As every Friday, it’s time for figures and merchandise from the franchise. This week, we’re looking at a brand that completely changes the game.
In the saturated Hokuto no Ken figure market, a new brand is catching everyone off guard. Founded in 2023 for the franchise’s 40th anniversary, Mooze doesn’t present itself as a premium figure manufacturer, but as a true sculptural art house dedicated to manga, anime, and video game characters. Their slogan says it all: “Manga is art.” And their first subject couldn’t have been a better fit with Hokuto no Ken. With two initial pieces approved by the official rights holders and showcased at an exhibition-sale in Tokyo, Mooze establishes an unprecedented position in the market. Here’s an overview of this brand that deserves close attention from now on.
A demanding artistic approach
The company Mooze Art Co. Ltd (モーゼアート株式会社) was founded in 2023, the year of the franchise’s 40th anniversary. Its approach proudly goes against the usual conventions of the figure industry: seeking out sculptor artists from around the world, rigorous selection of materials, and handcrafted production in specialized workshops. More than a year of development was needed before the release of the first two pieces.
The result is nothing like a mass-produced product: these are unique works, manufactured in very limited quantities, signed and numbered. The stated claim is that of “sculptural art”, a new category distinct from the traditional collector figure or statuette, placing manga characters within the field of art in the classical sense of the term.
Toki and Shū, two sages
For their first release, Mooze chose two characters distinguished by their spiritual dimension: Toki and Shū. Two masters, two philosophies.
Toki, “Ji・Ten” (慈・天) – Benevolence and Heaven
“剛拳以てラオウと決し、柔拳以て世を救う”
“With the hard fist, he confronts Raoh; with the gentle fist, he saves the world.”
The piece measures 45 cm in height and comes in two finishes, bronze and stainless steel, two noble materials that radically change the feel of the work. Bronze evokes the warmth of an ancient statue, while steel conveys the modernity of contemporary art.
Shū, “Jin・Kō” (仁・光) – Humanity and Light
“その心が、やがて世界に再び光をもたらす”
“His heart will finally bring light to the world once again.”
The master of Nantō Hakurō-ken, whose tragic end at the hands of Souther left a lasting mark on the franchise’s history, receives here a treatment befitting his symbolic stature. The piece measures 40 cm in height and is also available in bronze or stainless steel. Special attention was given to the finesse of the face and the base, which form a cohesive whole with a sculptural presence rarely seen in the Hokuto no Ken universe.
The official price is set at 300,000 yen before tax per piece (approximately $1,950), a price that confirms the exclusive nature of the object.
A brand validated by Coamix
The most significant point for the project’s legitimacy is the official support of Coamix, the rights holder for Hokuto no Ken. The Japanese company is explicitly credited as a partner of the exhibition and published a detailed press release on its official website about the exhibition-sale “Hokuto…Forever I” (北斗…永遠Ⅰ). An institutional validation that takes the brand beyond the strict scope of licensed merchandise and brings it closer to a true editorial initiative approved by the rights holders.
The exhibition-sale was held from June 28 to July 21, 2025 at the SOOTANG HOBBY OMOTESANDO 2F Gallery in Tokyo, in the Shibuya district. The concept was clear: present the sculptures as full-fledged works of art in a dedicated space rather than at a convention booth. The co-organizer of the event was Animore Inc., Mooze’s business partner.
A body of work to follow
With only two characters in their catalog, Mooze is just at the very beginning of its journey. But the artistic touch is there, the partnership with the rights holders is solid, and the positioning is set. The future will tell whether other characters will extend this work, or whether Mooze will maintain this rare stance of a brand with deliberately limited production. One thing is certain: in the Hokuto no Ken market, Mooze now holds a place that no one else occupies.
To follow their news, their official website is mooze.jp, and their X account @MoozeSpace regularly documents the behind-the-scenes of the sculptural production.
