D Rock
Superstar
WF 15 Year Member
Joined on: Apr 30, 2005 10:41:58 GMT -5
Posts: 568
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Post by D Rock on Dec 2, 2023 18:27:15 GMT -5
These are so awesome. How cool would it be for something time that to be done in the US with legends? Thanks for sharing all of these Japanese treasures!
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 3, 2023 10:42:53 GMT -5
These are so awesome. How cool would it be for something time that to be done in the US with legends? Thanks for sharing all of these Japanese treasures! A throwback to the past with game pieces/figures inspired by American legends would be a fantastic idea. There is definitely a niche market for tabletop board games in the Wrestling genre. Why not one lifted from the roots of the early 80's Japanese examples? TAKARA's AJPW version allowed up to four players to play - and provided the three Triple Crown belts as championships to win in-game. Imagine competing for the classic Intercontinental or Tag Team championships in a western setting.  Other than the supersized keshi figures, my favourite feature of TAKARA'S AJPW version was the board itself. Not only did the board stand up on it's own with four legs, it also had working drawers that could be used to store game pieces, and hold each player's scoring sheet! A feature both helpful and awesome from a display perspective.
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 4, 2023 15:56:54 GMT -5
If we're going to talk about obscure Japanese Wrestling figures, then it's time we tackled the Michinoku Pro-Wrestling figures. First up is the 1/15 scale The Great Sasuke figure.  Made by Japanese toymaker PROGRESSA (who had the rights to produce Michinoku figures in the late 90's - early 2000's). The 1/15 scale Sasuke figure was sold primarily at Michinoku shows. The 1/15 scale figure came polybagged with the Michinoku and Progressa logos.   Compared to a Toukon Shop/Charapro Great Muta figure, the Sasuke figure is about an inch smaller (roughly 4 inches). The sole of the Sasuke figure is copyrighted Michinoku Pro-Wrestling.   Progressa also created black sofubi figures of The Great Sasuke and Tiger Mask. These figures were event exclusives featured at the Super Festival Toyshow, which was held on August 18th, 2002. As to my knowledge, regular painted versions (as pictured in each figure's hang tag) were never released. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 4, 2023 20:16:58 GMT -5
One of the coolest Japanese Wrestling figure sets has to be Progressa's Sofubicchi figures.
  Years before the trend took off in the west, Progressa released a soft vinyl figure collection of Wrestlers from the Michinoku promotion. Each figure came packaged in a blind box with an included order form, that could be used to order exclusive items and enter giveaways from Progressa themselves.
The line was called Sofubicchi, which is a portmanteau of the Japanese words 'sofubi' and 'icchi'; one could roughly translate the line as soft vinyl match.
 One such item was the Sofubicchi ring playset. In total there were five standard figures to collect, plus one 'secret' figure. The figures are: Jinsei Shinzaki The Great Sasuke Tiger Mask IV Gran Hamada
Sasuke The Great and Onryo (whom I believe was the secret figure of the set).  An even-rarer box set exists, which features a Choro-Q toy car with Michinoku decals and an exclusive Tiger Mask IV Sofubicchi variant with red pants.  A separate box set also exists with The Great Sasuke, along with a second Choro-Q car adorned with Michinoku-inspired graphics.
The above Sasuke figure isn't from Progressa's Sofubicchi collection, but is an update of the company's other soft vinyl line entitled
the super deformed series.   An exclusive bronze Great Sasuke figure and car bundle from 2001. The bronze figure is part of Progressa's super-deformed series.  Clear and gold versions, with original blind boxes.  Long before Funko Pops made event-exclusives a thing, the majority of Progressa's Sasuke figures were event exclusives often-featured at Japanese toy shows. The golden variant is from the 1999 Wonderland Market.   Another clear variant with red and black highlights. This particular variant was used to promote Michinoku's Super J-Cup, and may have been an event-exclusive as well.  The standard colour variant.  An alternate colour variant.  If you love clear variants, a third one exists with a glitter finish.  Like the clear red and black version, the glitter variant was used to promote the Super J-Cup. |
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Post by Wrestling Figure Database on Dec 5, 2023 13:18:48 GMT -5
One of the coolest Japanese Wrestling figure sets has to be Progressa's Sofubicchi figures.
