Keiji Mutoh HAO Figure Review

In 2004, Japanese Toy maker HAO partnered with a number of
Wrestlers to create a series of soft-vinyl figures.

Sold exclusively in Japan, the series was called the "HAO Collection"
(HAO コレクション) and featured Wrestlers from Japan's biggest
promotions such as All Japan, New Japan, RINGS, PRIDE and
ZERO1.

In past posts, we have looked at the various Great Muta HAO
Collection variants. Today, we're going to look at the man
behind the Great Muta character: Keiji Mutoh.

                          
The Keiji Mutoh HAO figure is based on Keiji Mutoh's early 2000's
All Japan Pro-Wrestling debut and is the only HAO figure to be
sculpted in a kneeling pose.

In an alternate universe, Character Product's Great Muta DX Darth
Muta variant is the only Character Product action figure to be
sculpted in a kneeling pose.

Keiji Mutoh's infamous "Muta scale"gig scars are recreated in terrifying

detail across Mutoh's forehead.

Mutoh's right knee pad features the "PROM" logo with Keiji Mutoh's
mid 2000's nickname "Sir Promenade". I think Mutoh's creative team
was going for the word "prominence" instead:

prom·i·nence

ˈprämənəns/

noun

noun: prominence

1. the state of being important or famous.

Mutoh's left kneepad includes a decal of a King of Hearts playing

card with the caption "Pro-W. LOVE".

                           

Unfortunately, the kneepad of my version was scuffed up a bit
as the figure leans most of it's weight on it.

The Keiji Mutoh HAO contains articulation in Mutoh's arms, wrists and
neck which can be posed to perform both version's of Mutoh's signature
"Pro-Wrest. LOVE" pose.


The Keiji Mutoh HAO contains articulation in Mutoh's arms, wrists and
neck.

                                                             HAO's Muta Scale.

HAO would also release a limited edition (and highly sought-after)
Keiji Mutoh "Genius"statue in the late 2000s. The statue uses a
similar head sculpt as the standard HAO figure.



Closing thoughts:
Over the years, there have been many Keiji Mutoh figures released
in a variety of different formats and styles. From Toukon Shop's
New Japan action figures to Playset Product's Mutoh Bear brand
as well as the much coveted INSPIRE 1:16 scale figures.

The HAO Collection Keiji Mutoh figure has to be my favorite
interpretation of Mutoh. From Mutoh's extremely accurate
face sculpt to the designs along Mutoh's ring tights and his
wickedly cool body sculpt, this figure is pretty hard to top.

For fans of Puroresu or Keiji Mutoh in general, the HAO
Collection variant is a must buy. Especially if you can
find the figure for sale under $100.

80's Golden New Japan Pro-Wrestling Coffee Figures

In 2007 Japanese coffee maker Asahi Coffee would release their
second wave of New Japan figures along with select cans of their
canned Coffee drinks.


                        

The complete set with matching booklets, stands and original
coffee caps.

Like New Japan's previous line of Coffee figures (the IWGP
Champions figure set released in 2005), this 5 figure set was
inserted at random and included mini booklets and individual
display stands.

                  

The set itself was named "80's Golden New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Figure" and revolves around some of the promotion's most famous
legends.

For size comparisons, I'll be comparing each figure to their Mini
Big Head counterparts (all using Tiger Jeet's stand for reference).
The figures in this set are:

Antonio Inoki with famous jawline and red fight towel.

Riki Choshu in his trademark fist pump pose.

The 80's New Japan Coffee figures stand out easily with their
more cartoonish, super deformed features and lighter skin tones.

Each base is detachable and contains each Wrestler's name
written in the Japanese Kanji and Katakana alphabets.

Not Rikidozan: Tatsumi Fujinami with his 1980's attire.

The 80's Golden version of Fujinami features a white robe
which Fujinami wore during the 1980's before sporting his
more well known red and black entrance robe (a feature no
other Fujinami figure contains as to my knowledge).

Kotetsu Yamamoto doing his best Mr. Clean impersonation.

The strict New Japan dojo trainer and legendary Wrestler
Kotetsu Yamamoto has once again been recreated.

While Yamamoto is my second favorite figure from the Golden
series, I wish Asahi adjusted the color of Yamamoto's shirt to a
slightly lighter colour to avoid blending in with his skin tone in
the above figure.

                         

The last figure and sole Gaijin in the set is of Tiger Jeet Singh.

The amount of detail in Singh's clothing mixed with the assort
-ment of colors easily makes this my most favorite figure of the
set.

It should also be noted that these two versions are the only
known figures of Tiger that include his classic indian entrance
gown.

                                    

Like similar Japanese Coffee figures. The Golden set also
contained a mini booklet packaged with every figure.

The inside of the booklet includes illustrations and a short
biography for each Wrestler.

The booklet also contains a bit of shameless self-promotion;
encouraging customers to buy more canned Coffee!

                                   
                                       
The backside of the booklet promotes NJPW related website
links and associated sponsors.

This incredibly rare set is extremely hard to come by. Finding
a complete set is even more difficult.