INSPIRE Dcor Collection figure series review

Back in 2018, we reviewed INSPIRE's Keiji Mutoh DCor Series figure. For those interested,
the full review can be read HERE.

In the review, I only mentioned the other figures from the DCor series by name. Since then,
I managed to acquire a full set and figured it's better late than never to review the line in it's
entirety.

Blog #184 covers INSPIRE's Dcor figure line.


INSPIRE DCor line

Known in Japan as "INSPIRE Dコレ", the Dcor (short for decor) line was a series
of soft vinyl figures released in the early 2000's by Japanese toy maker INSPIRE.

INSPIRE are best known for their 1/6 scale 12 inch scale Pro-Wrestling figures of
Wrestling legends like Hayabusa, The Great Muta, Shinya Hashimoto, Tiger Mask
IV, Keiji Mutoh and The Great Sasuke.

Unlike INSPIRE's 12 inch figures, the scale of the Dcor figures was shrunken down
to 3 inches in height and the figures themselves revolved around the roster of All
Japan Pro-Wrestling at the time.

Let's take a look at the rest of the Dcore figures:

The first figure is Satoshi Kojima.

Kojima's name is written in Japanese Kanji along with All Japan Pro-Wrestling's
Copyright twice on the front of the box.

The packaging is meant to represent a smaller scale version of INSPIRE's recognizable
blue boxes. The same boxes used to package INSPIRE's 1/16 scale 12 inch figures.

The price for each Dcor figure was 1,575 yen  (about $14 USD at the time).

Satoshi Kojima removed from packaging.

While INSPIRE's 12 inch figures opted for realistic proportions, the Dcor series focused
on providing super-deformed and chibified interpretations of All Japan Pro-Wrestling's
biggest stars from the mid 2000's.

                         

I believe the term "decor" is used simply because the figures from the Dcor line do not
have any form of articulation; more or less making the Dcor figures display pieces.

The next figure is Kaz Hayashi.

Kaz's packaging contains a blue label.

Same price point as Kojima and not much difference other than Hayashi's name
in Japanese Katakana on the back of the packaging.

Lastly, "the Ace of All Japan" Toshiaki Kawada.

Kawada's packaging contains black and yellow colouring; a nod to Kawada's
signature yellow and black ring attire.

Toshiaki Kawada comes sculpted with a stiff look on his face.

Kawada's classic AJPW ring attire is accurately present in Dcor form.

The Dcor series stands about 3 inches tall when compared to a Character Product action
figure (Great Muta) and Mini Big Head (Minoru Suzuki).


Closing thoughts:

When most people think of Japanese Wrestling figures, the name INSPIRE isn't one that
comes up too often.

INSPIRE only made a handful of figures based on Pro-Wrestlers during the early 2000's.The
12 inch 1/6 scale variants, the even smaller Dcor line and a series of keychain figure straps

Like many figure series', I would imagine INSPIRE was testing the waters with their Dcor line.
Four figures to start with in hopes of drumming up interest in Japanese Wrestling fans.

The biggest problem with the Dcor line unfortunately is exactly that: lack of recognizable faces.
As most of All Japan's biggest names had already defected to Pro-Wrestling NOAH, All Japan
Pro-Wrestling didn't have many active Wrestlers that were popular enough (on the level of a
Keiji Mutoh or Toshiaki Kawada) to work with.

Personally, I feel the Dcor line could have worked around the glaring oversight of modern
talent by focusing on creating legends figures. Legends who were prominent in All Japan
Pro-Wrestling such as Terry Funk, Bruiser Brody, Giant Baba, Stan Hansen, Mil Mascaras,
Genichiro Tenryu, Jumbo Tsuruta and Abdullah The Butcher to name a few.

More figure reviews coming soon!