Pro-Wrestling Keshi from Japan Part 9

Hello again, readers.

A lot has changed over the last few years since our last blog post. From the devastating effects of the Corona Virus to the ensuing collapse of many businesses as a response to the global pandemic. 2020
is a year that many of us would rather forget.

While this blog is going to stay up as a resource for other Puroresu figure collectors, there's still plenty of items left to cover. Which brings us to today's figure review - an unfinished draft that goes back to 2019 and another look at the wonderful world of keshigomu figures.

Better late than never, right?

For Blog #141, we'll be taking a look at Character Product's PANCRASE-X Keshi figure set.

In 2003, Japanese toy maker Character Product released a special six figure set of two inch keshigomu figures to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the PANCRASE promotion.

All six figures are re-releases from Character Product's 2001 line of Keshigomu eraser figures with
one important little addition: they've been painted.



From left to right: Ikuhisa Minowa, Masakatsu Funaki, Minoru Suzuki and Kengo WatanabE

From the Japanese flag on Maskaatsu Funaki's trunks to the chest and shoulder tattoo on Kengo Watanabe, the paint job on these small figures is immaculate.

On the left is Sanae Kikuta. On the right is Yuki Kondo. Both fighters fought each other on May 18th, 2003 in Kanagawa Japan for the Hybrid 5 event. The event served as a title defence for Kikuta's 2001 Light Heavyweight Championship victory.

The decals on Kikuta's gi (complete with a Pancrase X on Kikuta's left pant leg) are appreciated.

Also enclosed is an exclusive Pancrase ring which I believe is a similar scale to the various ring sets that were made available with Character Product's series of Pro Kaku Heroes Mini Big Head Figures.

The back of the packaging reads:

"PANCRASE - X
Pancrase 10th Anniversary Figure Set (2 kinds)

Year 1993
The flag-raising event was held at Tokyo Bay NK Hall on September 21. Killing in seconds became a buzzword.

Year 1994
The match between Minoru Suzuki and Masakatsu Funaki was held. The belt (non-discriminatory weight class) was established.

Year 1995
Introduced the ranking system and held the 1st Neo-Blood Tournament in July.

Year 1996
Yuki Kondo debuted and was called a supernova with his breakneck success.

Year 1997
New dojo established in Tokyo. Ikuhisa Minowa debuts at the Neo-Blood Tournament.

Year 1998
Kengo Watanabe, a hot newcomer from the college rugby world, makes his debut against Bas Rutten in the September tournament. Shocking debut.

Year 1999
Sanae Kikuta, a big freelance player, joins the team.

Year 2000
A third force, GRABAKA, is formed with Sanae Kikuta at the center.
Founder, Masakatsu Funaki retired after his match with Hickson Gracie in May.

Year 2001
The rules of GRABAKA were changed to gloves and rounds, and Manabu Yamada retired.

Year 2002
Tokyo Dojo and Yokohama Dojo were reintegrated into Yokohama, and renamed Pancrase ISM.

Year 2003
Sanae Kikuta fights against Yuki Kondo at the 10th Anniversary Hybrid Tour 5.18."


Closing thoughts:

Going back to the heyday of keshi figures in the 1980's, hobbyists young and old alike would paint their own keshi figures. Fast forward two decades later and Character Product have done all of the heavy lifting themselves with the company's own painted figures.

Though, Character Product wasn't the only company releasing painted Keshi figures. By 2003, BANDAI would release their own painted Keshi figures as part of the Ultimate Muscle Micro
Wrestler line outside of Japan.

As the back of the packaging states, there is also a second set that features different colour variants for the included figures.

The two aforementioned Pancrase sets would be the last keshi figures ever made under the Character Product banner.

All in all, an essential set for Pancrase purists and a brief glimpse of what could have been if only more legends were added to Character Product's line of keshigomu figures.