Noda-Ya – Fist of the North Star Statue Series

In the early 2000s, Noda-Ya, a Sendai hobby institution reputed to be the largest store of its kind in the Tohoku region, did something unusual for a retailer: it produced its own officially licensed statues. Its “Hokuto no Ken Statue Series” lined up four cold cast figures at 1/6 scale, ranging from 33 to 38 cm tall, sculpted by in-house craftsman 関東武久 and sold in limited runs.

Details

ManufacturerNoda-Ya Factory

LineHokuto no Ken Statue Series

Scale1/6 (~38 cm)

MaterialsCold cast painted (finished)

Production period~2002-2006

Price~20,895 ¥ tax included (Souther)

The Noda-Ya Store

Noda-Ya was neither Kaiyodo nor Bandai, but a hobby shop that took the leap into in-house production, with a dedicated sculptor and a pre-order sales model typical of high-end garage kits. Cold cast — that resin-loaded material that gives pieces a weight and feel close to stone — immediately placed the series in the premium tier, priced from 16,000 to over 20,000 yen per statue. Each character features an elaborately crafted base and multiple variants, a connoisseur’s approach that anticipated, a full decade ahead of time, the codes of today’s premium market. Worth noting: designed and sold out of Sendai, these statues were manufactured in China.

Founded in 1976 under the name Noda-Ya Gun & Hobby, the store closed its doors at the end of 2023 after forty-eight years in business, its aging building slated for demolition. One anecdote perfectly captures the spirit of the venture: in March 2016, the team announced on social media that they had found a few Souther statues in their warehouse, forgotten for ten years, and immediately put them back up for sale.

Four Entries, from 2002 to 2006

Kenshiro opens the series in February 2002. Noda-Ya chose to depict him before the events of the story, his chest still unmarked by the seven scars Shin would inflict upon him. He was released in several colorways across successive print runs.

Kenshiro

Details

Release	février 2002
Price	16 280 ¥
Hauteur	330 mm
Scale	1/6
Material	Cold cast
Sculpteur	関東武久
Accessoire	Base dédiée

Kenshiro, version manga

Details

Hauteur	330 mm
Scale	1/6
Material	Cold cast
Sculpteur	関東武久
Accessoire	Base dédiée

Kenshiro, t-shirt rouge

Details

Hauteur	330 mm
Scale	1/6
Material	Cold cast
Sculpteur	関東武久
Accessoire	Base dédiée

Rei forms the second entry in August 2003, offered in his usual colors and then in a white-haired version, referencing the sacrifice of the Nanto Suicho Ken warrior whose hair turns white after Raoh’s Shinketsu Shu.

Rei

Details

Release	août 2003
Price	18 480 ¥
Hauteur	325 mm
Scale	1/6
Material	Cold cast
Sculpteur	関東武久
Contenu	Épaulières, genouillères, base château

Rei, version cheveux blancs

Details

Release	août 2003
Price	18 480 ¥
Hauteur	325 mm
Scale	1/6
Material	Cold cast
Sculpteur	関東武久
Contenu	Épaulières, genouillères, base château

The third entry is Juza, the mightiest of the Goshasei, posed atop a stone-step base. He exists in two variants — outstretched arm and bent arm — which collectors distinguish by differences in sculpt and paint, particularly on the back armor.

Juza, version bras tendu

Details

Hauteur	330 mm
Scale	1/6
Material	Cold cast
Sculpteur	関東武久
Contenu	Épaulières, genouillères, base en marches de pierre

Juza, version bras plié

Details

Hauteur	330 mm
Scale	1/6
Material	Cold cast
Sculpteur	関東武久
Contenu	Épaulières, genouillères, base en marches de pierre

Souther closes the series in August 2006, and represents the pinnacle of the line — the tallest piece at 38 cm. The Holy Emperor is enthroned on a dedicated base and comes with two sets of interchangeable shoulder pads: the standard ones and those adorned with his dragons. He is available in a standard version and a limited green version reserved for the quickest buyers.

Souther, version normale

Details

Release	août 2006
Price	20 895 ¥
Hauteur	380 mm
Scale	1/6
Material	Cold cast
Sculpteur	関東武久
Contenu	Épaulières normales, épaulières dragon, base trône

Souther, version verte (limitée)

Details

Release	août 2006
Hauteur	380 mm
Scale	1/6
Material	Cold cast
Sculpteur	関東武久
Contenu	Épaulières normales, épaulières dragon, base trône
Exclusivité	NODA-YA

Finding Them Today

Limited runs from a now-defunct store, these statues surface only occasionally on Yahoo Auctions, Mercari, and Suruga-ya, often sold by their original owners. Cold cast ages well but remains fragile under impact — check the condition of hands and delicate parts before any purchase. One sculptor, one store, short print runs: the Noda-Ya series is the perfect example of those quietly treasured finds that Fist of the North Star merchandising reserves for patient hunters.