Pro-Wrestling Keshi from Japan Part 9

Hello again, readers.

A lot has changed over the last few years since our last blog post. From the devastating effects of the Corona Virus to the ensuing collapse of many businesses as a response to the global pandemic. 2020
is a year that many of us would rather forget.

While this blog is going to stay up as a resource for other Puroresu figure collectors, there's still plenty of items left to cover. Which brings us to today's figure review - an unfinished draft that goes back to 2019 and another look at the wonderful world of keshigomu figures.

Better late than never, right?

For Blog #141, we'll be taking a look at Character Product's PANCRASE-X Keshi figure set.

In 2003, Japanese toy maker Character Product released a special six figure set of two inch keshigomu figures to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the PANCRASE promotion.

All six figures are re-releases from Character Product's 2001 line of Keshigomu eraser figures with
one important little addition: they've been painted.



From left to right: Ikuhisa Minowa, Masakatsu Funaki, Minoru Suzuki and Kengo WatanabE

From the Japanese flag on Maskaatsu Funaki's trunks to the chest and shoulder tattoo on Kengo Watanabe, the paint job on these small figures is immaculate.

On the left is Sanae Kikuta. On the right is Yuki Kondo. Both fighters fought each other on May 18th, 2003 in Kanagawa Japan for the Hybrid 5 event. The event served as a title defence for Kikuta's 2001 Light Heavyweight Championship victory.

The decals on Kikuta's gi (complete with a Pancrase X on Kikuta's left pant leg) are appreciated.

Also enclosed is an exclusive Pancrase ring which I believe is a similar scale to the various ring sets that were made available with Character Product's series of Pro Kaku Heroes Mini Big Head Figures.

The back of the packaging reads:

"PANCRASE - X
Pancrase 10th Anniversary Figure Set (2 kinds)

Year 1993
The flag-raising event was held at Tokyo Bay NK Hall on September 21. Killing in seconds became a buzzword.

Year 1994
The match between Minoru Suzuki and Masakatsu Funaki was held. The belt (non-discriminatory weight class) was established.

Year 1995
Introduced the ranking system and held the 1st Neo-Blood Tournament in July.

Year 1996
Yuki Kondo debuted and was called a supernova with his breakneck success.

Year 1997
New dojo established in Tokyo. Ikuhisa Minowa debuts at the Neo-Blood Tournament.

Year 1998
Kengo Watanabe, a hot newcomer from the college rugby world, makes his debut against Bas Rutten in the September tournament. Shocking debut.

Year 1999
Sanae Kikuta, a big freelance player, joins the team.

Year 2000
A third force, GRABAKA, is formed with Sanae Kikuta at the center.
Founder, Masakatsu Funaki retired after his match with Hickson Gracie in May.

Year 2001
The rules of GRABAKA were changed to gloves and rounds, and Manabu Yamada retired.

Year 2002
Tokyo Dojo and Yokohama Dojo were reintegrated into Yokohama, and renamed Pancrase ISM.

Year 2003
Sanae Kikuta fights against Yuki Kondo at the 10th Anniversary Hybrid Tour 5.18."


Closing thoughts:

Going back to the heyday of keshi figures in the 1980's, hobbyists young and old alike would paint their own keshi figures. Fast forward two decades later and Character Product have done all of the heavy lifting themselves with the company's own painted figures.

Though, Character Product wasn't the only company releasing painted Keshi figures. By 2003, BANDAI would release their own painted Keshi figures as part of the Ultimate Muscle Micro
Wrestler line outside of Japan.

As the back of the packaging states, there is also a second set that features different colour variants for the included figures.

The two aforementioned Pancrase sets would be the last keshi figures ever made under the Character Product banner.

All in all, an essential set for Pancrase purists and a brief glimpse of what could have been if only more legends were added to Character Product's line of keshigomu figures.

Mogura House Minoru Suzuki & Naomichi Marufuji figure set

For blog #101, we'll be taking a look at the limited edition Minoru Suzuki and Naomichi Marfuji
GHC Tag Team figure set by Mogura House.

The packaging contains Minoru Suzuki's Pancrase Mission stable logo (top
left corner), the Pro-Wrestling NOAH logo (top right) as well as the text
"THE 10TH GHC TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS" - a reference to Minoru
Suzuki and Naomichi Marufuji becoming Pro-Wrestling NOAH's Global
Honored Crown Tag Team Champions on June 18th, 2005.

This two pack is a rare example of two Japanese toy companies joining
forces. As such, Character Product (responsible for making Minoru Suzuki
figures) and Mogura House (known for producing Pro-Wrestling NOAH
figures)'s logos are placed at the bottom left and right corners.

                                       

The Minoru Suzuki & Naomichi Marufuji GHC figure set came in two
different variants. This set is the very special alternate color variant that
features Minoru Suzuki in his classic white-colored Pancrase attire.

Nope, it's not skillful packaging; the absolute highlight of the set is the GHC
Tag Team Championship belt which is molded directly into Minoru's hand!

To date, there are no other Minoru Suzuki figures available that feature
Suzuki holding ANY Championship belt!

Strategically, the limited edition two-pack does not feature Minoru's
signature entrance towel (which is only available in the Character
Product single-packed Minoru Suzuki white and black attire figure
variants).

                                

The included Naomichi Marufuji figure variant (in silver attire with

medium length hair and facial hair) also includes a matching GHC
Tag Team Heavyweight Championship.

Beyond the two variants of this two-pack, no other Marufuji figure
comes packaged with the GHC Tag Team belt; making this set even
more desirable to Puroresu fanatics.

As an added bonus, the deluxe two-pack contains a super-sized acrylic
display base, four figure holders and an attachable nameplate which reads
both Minoru and Naomichi's names.

