Touken Ranbu - Figures

Touken Ranbu is a prime example of the “historical figures as pretty anime characters” genre and the anthropomorphized weapon genre. Both genres boast large fan bases in the anime world, notably among young women. The swords in Touken Ranbu take human form in the bishounen art style. Collecting these cards in the game has extended to the 3D world into collecting figures. There are over 90 unique characters in the game and the series has hundreds of figures representing them. Four of the most popular character figures for Touken Ranbu are “Nendoroid Touken Ranbu -Online- Tsurumaru Kuninaga Re-Run,” “Touken Ranbu -Online- Higekiri 1/8 Scale Figure,” “Touken Ranbu -Online- Heshikiri Hasebe Noodle Stopper Figure,” and “Touken Ranbu -Hanamaru- Kashu Kiyomitsu Uchiban Ver. 1/8 Scale Figure.”

Nendoroid Touken Ranbu -Online- Tsurumaru Kuninaga Figure

This Nendoroid figure shows the ever full of surprises Tsurumaru Kuninaga in his graceful glory. His appearance resembles that of his browser game card. He wears an elaborate set of white robes accented with a gray trim and obi. He wears samurai-style black and gold armor plates on his thighs. The gold accents on the figure pop with a metallic finish, including the crane emblem on the right side of his chest. His sword blade shines like real steel and can be sheathed or unsheathed. The figure includes three expressions, a cool smile, a sidelong smirk, and a happy laughing face. All included hand parts feature his distinct gloves, fingerless aside from the covered middle and ring fingers. An interchangeable head part shows his hood up and his long silvery hair poking out near his jaw.

Product Name: Nendoroid Touken Ranbu -Online- Tsurumaru Kuninaga (Re-run)
Release Info: Originally released in December 2015 with re-releases in November 2016, February 2017, and May 2021
Manufacturer: Orange Rouge
Sculptor: Katanashi (Toytec D.T.C)
Specifications: Painted, non-scale, articulated ABS & PVC figure set
Height (Approx.): 100mm | 3.9”

Touken Ranbu -Online- Higekiri 1/8 Scale Figure

Higekiri poses like his standard game appearance in this 1/8 scale figure from Orange Rouge. He wears a white modern military-style suit with a black shirt, shoes, and gloves. His jacket rests over his shoulders, tied in place by a gold bow. He stands with his right hand over his chest and left foot in front of his right. Along with realistic folds, clothing details include two tassels on his right sleeve, ombre colored in a transition from white to brown then black. A braided accent drapes down from his right shoulder and is affixed to the center of his back at the bottom of a black and gold fan-shaped emblem. His sword rests at his hip with its golden hilt shining brighter than the other golden accents, highlighting its significance.

Product Name: Touken Ranbu -Online- Higekiri 1/8 Scale Figure
Manufacturer: Orange Rouge
Sculptor: Yuma (Swanboat no Souza)
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, 1/8th scale ABS & PVC figure with stand
Height (Approx.): 225mm | 8.9

Touken Ranbu -Online- Heshikiri Hasebe Noodle Stopper Figure

Loyal attendant Heshikiri Hasebe now guards ramen with his Noodle Stopper figure from FuRyu. He wears his elaborate military-style uniform from his in-game appearances. Despite the size of the figure, it shows the pleating details along the buttons of his undershirt as well as the slight blousing near his pants. His coattails also fan out behind him with natural-looking irregular wrinkles and folds. He sits seiza style with his white-gloved hands resting atop his thighs. His sword is included as a separate piece that can be placed in front of him as he kneels. From behind, his sock-covered feet poke out between the gap in his coattails.

Product Name: Touken Ranbu -Online- Heshikiri Hasebe Noodle Stopper Figure
Release: April 2021
Manufacturer: FuRyu
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated ATBC-PVC figure with stand
Height (Approx.): 115mm | 4.5"

Touken Ranbu -Hanamaru- Kashu Kiyomitsu Uchiban Ver. 1/8 Scale Figure

This figure from Revolve shows Kashu Kiyomitsu as he appears in the anime. He wears a black and dark red hakama. The sleeves are pulled up with a beige checkered tasuki tied in an impeccable bow on his back. He stands in a sly pose, staring sidelong as the viewer with one hand flexing by his face and the other pulling at his tasuki. He wears a sly smirk accenting the beauty mark by his mouth. Detail to fabric volume shows in the sculpting through his hakama sleeves, but movement can also be seen in the fringe of his scarf. Fans will also notice his neatly painted red nails, showing off Kashu’s dedication to his appearance.

Product Name: Touken Ranbu -Hanamaru- Kashu Kiyomitsu: Uchiban Ver. 1/8 Scale Figure
Manufacturer: Revolve
Sculptor: Icrea / Nobuta (Revolve)
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, 1/8 scale ABS & PVC figure with stand
Height (Approx.): 210 mm | 8.3"

Touken Ranbu Series Story

Touken Ranbu began as a browser game where players collect anthropomorphized versions of famous Japanese swords. The player takes the role of a sage, or saniwa, with the ability to bring legendary swords to life. By collecting these swords, the Saniwa constructs an army to defeat evil across history. The first anime, Hanamaru, takes a slice of life approach to the game’s narrative. A second anime called Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu takes place in 1863 following the touken danshi Izuminokami Kanesada as he attempts to stop the Time Retrograde Army from changing history.

Touken Ranbu Series Development

The Touken Ranbu browser game from Nitroplus and DMM launched on January 14, 2015. As of 2020, the game is still only available in Japan. It follows the same concept as another DMM game, Kantai Collection, though gender-swapped to appeal to a female audience. The game proved immensely popular and garnered over 1.5 million registered players by 2016. Touken Ranbu, along with another bishounen historical series Sengoku Basara, launched the trend of “katana women” in Japan. These women display great interest in katana, or swords, and have become a subsect of the reki-jo, or female history buff, culture.

Links

Nendoroid Touken Ranbu -Online- Tsurumaru Kuninaga Re-Run
Touken Ranbu -Online- Higekiri 1/8 Scale Figure
Touken Ranbu -Online- Heshikiri Hasebe Noodle Stopper Figure
Touken Ranbu -Hanamaru- Kashu Kiyomitsu Uchiban Ver. 1/8 Scale Figure
Touken Ranbu Label
Heshikiri Hasebe Label
Kashu Kiyomitsu Label