Friday, July 1, 2016

Review II: Bandai Tamashii Exclusive - Star Wars Movie Realization - Akonaze Royal Guard figure

continued from previous toy blog post...

My second-part action figure review of the recently released Bandai Tamashii Exclusive Star Wars Movie Realizatio Akonaze Royal Guard shows the figure without his "robe" in front. The front part of his robe (shown in the earlier action figure review post HERE) is detachable to show off the armor hidden underneath this Feudal Japan Samurai inspired redesign of the Star Wars Episode VI Emperor's Royal Guard. The Imperial Royal Guard or Imperial Guard, were the personal bodyguards and assassins of Emperor Palpatine.


Royal Guards were completely covered in flowing blood-red robes and featureless scarlet masks concealed their faces. They wielded force pikes, a type of melee weapon with a vibro-edged head. Additionally, each of their robes also hid a heavy blaster pistol, a vibroblade, and various other weaponry. This Bandai Tamashii Exclusive - Star Wars Movie Realization - Akonaze Royal Guard figure comes equipped with a Samurai sword instead of a blaster. There is the wakizashi, the companion sword, being carried in front but the sword is not detachable. The katana was the big or long sword and the wakizashi was used as a backup or auxiliary sword. It was also used for close quarters fighting, to behead a defeated opponent and sometimes to commit seppuku, a ritual suicide. The wakizashi being worn together with the katana was the official sign that the wearer was a samurai or swordsman of feudal Japan. When worn together the pair of swords were called daishō, which translates literally as "big-little".

Scroll down to see all the pictures.
Click on them for bigger and better views.


Related posts:
Review of Bandai Star Wars Movie Realization 7-inch tall Ashigaru Stormtrooper action figure posted on my toy blog HERE and HERE
Bandai Star Wars Movie Realization 7-inch tall Ronin Kenzan Boba Fett action figure reviewed HERE and HERE
Action figure review of Bandai Star Wars Movie Realization Samurai Taisho Darth Vader 18 cm figure posted HERE and HERE
Comparison pictures of Samurai Taisho Darth Vader & Ronin Kenzan Boba Fett 7-inch action figures HERE
Comparison pictures of Bandai Tamashii Star Wars Movie Realization Teppo Ashigaru Sandtrooper action figure and Ashigaru Stormtrooper action figure can be seen HERE

3 comments:

Red6 said...

Thanks for the review. I felt the neck/head to shoulder proportion is off.
Still a nice figure but kinda odd that way.

Kaido said...

I think it looks more proportional with the cape on, but yes, without the cape, the neck does look long.

Unknown said...

Just got mine at release day where I live, got everyone now except the Taiko-drum trooper, and I have to say this guy looks awesome in real life, far better than in a photo...it takes a while to get used to the different face mask, but it's really a great piece!