Mogura House Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama DX figure set review

Our next entry contains four words just about every figure collector loves to hear: "Deluxe
Figure Two-Pack"

...and, when it comes to two-packs in the land of the rising sun, no Japanese toy manufacturer
produced more two-packs for a Pro-Wrestling promotion than Mogura House.

For Blog #191, we're going to take an in-depth look at Mogura House's limited edition Kenta
Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama deluxe figure two-pack.

Released in 2004 by Japanese toy maker Mogura House, this deluxe two pack contains
the only instance of both a Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama action figure packaged together.

Again, I'm a sucker for packaging and the included photos of Pro-Wrestling NOAH era
Kobashi and Akiyama are just fantastic.

Collectors should note that this deluxe two-pack contains an exclusive Kenta Kobashi figure
variant. With two closed fists and special facial hair.

Kobashi's facial hair in this exclusive variant is less noticeable (and closer to a stubble).

The two common Kenta Kobashi Mogura House figures. Clean shaven and goatee.

The included Jun Akiyama figure is also an exclusive figure variant with added facial hair.

The included belt accessory is the Pro-Wrestling NOAH GHC Heavyweight Championship.
While the belt itself is available in many other figure assortments released by Mogura House,
the GHC belt's inclusion makes this figure set all the more classy.



Another major highlight to the deluxe Kobashi and Akiyama figure set is the lovely gold sticker
stuck to the bottom right corner of the clamshell packaging.

The gold foil sticker indicates that this figure set pays tribute to Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama's
5 star Championship match which occured on July 10th, 2004 in Japan's historic Tokyo Dome.

The event was known as "NOAH Departure 2004", which took place in front of an attendance of
58.000 people.

As if two exclusive figure variants and a Championship belt accessory weren't enough, the Kobashi
Akiyama two-pack also comes with a deluxe acrylic display base and two acrylic name plates that
contain both Akiyama and Kobashi's names.

The back of the packaging contains more excellent images, the name of the Tokyo Dome event
and a bio for both Wrestlers. I've included a translation of the package below.


Kenta Kobasi (left side of packaging)

"1967年3月27日生/京都府福知山市出身/186cm、115kg
/B型/入場テーマ曲はBLAZIN/1988年2月26日、滋賀・
栗東町民体育館VS大熊元司でデビュー/DATA 学生時代
は柔道に打ち込み、一度は就職したが夢捨て切れず、一念発
起してプロレス入り。絶ゆまぬ努力と不屈の精神で強靭な肉
体を作りあげ、プロレス界を代表するエースに。01年に右肘、
両膝合わせて5度の手術をしたが復活。鉄人の異名をとると
GHC王座まで獲得し、前人未到の防衛記録を今なお更新中。
誰がこの男を止められるのか。"


Translation:

"Born: March 27, 1967 in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan / 186cm, 115kg
/B type / Entrance theme music is BLAZIN /DATA Debuted on Feb. 26, 1988 at Ritto Town
Gymnasium.

When he was a student, he devoted himself to judo and once got a job, but he couldn't give up his dream. He entered professional wrestling. He has built up a strong body with his unceasing efforts
and indomitable spirit.

In 2001, he underwent five surgeries on his right elbow and both knees, but he recovered and
became known as the Iron Man. Who can stop this man?"


Jun Akiyama (right side of packaging)

"1969年10月9日生/大阪府和泉市出身/188cm、110kg
/AB型/入場テーマ曲はSTERNNESS/1992年9月17日、
東京・後楽園ホールVS小橋健太でデビュー/DATA 高石
高校、専修大学でアマレスを経験し、全日本学生選手権準
優勝、4年で主将を務める。卒業後、プロ入りすると“超新
星”の異名でトップ・レスラーへ。その類稀な素質を見事に
開花させることでGHCヘビー&タッグ王座を獲得。「新GHC
(ハードコア)王座を設立。嵐を呼ぶ男だ!"


Translation:

"Born October 9, 1969 in Izumi City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan / 188cm, 110kg
/AB type / Entrance theme music is STERNESS / Debuted on September 17, 1992 at
Korakuen Hall vs. Kenta Kobashi in Tokyo, Japan/DATA Akiyama experienced amateur
wrestling in high school and Senshu University. He won the All Japan Student Championship
and was the captain of the team in his senior year.

