The "Wano Country Arc," the latest saga in the blockbuster manga "One Piece," is still going strong. Beyond the new undercover identities of the Straw Hat Pirates, the characters stealing the spotlight are undoubtedly Kaido, captain of the Beasts Pirates and one of the Four Emperors, and his rebellious child, Yamato. Following the release of their Kaido figure, BANDAI SPIRITS' pre-painted figure line, Figuarts ZERO [EXTRA BATTLE], finally dropped the highly anticipated "Yamato -Raimei Hakke-" this past February!
▼ The box for the "Figuarts ZERO [EXTRA BATTLE] Yamato -Raimei Hakke-" features a two-sided window design, offering an almost complete view of the figure inside.
Despite being born as the child of the enemy leader, Kaido of the Beasts, Yamato came to deeply admire Kozuki Oden after witnessing his execution as a child. This inspired Yamato to carry on Oden's name and ideals, even identifying as a man just as Oden was. Ultimately, recognizing the irreparable rift in their father-child relationship, Yamato resolved to join the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance to take down Kaido. With a setup this compelling, what's not to love!
▼ A closer look at the transparent box reveals printed manga-style focus lines and the sound effect for a club strike, "GAKIN!! (ガン！！)". When overlaid with the figure, it recreates the moment Yamato unleashes the Raimei Hakke—a truly thoughtful design touch!
▼ The back of the box features a simple product description and preview images.
This pre-painted figure is made from ABS and PVC, standing at a non-scale 16 cm tall. With a price of 7,700 JPY, it's positioned as a fairly entry-level piece in the market. The signature of the [EXTRA BATTLE] series is capturing characters in the dynamic, cool moments of their special moves. So how does it portray Yamato unleashing "Raimei Hakke"? Let's dive into the unboxing!
▼ Most modern PVC figures, especially those with weapons, bases, and a ton of effect parts, require some assembly. However, this one comes fully assembled right out of the box, so there's no need to worry about accidentally snapping a delicate part. It's incredibly convenient.
▼ Giving it a quick spin, you can see that while the paint finish has a slightly plastic feel, the shading, gradients, and even the family crest on the top are all faithfully reproduced. The effect parts also feature varied surface textures and color transitions.
▼ The base is printed with original art by Eiichiro Oda, also depicting Yamato unleashing the Raimei Hakke.
▼ Now let's get a closer look at the details! The eyes are applied via printing, perfectly capturing Yamato's fierce, battle-ready expression.
▼ It's not just the obvious gradient on the hair tips; the subtle orange-to-red shift on the horns is also recreated with detailed paintwork, and the earrings feature a metallic gold finish.
▼ However, a closer inspection reveals a few minor flaws, like the visible pegs at the base of the horns with some surrounding paint bleed, and some noticeable seam lines on the ponytail's hair tie.
▼ Moving on to the rather appealing torso section. The body and clothing are separate parts. The outfit is printed with the family crest and purple patterns, and the design is even applied to the tricky-to-paint sections of the top visible on the sides of the hakama.
▼ From the side, you can really appreciate the signature curvaceous female physique drawn by Oda-sensei. The exposed curve of her full bust and armpit creates a distinctly alluring look.
▼ Unfortunately, the "shimenawa" rope on the lower back is a bit of a letdown. The texture of the rope fibers isn't very sharp, and the paint application is rather rough, with many of the recessed grooves missing the purple paint. This is something you'll either have to touch up yourself or just view from a distance!
▼ While Yamato uses a kanabo as a weapon just like Kaido, this one is considerably smaller. The club isn't perfectly straight; it's sculpted with a slight curve to convey the force and speed of a swing. The surface of the kanabo is also detailed with a rough, uneven texture indicative of forged metal, and a gunmetal-like paint finish adds a sense of weight!
▼ The lightning-like "Raimei Hakke" effects swirl around the kanabo. Made from a light purple translucent material, their dynamic, crackling shape enhances the sense of speed. A darker purple is applied to the sharpest points, adding depth and preventing the effect from looking flat. It's incredibly cool!
▼ Smoke effects are designed around the feet, also crafted from a translucent material. The surface is sculpted with swirling smoke patterns and given a matte finish, which creates a fantastic semi-opaque light-and-shadow effect when illuminated.
▼ Next, let's use some thematic purple lighting to admire Yamato's Raimei Hakke pose!
▼ Yamato's powerful pose, swinging the kanabo with all their might, is incredibly dynamic on its own. Paired with the lightning and smoke effects that recreate the scene, the figure is brimming with intensity! My personal favorite detail is the foot on the geta sandal, propped up on the ball of the foot—it adds a touch of cuteness that contrasts with the powerful upper body.
▼ However, this lighting also seems to highlight a flaw: the finish on the "hakama." While the hakama is sculpted with complex, dynamic wrinkles, its finish looks very plastic. The light especially brings out a glossy sheen. A matte red finish would have been a significant improvement here.
▼ Ta-da! A mysterious guest appears! A muscular bull-man?
▼ It's your most hated father, the "Strongest Creature," Kaido!
▼ Let's bring out the "Figuarts ZERO [EXTRA BATTLE] Kaido of the Beasts," released in October 2021, to stage a monstrous family dispute!
▼ Although these are non-scale figures and can't replicate the massive size difference from the source material, this Kaido still stands at an impressive 32 cm, exactly double Yamato's height.
▼ The massive Kaido figure just radiates an overwhelming sense of intimidation... In comparison, Yamato, who stands at 263 cm in the story, looks downright adorable.
While this "Figuarts ZERO [EXTRA BATTLE] Yamato -Raimei Hakke-" has its share of paint flaws, the product includes a well-sculpted main figure, effect parts, and a custom-designed base—it has all the essentials. Compared to mid-to-high-end figures whose prices have soared past the 15,000 JPY mark, a figure in the 7,700 JPY price range with this level of quality is actually quite a good deal.