Years before the trend took off in the west, Progressa released a soft vinyl figure collection of Wrestlers from the Michinoku promotion. Each figure came packaged in a blind box with an included order form, that could be used to order exclusive items and enter giveaways from Progressa themselves.
The line was called Sofubicchi, which is a portmanteau of the Japanese words 'sofubi' and 'icchi'; one could roughly translate the line as soft vinyl match.
One such item was the Sofubicchi ring playset. In total there were five standard figures to collect, plus one 'secret' figure. The figures are: Jinsei Shinzaki The Great Sasuke Tiger Mask IV Gran Hamada
Sasuke The Great and Onryo (whom I believe was the secret figure of the set). An even-rarer box set exists, which features a Choro-Q toy car with Michinoku decals and an exclusive Tiger Mask IV Sofubicchi variant with red pants. A separate box set also exists with The Great Sasuke, along with a second Choro-Q car adorned with Michinoku-inspired graphics.
The above Sasuke figure isn't from Progressa's Sofubicchi collection, but is an update of the company's other soft vinyl line entitled
the super deformed series. An exclusive bronze Great Sasuke figure and car bundle from 2001. The bronze figure is part of Progressa's super-deformed series. Clear and gold versions, with original blind boxes. Long before Funko Pops made event-exclusives a thing, the majority of Progressa's Sasuke figures were event exclusives often-featured at Japanese toy shows. The golden variant is from the 1999 Wonderland Market. Another clear variant with red and black highlights. This particular variant was used to promote Michinoku's Super J-Cup, and may have been an event-exclusive as well. The standard colour variant. An alternate colour variant. If you love clear variants, a third one exists with a glitter finish. Like the clear red and black version, the glitter variant was used to promote the Super J-Cup. Beautiful! Let me know if you ever run across pictures of the sofubicchis online without the ring. I was able to find a Sasuke in a flesh tone too! My research also uncovered a Dragon Gate sofubicchi line! |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 6, 2023 10:22:39 GMT -5
During today's search, I found an interesting listing in Japan:  A listing for 12 sofubi figures of the Wrestler Onryo from Progressa's SOFUBICCHI collection.   The listing states that these figures were acquired from the owner of a candy shop, who just so happened to be a big Pro-Wrestling fan. The backs of the figures contain the Progressa and Michinoku Pro-Wrestling trademarks. Makes me wonder if these are custom figures or actual test shots. Though, I think 12 test shots all from the same source seems highly unlikely.
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 6, 2023 17:52:44 GMT -5
In my opinion, Pro-gressa is easily the most ambitious Japanese toymaker when it comes to obscure Japanese Wrestling figures. In past posts, we took a look at a slew of event exclusives, blind box figures and mail-order goodies. Now, how about a ....piggy bank? MICHICHARA BANK The 'Michichara Bank' (short for Michinoku Character Bank) is a two figure set that was released by Pro-Gressa. The first is The Great Sasuke, while the second seems to be a pig.  The Great Sasuke in chibi form is one of the piggy banks. The figures are also marketed as keychains, meaning you can store money and display them on the go.  The attached card includes a cartoonish graphic of The Great Sasuke along with Pro-gressa's logo.  The front of the card contains perhaps the most amazing item description I have ever read from a Japanese figure:
"MICHARA BANK! Breaking the silence, Pro Gressa now presents "MICHARA BANK!!!" SASUKE! ... now on sale... Who will be the next character
(with special original sticker) 120% satisfaction guaranteed!"
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 7, 2023 10:00:42 GMT -5
If you haven't seen enough soft vinyl Great Sasuke figures yet ....well, you're in luck:  This soft vinyl super deformed Great Sasuke figure stands just under 5 cm tall (1.9 inches).   The back of the figure contains the production year, Michinoku Pro-Wrestling trademark, and the company name 'ISP'. I think ISP is short for INSPIRE, which also had the license to produce Great Sasuke figures at the time, alongside
Pro-Gressa and Charapro.
With the hollow base, this Great Sasuke figure could also have been used as a finger puppet.