After graduating, he became a professional wrestler and became a top wrestler with the nickname "Supernova". He won the GHC Heavyweight and Tag Team titles. "New GHC (Hardcore) Championship. He is the man who brings the storm!"


Closing thoughts:

The Kenta Kobashi Vs Jun Akiyama deluxe figure set is simply an awesome collector's piece.
The two exclusive figure variants available nowhere else, Championship belt accessory, acrylic
display base and attached Wrestler name plates just makes this set all the more collectible.

Kenta Kobashi would end up defeating Jun Akiyama and defend his GHC Championship in a
match that many Wrestling fans call one of the greatest matches in Pro-Wrestling history, a match
of a lifetime between two All Japan veterans and one of the few examples of a perfect card from
start to finish.

Truly, Pro-Wrestling and the spirit of All Japan Pro-Wrestling was still going strong when both
of these legends clashed.

Stay tuned for more figure reviews!

Kenta Kobashi Bobblehead review

Around 2004, Character Product began releasing bobbleheads under the "Big Head Series"
line. Unlike the common 2 inch blind box minifigures from the Pro Kaku Heroes line Charapro
had released from 2003 to about 2008, the Big Head Series were full-scale figures made of
polystone with included ring bases and fabric ring ropes.

Besides releasing a limited number of Wrestlers licensed by Character Product at the time,
bobbleheads were also produced for Wrestlers contracted under Pro-Wrestling NOAH under
sister company Mogura House.

Mogura House and Character Product would add the biggest names from Pro-Wrestling NOAH
to Character Product's Big Head Series.

Blog #168 drops the hammer on the Kenta Kobashi Bobblehead.

Kobashi comes dressed in his early 2000's Pro-Wrestling NOAH attire.

Switching out his classic orange trunks, Kobashi is pictured wearing black tights with a purple
flame design.

Kobashi is sculpted with both a clenched fist and a chop; one of Kobashi's signature attacks.


          


Exclusive to the Pro-Wrestling NOAH bobbleheads are a special green ring base. The ropes
are fabric.

When displayed next to a standard size 5 inch Japanese figure of Kenta Kobashi.

Being one of the largest Kenta Kobashi figures ever made (and one of the few, if not, only
examples of a Kobashi figure made of polystone - let alone a full-scale bobblehead), Kobashi
stands about 7-8 inches in height.

There is plastic tucked inside Kobashi's head to keep the bobble portion intact while shipping.

Overall thoughts:

The Big Head series was Character Product and Mogura House's attempt at providing
Japanese Wrestling fans with actual bobbleheads of their favourite Wrestlers.

Character Product would only produce one line of Bobbleheads of the following
Wrestlers:



 1) Great Muta

 2) Masahiro Chono

 3) Jushin Thunder Liger

 4) Jinsei Shinzaki

 5) Hakushi

 6) Tiger Mask

 7) Mil Mascaras (ring attire)

 8)  Mil Mascaras (entrance attire)

 9) Dos Caras (blue and red)

 10) Dos Caras (green and red)

 11) Bob Sapp

 12) Minoru Suzuki

 13) Yoshiaki Fujiwara

 14) Nobuhiko Takada

 15) Masakatsu Funaki

 16) Kazushi Sakuraba

 17) Hiroshi Hase

 18) Kantaro Hoshino

___________________________

Pro-Wrestling NOAH series

 19) Mitsuharu Misawa

 20) Kenta Kobashi

 21) Jun Akiyama

 22) Yoshihiro Takayama

I've also seen a purple glitter Mil Mascaras variant, but I'm not sure if it's a custom
bobblehead or not.

Myself, I've never been a fan of these particular bobbleheads. While the size of the
figures are a welcomed change, the overall design of the faces and body proportions
are a bit too odd (even for the super-deformed artistic direction Charapro were going
for).

Fast forward two years to 2006 and Character Product would release another spin-off
line called BIG HEAD KING FIGHTERS. The King Fighters were smaller in scale,
no longer made of Polystone or bobbled.

To this day, the three most desired figures from the BIG HEAD series bobblehead line
are Great Muta, Tiger Mask and Jushin Thunder Liger. The last option rarely coming
up for auction in the past.

