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July 17, 2026
Sofubi Enthusiast Comedian Ijiri Okada's Long-Awaited Original Sofubi is Finally Complete! | MEDICOM TOY
MEDICOM TOY | MEDICOM TOY
"Ijiri Mask" | "Chattering Ijiri-kun"
The release of Ijiri Okada's first original sofubi, "Ijiri Mask" and "Chattering Ijiri-kun," has been decided! Okada, known as a seasoned sofubi collector, shared his childhood love for sofubi, his memories with Medicom Toy, and details about his completed original sofubi.
Text by SHINNO Kunihiko | Photo by NAGAO Masashi | Edit by TOMIYAMA Eizaburo
My greatest wish is for my sofubi to be played with until it's worn out.
Comedian Ijiri Okada, who is popular for introducing his favorite retro sofubi and nostalgic toys on his YouTube channel "Ijiri Channel."
Okada is now releasing his first original sofubi, "Ijiri Mask" and "Chattering Ijiri-kun," in collaboration with Medicom Toy. Both products will be available for pre-order at the "MEDICOM TOY 30th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION" held from Saturday, July 25 to Thursday, July 30, 2026. Following the event, they will also be available for order through Medicom Toy's official store.
Ijiri Okada
Born September 23, 1964, in Saitama Prefecture. Debuted as a comedy duo in 1987 and has been active as a solo comedian and impressionist since 1990. Gained popularity for his "High-Speed Tongue" act on the TV Tokyo late-night show "Gilgamesh Night" starting in 1991. He continues to expand his career, appearing in variety shows, hosting idol programs and events, and acting in films and dramas.
I've been pre-ordering new sofubi every month since 2012.
"I still can't quite believe it. I feel like I might be dreaming."
Ijiri Okada is excited in front of his completed original sofubi. The "Ijiri Mask" and "Chattering Ijiri-kun" released by Medicom Toy are items that embody his long-standing love for sofubi and Medicom Toy.
"I met Medicom Toy about 15 years ago. I was introduced to their '1/6 Project' (now MEDICOM TOY TOKYO) through a magazine and was surprised to see the Toei Retro Sofubi Collection of Kamen Rider. I didn't know they had released something like this."
The Toei Retro Sofubi Collection is a popular series that features characters from Toei's tokusatsu series, including "Kamen Rider," in a standard sofubi size (approx. 240mm tall) with a Showa-era aesthetic.
Since 2011, 3-4 figures have been released each month, including monsters that were not available at the time of their original broadcast, bringing the total to over 500 types. In 2014, a mid-size version (approx. 150mm tall) was introduced, followed by King Size (approx. 350mm tall) and Jumbo Size (approx. 600mm tall) versions.
"By the time I realized it, 4 or 5 had already been released, but I went to the store every month to pre-order them. I didn't trust the internet back then (laughs). When I ordered, I'd hide the fact that I was Ijiri Okada and speak in a low voice to avoid drawing attention, but honestly, there was a part of me that wanted them to notice."
As he said this, Okada showed us the numerous "1/6 Project" stamp cards he had brought.
"Look, all of these are filled! I got one stamp for every 1,000 yen spent and could exchange them for prizes, but I kept them because I didn't want to lose the cards. I love Medicom Toy so much. I doubt anyone else has cards filled like these."
Okada has continued to purchase figures from the Toei Retro Sofubi Collection every month. He keeps them all unopened out of care and has a unique approach of deliberately not completing certain series.
"If I get the Snowman, which was released very early on, I'll have them all, but I'm deliberately not buying it. When I've completed other series, I've felt more loneliness than joy. I've decided not to buy the Snowman from the Toei Retro Sofubi Collection, no matter how much its price increases."
The worn-out Tiger Mask is a "testament to battle."
The opportunity to produce his own original sofubi came about a year ago when he met Ryuhiko Akashi, president of Medicom Toy, through an acquaintance.
"Director Minoru Kawasaki and Kan-chan Nabe, who are fellow tokusatsu and sofubi enthusiasts, had been recommending it for a long time. Then, last spring, I was introduced to someone and finally met Mr. Akashi at the Super Festival venue."
"He told me, 'I watch your YouTube videos.' I was so happy that my passion for sofubi had reached Mr. Akashi. I think he probably saw the episode where I talked about buying the standard sofubi of 'Tiger Mask.'"
Receiving a Tiger Mask toy from his father at a toy store in their hometown was an unforgettable childhood memory for Okada.
"When I asked my father for it on the way home from kindergarten, he said, 'Call Mom, and if she says it's okay, I'll buy it for you.' I still remember calling from a public payphone. That was my very first treasured sofubi. It was spring. When I got home and put it on the low table, the wind blowing in from outside made Tiger's cape flutter... I brought it with me today."