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 9, 2023 0:17:37 GMT -5
If you're like me and a fan of classic All Japan Pro-Wrestling, you too may appreciate this lesser-known figure set:
All Japan Pro-Wrestling Tokyo Dome figure set: All 12 figures came bundled in one box set. The included sticker mentions the date All Japan Pro-Wrestling (who were primarily known for selling out the Budokan), held a special show at the Tokyo Dome on May 1st, 1998 entitled 'Showdown at the Egg'.  Each figure contained their own individual packaging, which could be separated from the rest of the set. The 12 figures are:  'Blue Thunder' Jun Akiyama. Each figure is actually a keychain, which includes a tag reading the respective Wrestler's name, along with the All Japan Pro-Wrestling logo.
 'Orange Crush' Kenta Kobashi.  'The Standard Bearer of Future Generations' Mitsuharu Misawa.  'The Giant of The East' Giant Baba. Giant Baba is sculpted performing his trademark Chop and 16mon Kick attacks. A pose that was used in several pieces of merchandising for All Japan at the time.  'Dangerous K' Toshiaki Kawada.  'Dynamic T' Akira Taue. Like Giant Baba, this figure is impossible to stand on it's own.  The only known figure of 'The Botswana Beast' Giant Kimala II (Ben Peacock).  'Ace Crusher' Johnny Ace.  'The Lariat' Stan Hansen. Stan offers the best of both worlds with his Texas Longhorns and Lariat poses.  'Dr. Death' Steve Williams.  'The Suplex Machine' Gary Albright. Albright is sporting one of the weirdest half smiles I've ever seen drawn on a figure.  Wolf Hawkfield.  To give you an idea of scale, the AJPW keychain figures are quite bulky when compared to standard Charapro figures. Scale-wise, the keychains stand about 2 and a half to 3 inches tall. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 19, 2023 8:56:10 GMT -5
Some more Japanese figures that aren't in the Wrestling Figure Database (feel free to add them):  Bruiser Brody keshi (arms up).  Bruiser Brody capsule keshi.  Bruiser Brody keshi Year: 1986 Series: Pro-Wrestling Manufactuer: Bandai  Mil Mascaras keshi. I don't have much info on this figure. Like many non-Bandai/Popy keshi, I believe this could very well an unlicensed specimen from Japan. .png) Harley Race capsule keshi.  Harley Race. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 20, 2023 10:19:40 GMT -5
For lovers of weird Japanese knockoffs and other oddities, these keshi are fan-created customs that are currently for sale on Yahoo Japan:  Tiger Jeet Singh with the body of a Teapackman (Kinnikuman) keshi.
 The Great Kabuki with another Kinnikuman body - Sunshine.   The actual figures of Kabuki and Singh in which the custom keshi were made from. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 27, 2023 21:59:01 GMT -5
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 28, 2023 11:42:08 GMT -5
The 16d Collection Dynamite Kid sofubi figure just arrived from Japan. Pre-orders for the figure originally opened back in July.  Since we've been seeing a handful of Kid figures released in the last couple of years, here's hoping Davey Boy is next in the set. After all, Dynamite is wearing his British Bulldogs tag team attire. |
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Post by biggerbetterbadder on Dec 28, 2023 14:34:43 GMT -5
The 16d Collection Dynamite Kid sofubi figure just arrived from Japan. Pre-orders for the figure originally opened back in July. Since we've been seeing a handful of Kid figures released in the last couple of years, here's hoping Davey Boy is next in the set. After all, Dynamite is wearing his British Bulldogs tag team attire. Where did you order this Dynamite Kid from? |
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Post by MKSavage on Dec 28, 2023 20:02:04 GMT -5
The 16d Collection Dynamite Kid sofubi figure just arrived from Japan. Pre-orders for the figure originally opened back in July. Since we've been seeing a handful of Kid figures released in the last couple of years, here's hoping Davey Boy is next in the set. After all, Dynamite is wearing his British Bulldogs tag team attire. It's a great figure. Like you, I hope a Davey Boy Smith in the same attire is coming soon. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Dec 29, 2023 0:15:20 GMT -5
Where did you order this Dynamite Kid from? Goodsmile Global Online Shop back in July. After the small pre-order window ends, it takes the site months to get the pre-order figures back in stock for regular sale. I did find one site that currently carries the figure, though I have never used them myself: www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/JUN238613 |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Jan 1, 2024 20:36:15 GMT -5
One of the joys of rebuilding my own Wrestling figure collection has been the thrill of seeking out grails that I never had the chance of owning when I first started collecting decades years ago. Some of my recent highlights include Charapro's clear Spider and Mech. Great Muta figures:  Including the special Darth Muta variant, the complete set of all three Great Muta Charapro clear action figures.During the early 2000's, Charapro produced a handful of clear figure variants. Wrestlers like Atsushi Onita, Genichiro Tenryu, Akira Maeda, Naoya Ogawa,Toshiaki Kawada, Great Muta, Jushin Thunder Liger and Mitsuharu Misawa all received special translucent variants. I especially enjoy the gold and silver highlights on both versions.  One of Charapro's earliest clear figures of Genichiro Tenryu. Before Great Muta received the clear figure treatment, Charapro's translucent variants were pretty basic in design, and not that exciting to look at.
