Character Product Kazushi Sakuraba figure

Anyone who's followed Mixed Martial Arts in Japan is well aware of Kazushi Sakuraba.

Known as the "Gracie Hunter", Sakuraba is considered one of Japan's most lethal fighters
and an MMA all-time great in the ring for his "anti-technique" style.

Blog #173 is all about Character Product's Kazushi Sakuraba figure.

Released in the early 2000's as part of Character Product's earliest, non-New Japan
Pro-Wrestling licenses, the Kazushi Sakuraba figure comes with a recognizable
entrance mask accessory:

A mask that pays homage to Japanese legend Super Strong Machine.

As "MMA's Jester" Sakuraba was known for being highly-entertaining in the ring.
Often toying with his opponents (such as trying to pull Royce Gracie's pants down
during a match) in situations where a lesser fighter wouldn't have even contemplated
the notion.

Adding to the entertainment factor, Sakuraba would also adorn several entrance
masks as a tribute to other Wrestlers such as The Road Warriors, The Great Muta,
and Big Van Vader.

Sakuraba's trunks contain the text "Takada Dojo" (a reference to Sakuraba's trainer
and fellow shoot fighting legend Nobuhiko Takada).

Even Sakuraba's right knee brace has been faithfully recreated in figure form.

With mask accessory removed, Sakuraba's likeness and upbeat attitude is
unmistakably spot-on.

Typical to Japanese figures, there are two colour variants for this specific figure.
The second variant features Sakuraba with a half red and half gold hair colour.

A close up of Sakuraba's trunks reveals Sakuraba's initials, a copyright stamp for
Takada (I'm guessing Sakuraba's contract was owned by Nobuhiko Takada at the time)
and Sakuraba's last name in cursive writing.


Closing thoughts:

Character Product made great effort in catering to Japan's MMA-infused audience of
the early 2000's. RINGS, PANCRASE, K-1, Fujiwara Gumi, and even the UWFI all
had their biggest stars turned into figures as part of the Charapro line.

Charapro jumped at the chance at making figures for Sakuraba during the heyday of
Sakuraba's in-ring exploits. Keshigomu figures, action figures, Mini Big Heads,
G.I. Joe-scale figures and even a Bobblehead.

While certainly not the most-detailed Sakuraba figure available (that distinction easily
goes to the Sakuraba figures made by HAO), fans of the MMA Jester will still be
satisfied by the quality and faithfulness of Character Product's first action figure
adaptation.