©︎ Ikki Kajiwara, Naoki Tsuji / Kodansha
"Tiger Mask" is a wrestling manga by Ikki Kajiwara (story) and Naoki Tsuji (art) that ran from 1968 to 1971 in "Bokura," "Weekly Bokura Magazine," and "Weekly Shonen Magazine" (Kodansha). The protagonist, Naoto Date, debuts as the masked wrestler "Tiger Mask" after training at the villainous wrestler training facility "Tiger's Den." However, he betrays the organization to save the orphanage "Chibi Chibi House" where he grew up and engages in battles against assassins sent by the Tiger's Den.
The TV anime adaptation in 1969 and the sofubi released by Nakajima Manufacturing (now Nakajima Corporation) became a massive hit that captivated Japan. In 1980, the sequel "Tiger Mask II" began, featuring real professional wrestlers in collaboration with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
"The Tiger Mask my father bought me became worn out from all the battles. It's covered in scratches, and the clasp on the cape is broken, but this is a 'testament to battle' and 'my life.' I also brought an undamaged Tiger I acquired on Yahoo Auctions for comparison. That must have belonged to a wealthy child who didn't play with it... Do you notice? The shape of Tiger Mask's hands is different."
The Nakajima Manufacturing "Tiger Mask" sofubi had variations in mask color and hand shape depending on the production period. The earliest "Yellow 1st Edition" had both hands in a fist. Subsequent versions included "right hand open, left hand fist" and "right hand fist, left hand open."
©︎ Ikki Kajiwara, Naoki Tsuji / Kodansha
"The one my father bought me had a right fist and a left open hand. When I watched the anime back then, Tiger would usually be sent to the ropes and chop with his right hand, but mine could only chop with the left. I wondered why my right hand wasn't open (laughs). I really wanted to do that move against my opponent, so I finally got the right-hand-open version."
"The face of Naoto Date is also beautiful, isn't it? There was a commercial back then with the tagline, 'Transform into Naoto Date when you take off the mask,' but my Naoto has a slightly faded redness on his cheeks, like a mischievous kid."
The shoe color is based on what Mitsuharu Misawa wore during his active career.
Okada's love for "Tiger Mask" continues.
"The first major arc in Tiger Mask was the 'Masked World League' story, where he had to fight in a tag match against Lionman and Egyptian Mummy. During the match, a wrestler named Great Zebra appeared before Tiger."
"At first, Tiger suspected that Zebra was also an assassin from the Tiger's Den, but during the match, when Tiger attempted the 16-mon kick, he realized the wrestler's true identity was Giant Baba. The figure I used as a substitute for the Great Zebra sofubi I couldn't buy was this Ultraman Seven. Because he's tall (laughs)."
©︎ Ikki Kajiwara, Naoki Tsuji / Kodansha
Since 2012, Medicom Toy has been faithfully reproducing and reissuing the "Tiger Mask" sofubi originally released by Nakajima Manufacturing in 1969, with the cooperation of Kodansha and Nakajima Corporation. Akashi then proposed an original sofubi concept to Okada.
"Mr. Akashi suggested, 'If we're releasing an Ijiri sofubi, wouldn't it be great if it could stand next to Tiger Mask?' He even got permission from Nakajima Corporation to use the same specifications, like header-bag packaging and a sash with the name printed on it."
"I never imagined that the Tiger Mask I played with as a child would team up with me for a dream tag match 56 years later! It's wonderful! Now, 56 years later, Baba (Ultraman Seven) can finally retire. Ijiri Mask will be teaming up with Tiger from now on! (laughs)"
The mask for Ijiri Mask is designed with a relief motif of King Gilgamesh, inspired by the title of Okada's show "Gilgamesh Night" (aired on TV Tokyo from October 5, 1991, to March 28, 1998). The lion he holds in his left hand is used in the cape's design.
"It's a small detail, but the dot in 'Ijiri・Mask' on the cape was matched to the original 'Tiger・Mask' to align with it. The shoe color was also something I focused on. I love professional wrestling and often did impressions of Mitsuharu Misawa, so I asked them to use the color scheme of the shoes he wore during his active career. They apparently had a hard time achieving this champagne gold color. They even painted the white laces separately."
"If you remove the mask, you'll see my face with my tongue sticking out (laughs). They made the tongue a healthy pink color. If you put the Tiger mask on this face, you can also do a 'Misawa Tiger' role-play... Although the tongue makes it a bit difficult to put on (laughs)."