.png) The clear Spider and Mech versions were also shrunken down as part of Character Product's Mini Big Heads line. The two figures were mail-away
magazine exclusives from a limited-time promotion that was held back in 2003.
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heelturn
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Sept 5, 2020 13:31:36 GMT -5
Posts: 174 
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Post by heelturn on Jan 2, 2024 7:48:38 GMT -5
Thank you for this thread. This is some incredible stuff!
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Jan 3, 2024 8:54:45 GMT -5
Thank you for this thread. This is some incredible stuff! No problem. I'm always on the lookout for weird and obscure Wrestling figures from the land of the rising sun. Speaking of oddities, here's a soft vinyl precursor to the Funko movement from Japanese toymaker INSPIRE.
INSPIRE DCORE line:
When most collectors think of INSPIRE, they are instantly reminded of INSPIRE's 11 inch, fully articulated figures of Wrestlers such as Hayabusa, Great Muta and Tiger Mask IV. Yet, INSPIRE also tried their hand at creating smaller soft vinyl figures, too.
The DCORE (short for decore) is a one-off example that featured some of the biggest stars from All Japan Pro-Wrestling
in the early 2000's.
  The first is Keiji Mutoh. The red window packaging is a smaller contrast to the boxes used for INSPIRE's bigger figures. The back of the packaging includes company info and standard safety instructions found on most figures from Japan. The only real difference is the Wrestler's name in bold letters just above the barcode.  The figures arrive in cardboard holders with a string affixing them to the backing.
  The name DCORE was probably chosen because these super-deformed chibi figures feature no articulation.  Next up is Kaz Hayashi with a special blue label.   Kaz is the most-common of the INSPIRE figures to find in the wild.  Satoshi Kojima with a stylized orange label.   Like Keiji Mutoh, the pattern on Kojima's tights ends on the back.  Last but not least is Toshiaki Kawada, who comes packaged with a stylized black and yellow label.   Some collectors have never seen this Kawada figure before.  Scale-wise, the DCORE figures stand about 3-4 inches tall in height. For comparison, I placed a Great Muta Charapro action figure and Mini Big Head figure of Minoru Suzuki next to Kawada. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Jan 11, 2024 17:49:32 GMT -5
Did you know there exists three different Keiji Mutoh packaging variants in the 16d line?
 1) Memorial version (left): limited to just 1000 pieces, this version was available before the standard release through Pro-Wrestling NOAH and Keiji Mutoh's official websites.
The most noticeable flaw in this variant is the spelling of Mutoh's first name as 'Kaiji' instead of Keiji.
2) Corrected memorial version (middle): The same packaging as the memorial version, just with Mutoh's name corrected. I was able to get several empty boxes of this version, which makes me wonder if the corrected boxes were sent out to customers after the fact, or that these were a corrected second batch of boxes that remained unused. 3) Standard version (right): the standard box that came with the common variant.  The memorial, corrected and standard variant's packaging displayed from the left side. The original memorial version retains the misspelling of Mutoh's first name.  As viewed from the other side. Beyond the packaging, there is no difference in design to the Keiji Mutoh figures themselves, which explains why the memorial Mutoh figures command a much lighter price when compared to the original Bye Bye Muta figure variant.
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