Mogura House Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada figure set review

Welcome back to the world's largest source of Japanese Pro-Wrestling collectibles
information on the web.

Our next figure review covers another awesome two-pack from one of the sport's
greatest rivalries. Blog #130 is all about Mogura House's Mitsuharu Misawa vs
Toshiaki Kawada DESTINY 2005 DX figure set.

Released in 2005 by Japanese toy maker Mogura House, this special two figure set
was created to commemorate Pro-Wrestling NOAH's  "DESTINY 2005 5th
ANNIVERSARY TOKYO DOME" event which was held on July 18th, 2005.

The main event of the card featured a highly anticipated face off between
legendary All Japan Pro-Wrestling rivals Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki
Kawada (who, at the time, had not fought against one another for five years
prior to Mitsuharu Misawa leaving All Japan to form his own promotion Pro-
Wrestling NOAH).

On April 24th, 2005, Toshiaki Kawada appeared in Pro-Wrestling NOAH;
calling out Misawa for "one more match" paving the way for the DESTINY
event to take place.


                           

Misawa comes dressed in his NOAH-era entrance attire and hands on hip.
I've always liked this Misawa figure and feel it's one of Mogura's finer
sculpts.


                           

As a limited edition variant, Misawa's entrance and ring attire are covered in
glitter (green for the coat and silver for Misawa's tights).

A deluxe size acrylic display base, four figure holders and an acrylic name
plate which reads "Mitsuharu Misawa VS Toshiaki Kawada" is also included
with this two figure set.

                            

Unlike the Mitsuharu Misawa figure (which is an updated variant) the Toshiaki
Kawada figure is a simple re-release that was originally produced by fellow
Japanese toy company Character Product (also known as "Charapro") in 2003.

While you can't go wrong with an original Kawada figure, I wish Character
Product was a little more involved with this set by creating a new Kawada
sculpt with included entrance coat that Kawada wore from the 2005 Destiny
event.

The beautiful, glossy sticker on the bottom right corner of the packaging reads
"2005.7.18.
PRO-WRESTLING NOAH
DESTINY
東京ドーム                
限定

モグラハウス"
which translates to:

July 18th, 2005
PRO-WRESTLING NOAH
DESTINY
Tokyo Dome
Limited edition
Mogura House


The back of the packaging contains close ups of Misawa and Kawada along with
their stats and a brief bio for each legend.

Strangely, there is no mention of Character Product for allowing Mogura House
to use the Kawada figure in this set.

DESTINY 2005 would be Pro-Wrestling NOAH's most successful event to date
with 62,000 fans packing into the Tokyo Dome to watch both Misawa and Kawada
square off.

Unfortunately, the 27 minute epic would serve as Misawa and Kawada's final match
as Misawa would sadly pass away just 4 years later on June 13th, 2009.

Furthermore, the DESTINY 2005 limited edition two pack remains the only action
figure set to contain both Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada packaged together:
bringing a close to one of the greatest Pro-Wrestling rivalries in both Pro-Wrestling
and Puroresu history.

In my personal opinion, when it comes to Japanese two-packs, the Misawa vs
Kawada action figure set just can't be topped.

Mogura House Kenta Kobashi (Chop variant) figure review

For blog #129, we'll be taking a look at another Kenta Kobashi figure variant
released by Japanese toy maker Mogura House in the early 2000's.

Without further adieu, let's take a look at Mogura House's Kenta Kobashi
Chop variant figure.

                               

Kenta comes in Mogura's early 2000's blister packaging. The Mogura House
logo is prominently displayed in the top right corner along with the Pro-
Wrestling NOAH logo on the left.

                                

The Kobashi figure is dressed in his black and purple Pro-Wrestling NOAH era
ring attire. This variant also features Kobashi with a chop hand sculpt and
without a championship belt.

                                      

The back of the packaging features Kobashi's stats and a brief bio leading
up to Kobashi's involvement in the Pro-Wrestling Noah promotion.

                                 

Producing as many variants of their legends as possible, Mogura House also
released the exact same Kobashi figure with a Pro-Wrestling NOAH GHC
Heavyweight Championship belt (you can read about more about the belt
variant HERE)

Mogura House Big Van Vader & 2 Cold Scorpio figure set review

"IT'S TIME, IT'S TIME....IT'S VA-DAH TIME!"

