ARASHI stocking stuffers – Vintage Ninja

Next to Kaiketsu Lion Maru (which in a modern context some find waaaay to ‘furry’ for comfort) Henshin Ninja Arashi was easily the most outre ninja hero ever — weird silver bird-like, but scaly, with some parts that look kinda moth-y, and he was a bird guy but he rode a horse, and are those big bug eyes actually eyes or fake eyes for decoration or what? Who knew…

But that outre character design, by Kamen Rider creator Shotaro Ishinomori, also lent the property multi-media crossover success, and merch from the short-running series is still being produced today. Here are some low-priced but nifty Arashi toys I’ve picked up in the last few years:

arashitoy1 — Four-inch "capsule" figure - Bandai or Gashopon maybe? - of the original manga version of the character. I like the lankiness of this design.

arashitoy2 — This is a seven-inch vinyl figure by Bandai, from 2005, of the television incarnation.

arashitoy3 — Not totally clear on the story behind this newest 3" Bandai "capsule"piece. It's sort of an homage character to the property seen in the latest permutation of KAMEN RIDER.

Now, if you want a more modern, and EXTREME, take on the character, there’s a new set featuring an – in my opinion – over-done reinterpretation of the character by modeling studio SIC. I think they’re trying too hard to make a pretty silly design look all dark and gritty and severe. But I do like the new version of series baddie Majinsai a lot. This set runs $70-100 depending on shipping. Check in out at Hobby Link Japan.

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