©︎ Ikki Kajiwara, Naoki Tsuji / Kodansha
"I've always dreamed of making my own sofubi someday, but I never thought it would be possible."
"In recent years, with the sofubi boom, designers and people from unrelated fields have entered this world. I can't design, and I'm not particularly dexterous, so I've always been envious watching everyone else create their own. That's why it feels like a dream that my own sofubi is actually being released."
"I still feel like this might be a one-off. If they were lined up in a store like in the old days, I might believe it. This time it's being sold at a Medicom Toy event and through pre-orders, but I wanted to hand them over to customers myself. For those who wanted it, I would have signed them with a marker on the sole of the foot, like in the Showa era (laughs). The packaging also has a header inspired by the Tiger Mask of that time, and I'm so happy they went to such lengths."
©︎ Ikki Kajiwara, Naoki Tsuji / Kodansha
I hope parents from the Gilgamesh generation will purchase it.
In addition to "Ijiri Mask," Medicom Toy is also releasing "Chattering Ijiri-kun." The base toy, "Chattering Animal Ball," features a patented talking whistle system developed by Sunsmile Co., Ltd., which makes a sound and protrudes its tongue when pressed. It's a huge hit, with over 2 million units sold worldwide.
"Mr. Akashi loves this toy and thought, 'Wouldn't it be like Ijiri-san if we added hair and glasses?' (laughs). I've been suggesting a toy that sticks out its tongue for a long time. I even asked if they could make it so that pulling and releasing a string on the back would make it move. When I met someone who designs toys, I even had them create private blueprints for me."
"So, this dream has also come true. It's very cute. I really want children to play with this. I hope parents from the Gilgamesh generation will purchase it."
Okada began performing his "High-Speed Tongue" act 35 years ago on "Gilgamesh Night" (TV Tokyo). Therefore, "Chattering Ijiri-kun" also commemorates the "35th Anniversary of the High-Speed Tongue!"
"A while ago, on the TV Tokyo program "Jikkuri Kitaro ~Star Kinjo (Secret) Report~," they showed me footage of my first high-speed tongue performance, and seeing my tongue move, I thought, 'Was it this slow back then?' I was 27 years old. The tongue is a muscle, so the more you train it, the faster it moves. Doctors say moving your tongue is also good for anti-aging!"
When asked about his future plans, he said with sparkling eyes, "I definitely want an evil wrestler to fight Ijiri Mask!"
"I definitely want an evil wrestler to fight Ijiri Mask. I like the villainous wrestler 'Mr. NO' from Tiger Mask. My real name is Noboru Okada (laughs). Soon, assassins from the evil organization 'Bero no Ana' (Hole of the Tongue) will be coming after Ijiri Mask. Then, 'Tiger, you will become a tiger' will become 'Tongue, you will become a tongue,' but will that be okay? (laughs)"
Born in 1964, Okada was deeply grateful for the abundant quality entertainment he experienced from childhood through his youth.
"Children born in this year are all fortunate. We had 'Tiger Mask' in kindergarten, 'Kamen Rider' started in elementary school - Rider 1 and 2 in the first and second grades, V3 in the third, X and Amazon in the fourth, and Stronger in the fifth. When I was in ninth grade, '3-B Class Kinpachi Sensei' aired, and the theme song 'Okuru Kotoba' by Kaien-tai was a huge hit – a perfect generation. I truly think my parents were wise to have me at this time (laughs)."
Finally, he shared a message for those who will soon hold "Ijiri Mask" and "Chattering Ijiri-kun."
"My greatest wish is for them to be played with until they're worn out. Remember how kids used to leave them behind in the sandbox at the park? (laughs). I want them to be completely absorbed."
The making of this sofubi is also featured on YouTube's "Ijiri Channel," so be sure to check that out as well.
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Ijiri Mask
Planning Cooperation | Nakajima Corporation
Sculpting & Illustration | HaRu
Size | Approx. 230mm tall
Release Date | Pre-sale at the "MEDICOM TOY 30th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION" held from Saturday, July 25 to Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Space O, B3F, Omotesando Hills Main Building. Order sales planned at Medicom Toy's official store after the event.
Price | ¥19,800 (incl. tax)
*Photos are of a sample under supervision. Actual product may differ slightly.
©︎ HORIPRO INC.
Chattering Ijiri-kun
PATENTED SUNSMILE TOYS
Size | Approx. 100mm tall
Release Date | On sale at the "MEDICOM TOY 30th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION" held from Saturday, July 25 to Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Space O, B3F, Omotesando Hills Main Building.
Price | ¥6,600 (incl. tax)
*Photos are of a sample under supervision. Actual product may differ slightly.
©︎ HORIPRO INC.
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