One of the absolute highlights of discovering Japanese Pro-Wrestling figures is the art of
uncovering rare gems from decades past.
Figures of recognizable foreign faces that appeared in Japanese figure lines long before the
WWF even thought about merchandising. The world's first Andre The Giant figure? Japan.
The Funks? Japan. Harley Race, Stan Hansen, Bob Backlund, Bruiser Brody and Abdullah
The Butcher? Yep. You guessed it ...all first made in Japan.
Today, we'll be adding another figure first to the list. Be prepared to say your prayers and
eat your vitamins with Blog #185 which puts the Leg Drop on the Nitto Hulk Hogan model
kit.
Hulk Hogan Nitto Model Kit
Known in Japan as "ハルク・ホーガン ニットーソフビフィギュア" (Hulk Hogan
Nitto Sofubi Figure).
Long before the dawn of Hulkamania in the west, Hulk Hogan was a prominent star
in Japan under the New Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion. As such, Japanese Toy Maker
Nitto decided to release a model kit based on the Immortal One as part of the company's
Professional Wrestling Series.
The unpainted Hogan model kit stands 33.5 cm (13 inches tall).
The front of the box features a painted picture of Hogan in his New Japan era ring attire
which consisted of black trunks inscribed with the Japanese Kanji "一番" (Ichiban
which means "Number One"). If you look closely, the kanji for Ichiban is moulded
into the Hogan model's ring trunks.
Ichiban also appears on the top right of the packaging next to Hogan's name.
The back of the box contains many great illustrations of Hulk Hogan along with a goofy
caricature at the bottom left corner.
Just in case you didn't know he was number one, Hogan is sculpted with an upwards
finger point.
The Nitto Hulk Hogan model kit predates Hogan's first action figure (which was made by
POPY) by one whole year in 1980.
Interestingly, the bottom portion of the side of the packaging mentions the Hogan model kit
was licensed by "TAITAN SPORTS" (they were going for Titan Sports - WWE's parent company).
The middle-right of the box strangely lists Hogan's various physical attributes such as
height, weight and muscle measurements.
The description in Japanese even refers to Hogan as "Mr. Axe Bomber" - a nod to Hogan's
Axe Bomber (Lariat) finisher in Japan.
Closing thoughts:
Despite being released one year prior to the incredibly valuable POPY Hulk Hogan Super
Pro-Wrestling Series action figure, the Nitto Hulk Hogan model kit is more common (and
less valuable) than one might think.
Compared to a whole line of blister-carded action figures, unpainted model kits are, for better
or worse, a niche market for collectors at best. The biggest testament to this statement are the
number of unpainted Hogan model kits that still pop up for sale across the web 41 years after
the Nitto Hogan model kit's initial release.
As to my knowledge, Hulk Hogan was the only Pro-Wrestler added to Nitto's Professional
Wrestling Series.
Though, at 13 inches tall, made of hard, durable plastic (whereas most Japanese figures are
made of a cheaper PVC material these days) and one of the very few examples of Hogan
crafted in his pre-WWF attire, the Hulk Hogan Nitto model kit is still a great figure to own
and an early example of how Japan was always one step ahead of the curb when it came to
marketing.
THIS IS AWESOME!
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