The back of the packaging contains individual bios of both Wrestlers as
well as striking graphics to match.

Minoru Suzuki DX figure review (revisited)

For this blog, we'll be revisiting a popular figure from the Character
Product DX line.

(you can check out my previous coverage of the mint in box
versions HERE )

Today, we'll be taking a closer look an opened version and
provide an opportunity to purchase this figure for yourself
with a purchase link at the end of this blog.

The Minoru Suzuki deluxe figure was released in 2006
following Minoru's surprise "invasion" of All Japan Pro
-Wrestling the very same year.

The included attachable nameplate reads Minoru's ring
name in Japanese Hiragana and Katakana lettering.

The deluxe Minoru Suzuki figure comes cloaked in his iconic,
entrance towel accessory.

Taking a page from Antonio Inoki, Minoru's entrance towel
contains a decal of Minoru's signature in gold ink.

The included display base adds a classy touch to this wicked
figure.

With entrance towel removed.

Minoru's grumpy facial expression is captured perfectly;
precisely fitting a Wrestler famously nicknamed "The Man
With The Worst Personality In The World"!

                            

The DX Minoru Suzuki figure features a brand new body
and head sculpt complete with Suzuki's modern hairstyle.

The sides of Suzuki's ring trunks contain a purple scale design.

                           

Suzuki's complex hairstyle is continued on to the back of
his DX figure.

Although Character Product had close connections with All
Japan Pro-Wrestling at the time, the Minoru Suzuki DX figure
was licensed under the PANCRASE promotion.

The text on the back of Suzuki's ring trunks reads:

"(C) PANCRASE
        CHINA"

Like other Character Product figures, the Minoru Suzuki
DX figure contains articulation at the arms and waist;
leaving Suzuki's head turned to the side.

The included acrylic display base contains Suzuki's PANCRASE
MISSION stable logo, two attachable figure holders and an
attachable name plate (not pictured); all of which can be
connected to any of the visible peg slots on the base.

Character Product would also recreate the deluxe Minoru
Suzuki figure as a Mini Big Head the same year in Vol. 6.
of the Pro Kaku Heroes series (2006).

Minoru Suzuki HAO Collection figure review

Also in 2007, HAO Arts Office added another incredibly popular Wrestler
to their soft vinyl lineup: Mixed Martial Artist and Pro-Wrestling legend
"The Lonely Warrior" ...Minoru Suzuki!

                                

The removable slip-case packaging features the Pancrase promotion
logo as well as a "PANCRASE MISSION X" logo in the top left and
right corners.

As part of an "invasion" angle, Minoru would invade All Japan Pro-
Wrestling starting in 2006 with his "PANCRASE MISSION" stable.

The front of the packaging depicts Minoru on the way to the ring
cloaked in his signature entrance towel.

Minoru Suzuki stats and championship accolades are provided on
the back of the packaging. Each being organized by the various
promotions Minoru competed for.

He's calling you out: the HAO Collection Minoru Suzuki figure in
standard black-coloured ring attire.

With articulation at the wrists, waist, arms and neck, fans can also
rotate Minoru's wrists into a "come here" pose.

Like his mentor, the HAO Collection Minoru Suzuki figure comes
suited with his modern, Yoshiaki Fujiwara-inspired ring boots.

As a small extra, the sides of Minoru's ring trunks include a textured
scale design.

HAO Collection's head sculpt of "The Man With The Worst Personality In
The World" was designed to take intense selfies.

In HAO fashion, a limited edition white coloured ring attire variant was
also released in scarce numbers.

The white coloured variant pays tribute to Minoru's early Pancrase days.

Suzuki's complex hair design has also been faithfully recreated.
The lines themselves have been painted on to match Minoru's
skin tone in this vinyl figure.

The scale ring trunks are also featured in the exclusive white variant, too.

The HAO Collection Minoru Suzuki figures stand about 6 inches
tall.

More figure reviews coming soon!

Minoru Suzuki DX Figure Review

In 2005, Character Product would release another popular figure 

in the form of the Minoru Suzuki DX Figure.

The DX Minoru figure was the second-ever deluxe figure to be made
by Character Product (the first featured a younger Minoru from his
Pancrase days with his pre-braided hairstyle).

At the time, Minoru was part of tag team with Yusuke Fuke called
"Pancrase Mission" which, as freelancers, would "invade"
promotions such as New Japan and Pro-Wrestling NOAH.

                      

This figure would be the second Charapro release to include
Minoru's signature entrance towel complete with gold signature.

                                            
                        The first Minoru Suzuki figure also with entrance towel.

The entrance towel accessory can be removed to reveal Minoru's modern
hair style and stern facial expression.  This man is not pleased...

 The clamshell and cardboard packaging feature the Pancrase promotion
logo; once again referencing Minoru's "Pancrase Mission" stable (the
modern variation would be "Suzuki Gun").

               


As a deluxe figure, Minoru comes packaged with a display base with
removable leg holders and an attachable acrylic nameplate that reads
"鈴木 みのる" (Minoru Suzuki) in Japanese.

                  

The back of the packaging includes Minoru's profile stats along with
a brief history on Minoru's career from the U.W.F. to competing in
New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

For collectors looking for an even rarer variant, Character Product
would also release a limited edition, alternate-white variant with red
signature.

The white DX variant is another throwback to Minoru's noteworthy
Pancrase run.


Closing thoughts:

When it comes to detail, presentation and overall coolness, the DX
Minoru Suzuki Character Product figure has it all (and then some)!

14 years later with Minoru once again making waves in New Japan,
the prices for these variants continue to rise as finding pristine,
unopened examples has become a challenge in itself.

The only figure that could rival the detail of the DX version is
HAO'S soft vinyl version.

What is your favorite Minoru Suzuki figure?
Stay tuned for more updates!