Long before its 2020 resin busts, Kaiyodo had already paid tribute to the two major figures of Hokuto no Ken with a pair of 1/6 scale busts, released in mid-December 2007. Two polystone pieces devoted to Kenshiro and Raoh, long held to be the finest depictions of the two rivals.
Details
Two busts at 1/6 scale
The Kenshiro bust, successor to Hokuto Shinken, stands around 19 cm tall and captures the hero’s sorrow-laden gaze while conveying his strength. The Raoh, conqueror of the end of the century, rises to about 21 cm including the Kenoh helmet. Both pieces are in painted polystone, supplied with a dedicated base, and were released together so collectors could line up the two rival brothers.
Details
| Box title | successor to Hokuto Shinken |
|---|---|
| Scale | 1/6, approx. 19 cm |
| Material | painted polystone |
| Contents | bust, dedicated base |
| Release | mid-December 2007 |
Details
| Box title | conqueror of the end of the century |
|---|---|
| Scale | 1/6, approx. 21 cm including helmet |
| Material | painted polystone |
| Contents | bust, dedicated base |
| Release | mid-December 2007 |
A collaboration with Tetsuo Hara
These busts are the work of sculptor Matsuura Ken, who had already produced the busts of the four brothers of Hokuto in 2004 and those of the six masters of Nanto in 2006. The period description of the Raoh is explicit: the sculptor and Tetsuo Hara exchanged notes repeatedly to reach the final result, and the body is rendered down to the smallest vein, with the rigid armour and ornaments making the piece a work worthy of the Kenoh. Kaiyodo presented it as a definitive take on its work for the licence.
This is the earliest documented instance of direct work between the sculptor and the author. Sixteen years later, Hara would still be correcting his prototypes by drawing red lines over photographs, this time for SpiceSeed’s Raoh and Kokuoh-Go.
Specifications
Finished, painted, non-articulated products, these polystone busts are made for display. Conceived as a pair, they stage the opposition between the two brothers, the successor of Hokuto facing the conqueror. The line is now old and sought after on the second-hand market. The original price remains to be documented.
Sources
- AmiAmi product listing, Raoh bust, reference HOB-FIG-7088: period description and sculptor credit.