In 2001, Japanese figure company Character Product released their first-and
-only line of two inch scale Keshigomu (figure erasers) figures.
For blog #124, we'll be taking a look at Character Product's obscure "Pro-
Wrestling Keshi Part-1" line.
Like Character Product's Pro-Kaku Mini Big Head figures, each Keshi was
sold individually in blind box fashion.
The packaging reads:
"Pro-Wrestling Keshi Part -1" as well as mentioning that there are 30
different figure types at 2 inch scale for the original sale price of 300
yen (roughly $5 USD) back in 2001.
The Wrestlers featured on the packaging are (L to R from top to bottom):
Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Hiroshi Hase, Tiger Mask, Akira Maeda
Nobuhiko Takada, Kazushi Sakuraba, Hakushi, Jinsei Shinzaki, Daijo Matsui
Yuki Kondo, Kiyoshi Tamura, Kengo Watanabe,
Sanae Kikuta, Masakatsu Funaki, Ikuhisa Minowa, Minoru Suzuki & The
Great Sasuke
It's also worth noting that Character Product would also use some of the Wrestler
graphics on the packaging for the full-sized action figures of each respective Wrestler.
Character Product's Keshi line was also available in a special hobby box
configuration which housed 20 blind boxes.
Let's take a look at some of the figures!
The first figure in the line is shoot fighting legend and RINGS founder
Akira Maeda (A) Ring attire - Green variant.
When Character Product first created their own separate company outside of
the New Japan affiliated "Toukon Shop" in 1999, one of the biggest names
Character Product signed was Akira Maeda (who's last figure came out in
1986 through Bandai).
Taking cues from a handful of original Keshi figures from the 1980's,
Character Product's Pro-Wrestling Keshi line also features alternate
molds featuring Wrestlers performing their signature attacks!
Akira Maeda (B) Sobat Kick pose - Flesh variant
To date, this is the only figure of Akira Maeda in a kick pose!
The only downside to this sculpt (and a small one at that), is that another
Keshi is needed to help stand Akira up.
Character Product really took advantage of their license with Akira Maeda
by offering yet another figure exclusive - Akira Maeda (C) Suit version -
Flesh variant.
While there are no super "secret" mystery figures in Character Product's
Keshi line, Maeda's third Keshi mold is the first example to feature a
Pro-Wrestler in a suited attire (a reference to Maeda in his RINGS
promotion president clothing).
Character Product would start to feature "secret" mystery figures (in suits
and casual attire) three years later with the release of the company's first
volume of Pro Kaku Heroes - Mini Big Head Figures in 2004.
Akira Maeda (C) Suit version - Blue variant.
The fourth and final Akira Maeda mold (the most molds for a Wrestler from
this line) features Maeda in a casual tracksuit. Akira Maeda (D) Tracksuit
version - Orange variant.
Even though Maeda's last fight happened 3 years prior on February 21st
1999, Character Product continued to put out figures based on the legend
into the early 2000's.
While Maeda may have the most Keshi molds, this next figure contains
the most accessories from the line.
Nobuhiko Takada (C) Entrance attire - Green variant.
Takada comes dressed in his early 2000's entrance attire with two (x2)
attachable hood accessories!
This Takada mold also comes dressed in sandals - which Takada would
wear to the ring for his post UWF-turned-MMA career.
With first hood accessory removed.
The back of the Takada entrance version keshi includes two holes on
the back of Takada's robe to attach either one of the two included hood
accessories.
The second attachable hood accessory is the hood removed from Takada's
head - seconds after being introduced before the fight!
Another hard to find figure from the line is mixed martial arts superstar:
Kazushi Sakuraba (A) Ring attire - Blue variant.
Even the inscription on Sakuraba's shorts "TAKADA DOJO" can be
clearly seen!
Sakuraba would also receive a second mold - paying homage to New Japan
legend Super Strong Machine (also known as "Sakuraba Machine")!
From Sakuraba's "KS" initials to the mesh lines in the Strong Machine's eye and
mouth pieces, Character Product put a ton of detail into this Keshi figure!
Masakatsu Funaki - Classic Pancrase-era version - Blue variant
Masakatsu Funaki - Classic Pancrase-era version - Flesh variant
Masakatsu Funaki - Classic Pancrase-era version - Orange variant
Masakatsu Funaki (B) Ground Punch pose - Green variant
This variant of Funaki is based on his early 2000's look with shorter hair
and MMA attire. This keshi is also the only Funaki figure sculpted in a
mounted punch pose.
Funaki goes to work on Akira Maeda!
Masakatsu Funaki (C) Modern version - Flesh variant.
The third and final variant of Masakatsu Funaki features the Pancrase
legend once again dressed in MMA-era attire.
Another sought-after edition is Pancrase legend and current NJPW star
Minoru Suzuki.
Minoru Suzuki - Orange variant.
Like the early 2000's Minoru Suzuki action figure (also made by Character
Product), Minoru also comes with a removable towel entrance accessory;
revealing Minoru's pre-NJPW short hairstyle and Pancrase-era ring attire.
Minoru Suzuki - Green variant.
Minoru Suzuki - Flesh variant.
Along with Suzuki and Funaki, Character Product also created figures for
other fighters in the Pancrase promotion such as the gi-wearing Sanae Kikuta.
From action figures to Mini Big Heads and Keshis, Character Product created
numerous figures in reference to Kikuta's notable fight against fellow Pancrase
champ Yuki Kondo.
The most valuable and detailed figures from Charapro's Pro-Wrestling
Keshi line are the Tiger Mask molds.
