HAO Collection Hayabusa (White ver.) figure review

For Blog #205, we'll be rising like a Phoenix with HAO Collection's Hayabusa (White Ver.) figure.

In 2005, Japanese toymaker HAO Arts Office added Hayabusa to their HAO Collection line of soft
vinyl figures. Hayabusa came in two variants: the standard red variant and the white version.

The white Hayabusa version is a limited edition with an estimated production run (in typical
Japanese figure fashion) of only 500 pieces.

Hayabusa is sculpted in a "spreading wings" taunt.

             

Hayabusa's unique ring mask is a mixture of traditional ninja garb mixed with a phoenix motif.


                      

Even the facepaint Hayabusa around Hayabusa's eyes has been faithfully recreated. The same
can also be said for the large wing tattoo on Hayabusa's chest. I believe this is also the first
(and only figure example) that contains Hayabusa's chest tattoo.

A nod to Hayabusa's hardcore matches in FMW, the HAO Hayabusa figure's upper torso is covered
with gig marks.



Hayabusa's pant legs contains a red phoenix decal.

Even Hayabusa's Japanese tabi footwear (which are commonly associated with ninja attire)
is present.

A similar design is also available in Mogura House's Hayabusa DX figure.

The detail continues with Hayabusa's ponytail, pants decals and even the lace holes in
Hayabusa's mask.



The gig marks continue on the back of the Hayabusa figure.







I can't think of too many Japanese figures outside of Hayabusa and Keiji Mutoh/The Great
Muta that contain body scars.

                       

Gold foil paint accents adorn Hayabusa's mask, arm guards and waistband.

The arm guards themselves contain a feather-like design going back to Hayabusa's Phoenix
motif.

HAO were even kind enough to include the ear holes of Hayabusa's mask with a mesh-like
design for the darker paint.

Hayabusa stands about 6 inches tall in height; making him one of the largest Hayabusa figures
available (next to the 12 inch INSPIRE Hayabusa figure and FMW Hayabusa plush figures,
of course).

                     




Articulation, the Hayabusa HAO figure contains moving joints at the waist, arms and neck.

                          

                     

The top of Hayabusa's mask with slicked back hair and gold accents.



Closing thoughts:

From his complex mask design, era-accurate ring attire, chest tattoo and gnarly body scars,
the HAO Collection Hayabusa figure is easily the most detailed collectible you can find
of the hardcore legend. At about 6 inches tall, it's also one of the largest Hayabusa figures
you can buy today.

Out of the original HAO Collection figure line, Hayabusa was the the only hardcore Wrestler
to be included; a star of the original FMW who stands alone in the HAO Collection.

Maybe one day 16d and HAO will get around to making figures of other Japanese hardcore
legends such as Atsushi Onita, Tarzan Goto, Megumi Kudo, Mitsuhiro Matsunaga or even
Mr. Pogo to name a few.

Hayabusa Mogura House Figure Reviews

                               


With this installment, we'll be looking at the the highly sought after
Hayabusa DX Figures from Japan.

In 2004, Mogura House (a toy company best known for their Pro-
Wrestling NOAH and Rikidozan figures) released a series of
"deluxe" Hayabusa figures in four different colour variants:

The first deluxe variant is the simple, white and gold variant.

All four variants feature Hayabusa in his large Ninja-esque kimono
complete with a Japanese Kanji emblem on the front.

The packaging for the Hayabusa DX figures is the same scale as
Character Product's deluxe Figures.

Most collectors (myself included) think the Hayabusa DX Figures were
made by toy maker "Character Product/Charapro" when in fact, the
figures were made by Mogura House (see above logo) and were
licensed under Hayabusa's own "Project Hayabusa" company.

                        


The back of the packaging lists a brief profile of Hayabusa's stats
and basic information along with a lengthy history of Hayabusa's
in-ring accomplishments all in Japanese.

The second variant is a simple repaint of the previous white and
gold variant with a simple red pattern along Hayabusa's ring tights.

On closer inspection, the red decal contains the design of a
Phoenix along Hayabusa's ring tights.

Taking a page from Character Product's very own DX Figures,
Mogura House also included an acrylic display base, attachable
acrylic name plate that reads "HAYABUSA" and added similar
styled leg holder rings that attach to each base with pegs.

The third variant of the Hayabusa DX Figure features brown
and white colouring.

One of the noticeable traits of the brown coloured variant is the
darker headband portion of Hayabusa's ring mask.

                                

                                     
The back of the Hayabusa figures includes a beautiful soaring
Phoenix decal (that intentionally also looks like a pair of eyes)!

                                    

The final (and rarest) of the Hayabusa DX Figures is the red and
white variant. It is estimated that the red version was limited to just
500 pieces upon the figure's original release (the standard limit for
Mogura DX Figures).

Like the brown version, the red variant also includes a darker
headband.


Closing thoughts:
It's easy to see why the Hayabusa DX figures by Mogura House
are so rare and sought after. Their detail is phenomenal (the
most detailed of any Hayabusa figure released to date) and
their wicked Phoenix taunt pose is a personal highlight.

The only real downside to the DX Hayabusa figures is the
inability (and a very small one at that) to remove Hayabusa's
entrance attire.