The Mogura-marathon continues with our next two-pack set released by
Japanese toy maker Mogura House. For blog #113, you'll know exactly

what time it is with Mogura House's Big Van Vader & 2 Cold Scorpio
(Vader Hammer ver.) figure set review.

                       

This particular set pays homage to Pro-Wrestling NOAH's very first GHC
Tag Team Heavyweight Champions Big Van Vader and 2 Cold Scorpio,

who obtained the Heavyweight Tag belts on October 19th, 2001 in 

Yokohama Japan.

The back of the packaging contains graphics of Vader and Scorpio with 

individual stats for each Wrestler.


Let's take a look at an opened version.

The Big Van Vader figure (which is the bulkiest of the Mogura House NOAH
line) features Vader with a closed fist; recreating Vader's signature "Vader
Hammers" attack.

Unfortunately, a common issue with the Mogura House Big Van Vader figuresi
s the "VADER TIME" decal written on Vader's top (which was originally
gold coloured) has faded from over the years.

Only on very close inspection can collectors still make out the VADER TIME
decal.

                          

This variant of 2 cold Scorpio is featured with Scorio's blue and black tights.

 I've always liked Scorpio's multi-coloured ponytail.

In total, there are four different variants of this figure set to collect:

1) Vader (Vader Hammer pose) & Scorpio (black pants)
2) Vader (Belt holding pose with GHC Tag belt) & Scorpio (black pants with GHC Tag belt)
3) Vader (Vader Hammer pose) & Scorpio (purple pants)
4) Vader (belt holding pose with GHC Tag belt) & Scorpio (purple pants with GHC Tag belt).

Here's an example of Mogura House's Big Van Vader figure (belt holding pose)
with a discoloured GHC Belt.

Instead of just adding a few extra pegs of articulation for Vader's right arm
(to alternate between a closed and opened hand or the angle of Vader's
forearm), Mogura House decided to just create two different figure
molds.

A bit overkill? Yes. But, that's just how popular Big Van Vader was in Japan.

Mogura House Big Van Vader (1 of 500) GHC Tag Team Championship figure review

One of the most popular and rarest figures from the Mogura House line is
of none other than the Mastodon himself: the late Big Van Vader.

Continuing to expand upon the largest source of Japanese Pro-Wrestling

figure and collectibles information on the web, blog #99 is all about the
limited edition Mogura House Big Van Vader single-packed GHC
Championship belt figure.

                                     

The packaging of the single-packed Big Van Vader figure features it's own

unique packaging art with a close-up of Vader.

The back of the packaging lists Vader's stats, a brief bio from Vader's
debut to NOAH era and includes a graphic of Vader with Pro-Wrestling
NOAH's GHC Tag Team Heavyweight Championship belt.

Big Van Vader is one of only three foreign Wrestlers to be included in
Mogura House's Pro-Wrestling NOAH line.

Vader's right arm is sculpted in a belt holding pose.

What truly makes this figure variant truly collectible is the updated Vader

head sculpt which features the legend with his classic ring mask!

This particular variant also contains a new (and truly intense) face sculpt
of Vader with mouth open and a wide-eyed stare.

You can almost hear Vader shout the iconic question "WHAT TIME?
IT'S TIME, IT'S VA-DAH TIME!"

                                     

The included GHC Tag Team Championship is also the special, slung-over
shoulder variant which rests on the Vader figure's right shoulder.

To keep the GHC Tag belt in place, the GHC Tag belt even includes a small
peg which fits into a hole in the Vader figure's right palm

Like most Mogura House exclusives, the Big Van Vader single-packed GHC
Tag Team Championship figure with ring mask is a limited edition of only
500 figures in existence; making this variant one of the rarest Big Van
Vader figures ever created!

Collectors should also keep a close eye out for the 1 of 1000 variant that
features a very special mold of Big Van Vader with two arms at his sides
that is NOT featured in any other Vader figure from Mogura House!

