By the late 2000's, Toukon Shop began adding more Championship belts to their New Japan
Pro-Wrestling figures. Most of which were bundled in with recognizable Wrestlers such as
Antonio Inoki, Yoshihiro Takayama, Kendo Kashin and Don Frye (to name a few).
Our next figure review analyzes one rare example where a NJPW belt was packaged with
a New Japan talent who wasn't a Wrestler.
Blog #149 announces the arrival of the Toukon Shop Hidekazu Tanaka figure.
Released in 2000 as the 39th figure in Toukon Shop's Super Star Figure Collection line,
Hidekazu Tanaka is best known for being New Japan Pro-Wrestling's announcer and
colour commentator from the early 1990's to mid 2000's.
If you ever watched a classic New Japan match from the 1990's, you've probably heard
Tanaka's memorable voice.
Admittedly, this is my least favourite figure sculpt from Toukon Shop. The design
(especially around the face) looks unfinished to me.
Judging by his facial expression, Tanaka seems frightened; which doesn't translate
well into a Pro-Wrestling setting.
is the included IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt accessory. One of the earliest (if
not, first examples of a title created by Toukon Shop).
As a side note, there are only two known figures of Hidekazu Tanaka. The first was actually
produced as a Gashapon figure one year earlier by Yujin as part of their Fight Box series.
The back of Tanaka's packaging includes a small dossier and some information in regards
to Tanaka's involvement with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
As Pro-Wrestler Kazuyuki Fujita was included in Toukon Shop's deluxe figure line with
two IWGP championship belts just one year later, Hidekazu Tanaka's desirability in figure
form was sadly diminished in the process.
While not one of the more sought after figures to Wrestling collectors, Hidekazu Tanaka
is still an important part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's history. A commentator and announcer
who is still active in the Japanese Pro-Wrestling circuit to this day.
No comments:
Post a Comment