Super Star Figure Collection Hidekazu Tanaka figure review

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.

The one redeeming factor and sneaky sales tactic to purchase the Hidekazu Tanaka figure
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.

HAO Collection Akira Maeda 1 of 500 (RINGS Ver.) figure review

Welcome back to THE largest source of Japanese Pro-Wrestling collectibles
on the web!

For our next figure review, we'll be  looking at another limited edition figure variant released by HAO Arts Office exclusively in Japan.

In fact, it's the 30th HAO Collection figure we've covered in this blog to date!

Blog #115 tackles the very rare HAO Collection Akira Maeda 1 of 500
RINGS ver. figure.


                     



The Akira Maeda RINGS Ver. figure was released in 2008 as part of HAO
Collection's "Regards For Superstars" series as Vol. 003 (the first two
volumes were Giant Baba and Stan Hansen).


                      

The front and back of the packaging for the RINGS ver. Akira Maeda figure
is identical to the UWF version; simply displaying Maeda's stats and title
victories.

Once removed from his slip-case packaging, the Akira Maeda RINGS ver.
figure stands about 6 and 1/2 inches tall and is made of soft vinyl (16.5cm).

As an alternate colour figure variant, the RINGS version (named after
Akira Maeda's Fighting Network Rings promotion) contains red wrist
bands.

Maeda's red coloured wristbands reflect the traditional red and blue
corners of a Boxing ring. In Japanese Pro-Wrestling, the tradition
was carried over while adding matching wristbands of the corner
each fighter was stationed in.

                          

Another variant exclusive are the red "R"(RINGS) decals on the sides
of  Maeda's shoot-style ring boots.


                                

Articulation-wise, the HAO Collection Akira Maeda figure features
articulation at the arms, wrists, neck and waist.

                      


Released in two variants, the HAO Collection Regards For Superstars
Akira Maeda would be the last figure made of Maeda to date.

The RINGS ver. with red coloured wristbands variant is the rarer of
the two with only 500 pieces ever made; making this figure the most
rarest Akira Maeda figure in the world!

For more reading, check out the review for HAO Collection Akira
Maeda (UWF Ver.) HERE

Antonio Inoki HAO Collection Retirement Statue review

Today, we'll be looking at an extra special figure released by HAO
back in 2006. The Antonio Inoki "Fighting Spirit Legend" HAO
Collection Statue.

                       
Unlike most HAO figures which come in see-through clamshell packaging,
the Antonio Inoki Fighting Spirit Legend statue comes packaged in a black
cardboard box complete with a stylish photo of Inoki on the front.

The left corner of the packaging features Antonio Inoki's signature with the
inscription "闘魂" (Fighting Spirit) along with Inoki's ring name  "アントニ
オ猪木"" (Antonio Inoki). The bottom of the package reads "闘魂伝説"
(Fighting Spirit Legend) in red lettering.


                                   


HAO Collection's logo is prominently displayed at the top right corner.

The back of the package contains a latch at the top of the box to remove
the Inoki statue.

The writing on the back of the package reads "GSP" (Global Standard
Products) and "IMA Corporation" along with a website for the latter.

The packaging opens from the front to reveal the Inoki statue. Inoki's
"Fighting Spirit" signature (left) is also accompanied by "燃える闘魂" on
the right which reads "Burning Fighting Spirit" in Japanese.

Although it's hard to pick out, below the Inoki statue is a gold foil sticker which
reads "INOKI INC (C) 2006". This seal is found on all of Inoki's officially
endorsed products from the era.

The inside of the packaging contains a message from Antonio Inoki

that includes a printed graphic of a "Hanko" stamp with Inoki's
namesake.

Next to the message is a picture of Inoki from his retirement match

against Don Frye and a mini bio which reads:

ANTONIO INOKI

KANJI INOKI (Inoki's birth name)
190cm/102kg
1943 2 20 (February 20th, 1943)

Yokohoma, Kanagawa Prefecture

The inside of the packaging also mentions Inoki's Championship victories

from 1964 to 1987 as well as the dates the championships were won

and the opponents Inoki defeated.

                            

Unlike the majority of HAO figures which are made of soft vinyl, the
Fighting Spirit Inoki statue is made of Polystone.

                              

Inoki's signature fight towel is also included as a removable accessory (a
feature that is very rare for HAO figures and statues). The fabric fight towel
contains Inoki's Fighting Spirit signature in gold and white stitching; adding
a nice touch to this collectible.

Like other statues released by HAO, the Inoki statue contains an
attached black base.

HAO Collection also created similar Polystone statues for their "K-1
FIGHTER FIGURES" line banner with matching black bases.

Being both an iconic Pro-Wrestler and a notable Martial Artist, Inoki
is the only Pro-Wrestler from the HAO Collection to receive a 6 inch
K-1-esque statue treatment.

The Inoki statue features Inoki ready to fight with a clenched fist.

   

The intense look on Inoki's face is fully captured here. The design of
this statue itself is based on Inoki's final years as an active Pro-Wrestler.

HAO's distinctive art style is faithfully adapted into this medium as well.

The polystone material contains a glossy finish that helps the Inoki
statue stand out easily.


                             

The bottom of the statue's base contains the HAO Collection
logo and Inoki's Copyright.

Scale: when stood next to HAO Collection's VOL. 002 Stan Hansen figure.

                               
From the base, the Inoki statue stands 16.5cm tall (about 6.5" inches)
(half an inch higher than most figures from the line).


Closing thoughts:
From the stylish box to the sculpt of the state itself, I've always
loved this statue. Inoki's likeness is instantly recognizable and
the cloth fight towel is a splendid addition to this retirement
match commemorative.

Sadly, the Fighting Spirit Legend Antonio Inoki figure was the
only Pro-Wrestler given the 6" K-1 style statue treatment in
the HAO Collection; making this collectible a truly stand-alone
piece.

One can only imagine how other famous Wrestlers would have
looked like given HAO's statue treatment.

For those of you looking to purchase your own Antonio Inoki
HAO Collection statue on the secondhand market, I strongly
suggest looking over the condition of the statue itself (front,
back and bottom of the base) before making a purchase. Due to
the statue being fragile, there are many examples out there
with cracks, chips and staining on the polystone.