In the spring of 2006, to coincide with the release of the first film dedicated to Raoh, an unusual campaign was launched. By purchasing a can of Suntory Coffee Boss at Seven-Eleven, customers walked away with a Hokuto no Ken figure sculpted by Kaiyodo. A convenience-store exclusive that has since become rare.
Details
Two waves, two faces
The collection was rolled out in two waves of eight items each, split between four figures on bases and four busts mounted on pedestals, in gold and silver metallic finishes. One detail clearly sets the two series apart. The first wave displays the full movie logo on its label, Shin Kyuseishu Densetsu, Raoh-den Junai no Sho, openly presenting itself as official film merchandise. The second wave reverts to a more generic packaging in the franchise’s colors.
The first wave, in the film’s colors
True to its cinematic roots, this wave brings together four figures drawn from the film’s cast: Kenshiro, the emperor Souther, Shu, and Raoh. Alongside them are four busts: Kenshiro and Jagi in silver, Raoh and Toki in gold.
The second wave and the play on finishes
The second wave refreshes the lineup by drawing from elsewhere in the story: Kenshiro and Raoh are now joined by Heart, the colossus of Shin’s gang, and Yuria. The four busts reuse exactly the same sculptures as the first wave but with swapped finishes. Kenshiro and Jagi switch to gold, Raoh and Toki to silver. A clever approach that, by simply inverting the tones, pushed collectors to acquire both series in order to own each bust in its two versions.
Finding them today
Distributed only for the duration of the campaign, these figures were never sold through regular retail, making them difficult to track down today. They resurface on Yahoo Auctions, Mercari, and at Suruga-ya, souvenirs of a marketing operation that tied together coffee, convenience stores, and cinema.