       

The tables have turned with Collection 4 where The Sheik attempts to injure
Terry Funk with The Sheik's patented fireball!

Collection 4 reads:

"FIRE ATTACK
______________
The Sheik VS Terry Funk"


                                

This time, Terry's on the receiving end of some heel punishment.

Notice how BOFORD switched up the raised arm and closed eye for
Terry's mold (in comparison to Dory Funk Jr. in Collection 2)?

                               

Along with his fireball, The Sheik also comes holding a weapon in his left hand.
In this case, a pencil - which the Sheik would famously stab into many a foe!

                           

Collection 5 kicks off (no, literally) with "The Mystery of the Orient" The
Great Kabuki vs fellow All Japan veteran "The Demon of the Mic" Rusher
Kimura!

Rusher is on the receiving end of Kabuki's patented "Thrust Kick" (also known as
the "Super Kick").

Before Rusher was made famous for his off-the-wall and hilarious mic skills,
Rusher was considered a hardcore innovator (even being referred to as "the
demon of the steel cage").

The Rusher figure's scarred forehead is a testament to Rusher's hardcore years.

Collection 5 reads:

"THRUST KICK
______________
The Great Kabuki
VS Rusher Kimura".

                          

Collection 6 switches things up once again with Rusher Kimura taking the
house mic for some trash talk!

Collection 6 reads:

"MIC APPEAL
_____________
Rusher Kimura
VS The Great Kabuki"

                           

The Great Kabuki comes dressed in his armored shinobi-inspired Ninja hood
and robe complete with nunchuks!

                           

Both Rusher Kimura and The Great Kabuki are exclusive to the Martial Arts
Collection.

Along with each figure, the included turnbuckles are also removable from the

ring base.

                            

Collection 7 contains another exclusive figure not available in BOFORD's All
Japan coffee prize series: "Mr. Puroresu" Genichiro Tenryu!

                               

For Collection 7 Genichiro Tenryu is applying his Powerbomb finisher to
fellow All Japan rival Jumbo Tsuruta.

Collection 7 reads:

"POWERBOMB
______________________________
Genichiro Tenryu VS Jumbo Tsuruta"
                                  

Collection 8 depicts Jumbo Tsuruta applying his Backdrop finisher to
Genichiro Tenryu.

Since the early 1980's, both Tenryu and Tsuruta would have quite a history in
All Japan Pro-Wrestling. As tag team champions and frequent rivals. The Martial
Arts Collection pays tribute to both legends and their historic feuds.

Thanks to the peg in Tsuruta's boot, both Tsuruta and Tenryu can lean back
into a proper Backdrop pose!

Collection 8 reads:

"BACKDROP
____________
Jumbo Tsuruta VS Genichiro Tenryu"

Quite possibly the most popular collection from the set is Collection 9 which
features yet another hardcore legend - Abdullah The Butcher vs Terry Funk.

                         

Abdullah is sculpted holding Terry in a headlock while being repeatedly
stabbed by Abdullah's fork!

You can even see the blood trail down underneath Terry's headband!

Personally, I would have removed Terry's headband for this figure set;
just because the blood blends in too much colour-wise with it.

Collection 9 reads:

"FORK ATTACK"
_______________
Abdullah The Butcher
VS Terry Funk".

The final and "secret" collection of the set is Collection 10 which features Terry
Funk (who makes his fourth appearance - the most in the set) applying another
Spinning Toe Hold on Abdullah The Butcher!

The secret collection 10 set includes special gold ring ropes and a gold frame
around the ring.

Collection 10 is another reference to a famous (and incredibly successful) feud
which took place in All Japan Pro-Wrestling during the 1970's: The Funks vs
Abdullah The Butcher and The Sheik.

The Funks (who are considered one of Japan's most famous gaijin babyfaces -
and also one of the first gaijins to get over in Japan. in general) would shed
blood at the hands of The Sheik and Abdullah's heel tactics.

While bloody brawls have existed in Japan (Rikidozan vs "Classy" Freddie
Blassie comes to mind) years before hand, it was the Funks vs The Sheik
and Abdullah feud which is considered the prominent hardcore match in
Japan; helping to reshape Terry's image as a Hardcore legend years later.

Collection 10 reads:

"SPINNING TOE HOLD
____________________
Terry Funk
VS Abdullah The Butcher".

You can even stack ring sets from the Martial Arts Collection on top of each other!

Character Product The Great Sasuke figure review

The largest Japanese Pro-Wrestling collectibles database continues to expand
with our next figure review which takes a look at another popular masked
legend.

For blog #127, we'll be taking a look at Character Product's Great Sasuke
figure (purple and green variants).


TOUKON SHOP and CHARACTER PRODUCT

With the success of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Super Star Figure Collection
figures in the late 1990's, other major Wrestling, Lucha and mixed martial
arts promotions around Japan began to take notice of Toukon Shop's success.
But, there was just one small problem.

Toukon Shop (the company that made the figures)'s namesake was owned by
New Japan Pro-Wrestling - and New Japan wasn't interested in humoring
the idea of selling toys of Wrestlers from rival promotions.

So, in 1999, Toukon Shop decided to create another toy company - one
outside of New Japan's jurisdiction. A toy company that would be free
to seek out and make figures based on Wrestlers from promotions such as
FMW, RINGS, PANCRASE, OSAKA PRO, WAR, K-1 and, in this
blog's case - MICHINOKU PRO-WRESTLING.

                            

One of Character Product's earliest non-NJPW figures was that of
Japanese masked legend The Great Sasuke.

This particular Sasuke figure I personally had Autographed by the man himself!

This particular variant features a special white emblem on the side of Sasuke's mask.

The most obvious difference to look out for in this variant is the colour of the
stripes on Sasuke's mask. In this case, this variant also features green stripes.

The same emblem from the side of Sasuke's mask is also featured on Sasuke's
chest.

Another trait with Character Product's figures - each figure contains a
copyright licensing (usually licensed by each individual Wrestler that
was turned into a figure).

The back of the packaging contains a great graphic of Sasuke with his
stats and a small bio detailing Sasuke's accomplishments up to the year
1999.

The belt featured pm the back of the packaging's graphic is the NWA
World Middleweight Championship.

Let's take a look at the second variant:

                              

This variant features Sasuke first and foremost with purple stripes along
his mask.


                            

The emblem on Sasuke's chest is also different with a red outline.

The stern and determined look on Sasuke's face is well captured. This
legend is ready to fight!

                           

                                   

The face-like design on the side of Sasuke's mask is unique to the purple
stripe figure variant.

                          

                             

Even the laces and stitching on the back of Sasuke's mask are sculpted
- making this collectible the most detailed Great Sasuke figure to date!


                             

The purple stripe Great Sasuke figure contains the exact same packaging
design as the green stripe variant.