Mogura House Mitsuharu Misawa GHC Championship belt (beard and Elbow Strike ver.) figure review

Welcome back to the largest source of Japanese Pro-Wrestling collectibles
on the web. Blog #97 features a Puroresu essential in it's own right, our next
figure review is all about Mogura House's Mitsuharu Misawa GHC Championship
belt figure (beard version).

                                  

The packaging for the Mogura House Mitsuharu Misawa figure features
modern graphics of the legend with (in Pro-Wrestling NOAH fashion) a
crashing wave effect.


                              

Out of all of the ring-attire Mitsuharu Misawa figures, this version features
the Pro-Wrestling NOAH GHC Heavyweight Championship and facial hair.


                                 

The back of the packaging features Misawa's stats and a short bio. The graphic in the background
is an inverted close-up of Misawa's face (also used on the front of the packaging).

UPDATE: 7.31.2021:

Going through my archive, I managed to find some photos I took of an opened example.
Let's take a look:

The most noticeable feature of this particular variant is Misawa's right elbow which is
sculpted in an elbow strike pose.

Other than the elbow pose, there really isn't any other noticeable difference.

Closing thoughts:

Japanese toymakers Character Product and Mogura House were famous for their wide assortment
of figure variants. Switch out a bit of paint on a Wrestler's ring attire and add a new hand mould
and you have one extra figure to buy.

Outside of Mitsuharu Misawa figures, Mogura House also released closed fist and chop variants
of Kenta Kobashi, too. So, next time you're browsing at some of Mogura House's figures, pay
extra attention to the figure's hand sculpts. Chances are, you may be looking at one extra figure
you don't already own!

Mogura House Mitsuharu Misawa DX figure (glitter ver.) review

One of the rarest figures released by Japanese toy maker Mogura House
for the Pro-Wrestling NOAH promotion comes in a limited edition
release of only 500 pieces - released exclusively in Japan.

Blog #96 is all about Mogura House's Mitsuharu Misawa DX figure
(glitter ver.).

                            

This Mogura House Mitsuharu Misawa figure comes in an updated DX
(deluxe) packaging complete with acrylic display base and attachable
figure foot holders and nameplate.

The acrylic display base is the same square-styled ones that were packaged
with Character Product's (Charapro) line of deluxe figures in the mid
2000's.

Besides the deluxe packaging and included display base, what really makes
this figure variant extra special is the glitter finish on the grey and white
portions of Misawa's ring tights.

It's small, barely noticeable features like this that make collecting figures by
Mogura House all the more exciting.

The attachable acrylic nameplate reads "三沢 光晴" (Mitsuharu Misawa) in
Japanese.

The back of the deluxe packaging features an updated graphic of Misawa
along with his stats and a brief NOAH-based bio.

As a limited edition variant, there are only 500 pieces of the glitter finish
Mitsuharu Misawa figure in existence.

Collectors should also look for the even harder to find clear-green version
(also in deluxe packaging), too which is also limited to just 500 pieces!

Mogura House Kenta Kobashi deluxe GHC Heavy Championship figure review

When it comes to including Championship belts along with their figures,
Japanese toy maker Mogura House went the extra mile for our next
figure review.

For blog #88, we'll be looking at Mogura House's deluxe Kenta Kobashi
figure.

                          

Dressed in his purple and black entrance robe, the Kenta Kobashi figure
comes in Mogura's deluxe figure packaging.

The back of the packaging lists Kobashi's stats, a brief bip and includes
a great graphic of Kobashi holding the Pro-Wrestling GHC Heavyweight
and Tag Team Championship belts.

Just like Character Product (charapro)'s DX line, the deluxe Kenta Kobashi

figure also comes packaged with an acrylic display base along with attachable
foot holders and a nameplate bearing Kobashi's name.

The deluxe Kenta Kobashi figure is sculpted seconds after removing
his hood before the start of a match.

The only detractor to this deluxe figure is the inability to remove
Kobashi's Heavyweight and Tag Team Championship belts.

Collectors should note that this deluxe variant contains the most
Championship belts ever packaged with a Kobashi figure (and
also the last time to date).

The inside of Kobashi's robe and hood contains a glitter finish (the only
other figure to receive this treatment from Mogura House are the Mitsuharu
Misawa (ring attire with deluxe packaging) and Mitsuharu Misawa &
Yoshinari Ogawa (entrance attire) GHC two-pack.