It’s hard to articulate what drew me to this version of Orchid’s Ryomou over the original gosurori version; I typically don’t go for alternate colors, so in this case part of the appeal may have been the simple unavailability of the earlier kit. Regardless, I’d say this repaint is at least on par with the original (though I doubt Ryomou would be caught dead in pink if she had a choice in the matter). Wondering what’s under those frills? Read on!
Original Design: Shiozaki Yuuji
Sculptor: Hiroman (Amiami search) (WFS page)
Source: Ikkitousen (manga, anime)
Scale: 1/7 (22 cm tall)
Materials: PVC
Release Date: July 28th, 2007
Production: Orchid Seed
Price: 6,800 JPY (tax included)
Current Availability: [PA] [HLJ] [HS] [TL]
Ryomou Shimei is one of the main characters of Ikkitousen, the ecchi manga and anime series by Shiozaki Yuuji based loosely on the Chinese epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Ikkitousen is often mentioned along with Oh! Great’s Tenjou Tenge as examples of exquisitely drawn manga featuring beautiful girls who fight each other while wearing incredibly flimsy clothing; while neither has much in the way of redeeming characteristics beyond this they do make great subjects for figures, as Ikkitousen has shown repeatedly in dozens of incarnations from Yujin, Griffon, and other makers.
This Ryomou is a slightly altered repaint of Orchid Seed’s gosurori Ryomou, their second foray into the Ikkitousen figure world (the first being their gosurori Kanu Unchou). While I watched the first Ikkitousen TV series and intend to finish the second eventually I’m not a very deep fan of the franchise, mostly content to admire the ridiculously bosomed designs. Thus while I can’t weigh in on sculptor Hiroman’s interpretation of the profound psychological aspects of Ryomou, I’m more than happy to opine on his rendition of her curvaceous exterior attributes: well done, sir!
I was pleasantly surprised at almost every turn by this kit. The paint job is subtle and the pastels work quite well, even against the bold color of her hair; the lines of the sculpt governed by the twist of her torso work to add dynamism to the otherwise dreaded standing pose. My only real complaint is that it’s not evident whether the front of her shirt is meant to be cast off or not; it’s secured loosely, but as can be seen pulling it off isn’t an incredibly clean operation. Would Ryomou ever actually wear pink or carry a violin? Probably not, but these are questions best left to the Ikkitousen experts.
Overall Score: 9/10
Wow – nice figure.
Wonder will she lean like the gosurori one… mine needed some hot water repair as she leans fast.
It’ll be bent over in a week if it’s like the black version I got. I weep.
yea, my black version leans like crazy. i threw away the box so i can’t put it back it there :( i was thinking about getting this pink version too, but i’m broke haha. i think pink looks better, or it’s just my preference i guess…on her.
nice review, tell us if it leans please.
my black one is leaning too !
Man, it sounds like everyone is afflicted by the leaning tower of Ryomou syndrome. Is she leaning backwards or forwards? I may try to take some preventative measures but I’m not sure if anything will help. ;_;
I really like this figure, though I haven’t watched any Ikki. And I love the pink one better then the black.. if I wasn’t cutting back on buying figures I might have tracked this one down. The only thing on this fig I don’t particually like is the feet they seem lacking somehow, not bad but.. underdeveloped somehow. Though I’m sure most are *not* looking at her feet/shoes. ;P
I don’t like either the Kanu or this one, but I do want the Ryofu when it comes out. I don’t know why the Ryofu looks best, but it does to me, at least. Anyway, at least you like this one, Shingo. ^^
I prop my ryomou at my side of my cupboard so the leaning problem is not a issue. But I am surprise how good this pink ryomou have turn out. In the first place, i just though it just another alternate colour
My black one is also starting to lean forward… T_T
This alternate color is really disturbing me. I love both Ikki Tousen series, and seeing Mou-chan wearing pink outfits… woho O_o
But the figure itself looks really good, and cast-off is a great extra ^^
Shingo:
She leans forward (boob-wise). I took my off the base and leaned her casually up against a firm surface and she bent right back into place and has been standing proud since then, off the base. Honestly, when I was checking her out after the bend, the skirt seemed to be the cause of the bulk of it, so if the skirt is off it might not be an issue.
>>Randall
Gotcha, thanks. I tend to leave the skirts off most figures from which they’re removable, and that’s another great reason to do so… ^^;;
I actually got out my hand drill and put a pin in her damn leg it was annoying me so much
Ditch the anime and read the manga! Well, read the manga, at least.
I doubt Shimei-chan would be even caught dead in pink. Nice, colorful figure – but way too out of [her] character for my taste.
Great pics, though!