Tiger Mask (A) Cape version - Flesh variant
Even Tiger's entrance cape contains intricate details!
Tiger Mask (A) Cape version - Green variant
Tiger Mask (A) Cape version - Blue variant
Tiger Mask (A) Cape version - Orange variant.
Tiger Mask (B) Fighting Pose - Green variant
Tiger Mask (B) Fighting pose - Blue variant
Character Product would use the above molds three years later for the company's
first official volume of Pro-Kaku Heroes Mini Big Head figures which were first
released in 2004.
Tiger Mask (C) - Sobat Kick pose - Flesh variant
Tiger Mask (C) Sobat Kick pose - Orange variant
Like the second Akira Maeda keshi figure, the Tiger Mask (C) version features
a similar kick pose.
Tiger Mask (C) Sobat Kick pose - Blue variant.
Yoshiaki Fujiwara (A) Standing pose - Green variant.
Yoshiaki Fujiwara (A) Standing pose - Blue variant.
Yoshiaki Fujiwara (B) Submission pose - Flesh variant.
As the only Fujiwara figure sculpted in a submission pose, this Yoshiaki
Fujiwara keshi can be attached to the legs or arms of other Keshi figures!
Fujiwara applying an Armbar on Hakushi!
Yoshiaki Fujiwara (B) Submission pose - Orange variant.
The Yoshiaki Fujiwara (B) submission pose version is the only keshi from
the line with articulated arms and waist that are also removable!
Yoshiaki Fujiwara (B) Submission pose - Blue variant.
Yoshiaki Fujiwara (B) Submission pose - Green variant.
By stacking two (2) of BoFord's "Martial Arts" rings, you can also pose The
Great Sasuke keshi figure with a moonsault!
Jinsei Shinzaki - Orange variant.
Jinsei Shinzaki - Green variant.
Jinsei Shinzaki's alter-ego "Hakushi" is also available for the first (and only
time ever) in Keshi format! Flesh variant.
Hakushi - Blue variant.
Another popular figure is fellow masked legend: The Great Sasuke (A)
Fighting pose version - Green variant.
Like many other figures in Charapro's Pro-Wrestling Keshi line, this figure
would be The Great Sasuke's first-ever Keshi figure!
Charapro continued to show off their creative side by offering a second mold
of Sasuke performing a high flying attack!
The Great Sasuke (B) Sasuke Special - Blue variant.
By stacking two of BoFord's "Martial Arts Box" mini rings (sold separately),
fans and collectors alike can pose Sasuke performing multiple aerial attacks
against other keshi!
Bracing for an impact!
The Great Sasuke (B) Sasuke Special - Flesh variant.
How about an Ultimo Dragon-style Asai Moonsault?
In total, there are 30 different molds (based on 16 different Wrestlers) each
with 4 different colour variants. The colour variants are: Orange, Blue, Green
and Flesh (the most popular colour).
For the obsessive collector that has to have
every colour variant, there are a
grand total of 120 Keshi figures to collect!
Unlike Character Product's Mini Big Head series, there are no super
"Secret" figures to collect from Part-1.
The 30 different molds are:
1. Akira Maeda A (Ring attire)
2. Akira Maeda B (Sobat Kick)
3. Akira Maeda C (Suit)
4. Akira Maeda D (Tracksuit)
5. Nobuhiko Takada A (Ring attire)
6. Nobuhiko Takada B (MMA shorts)
7. Nobuhiko Takada C (Hood)
8. Kazushi Sakuraba A (Ring attire)
9. Kazushi Sakuraba B (Mask)
10. Daijiro Matsui
11. Yoshihisa Yamamoto
12. Masakatsu Funaki A (long hair)
13. Masakatsu Funaki B (Ground punch)
14. Masakatsu Funaki C (short hair)
15. Minoru Suzuki
16. Yuki Kondo
17. Sanae Kikuta
18. Ikuhisa Minowa
19. Kengo Watanabe
20. Tiger Mask A (Cape)
21. Tiger Mask B (Fighting pose)
22. Tiger Mask C (Sobat Kick)
23. Yoshiaki Fujiwara A (Standing pose)
24. Yoshiaki Fujiwara B (Submission pose)
25. Hiroshi Hase A (Long hair)
26. Hiroshi Hase B (Short hair)
27. Jinsei Shinzaki
28. Hakushi
29. The Great Sasuke A (Fighting pose)
30. The Great Sasuke B (Sasuke Special)
Closing thoughts:
The Pro-Wrestling Keshi Part-1 line was Character Product's attempt at creating
their own version of the extremely popular M.U.S.C.L.E./ Kinnikuman keshi
figures.
Due to a decrease in popularity, the last actual wave of Keshigomu figures based
on real-life Wrestlers (outside of the Kinnikuman universe) was released in 1986
by Bandai.
Sadly, Character Product would only release one shoot/MMA-inspired wave of
Keshi figures (though, with a series name like "Part-1", Charapro seemed to have
plans to create more installments) before shifting the company's focus to creating
the far more successful Mini Big Heads series.
As much as I love these figures, I think Character Product's Keshi line would
have found better success if the line
was created a few years later; when
Character Product would finally acquire the rights to produce figures based
on Wrestlers from All Japan Pro-Wrestling.
I'm sure collectors outside of Japan would have also loved to own Character
Product's interpretations of legends like Stan Hansen, Bruiser Brody, Abdullah
The Butcher, Tiger Jeet Singh, Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki, Keiji Mutoh/Great
Muta and so on.
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