Second Generation Tiger Mask made a stunning debut on August 26, 1984, at the All Japan Pro-Wrestling Korakuen Hall event. Sofubi figures and replica masks of this legendary wrestler are finally being released as official merchandise. The youthful vigor of Mitsuharu Misawa, the man behind the Second Generation Tiger Mask, is brought back to life!

The manga "Tiger Mask," based on the original work by Ikki Kajiwara, had a profound impact on the world of professional wrestling. Perhaps its most significant legacy was the debut of the First Generation Tiger Mask on April 23, 1981, as a tie-in to the anime series "Tiger Mask II."
Satoru Sayama's aerial maneuvers and never-before-seen fighting style ignited a massive boom among wrestling fans. The name Tiger Mask, along with the iconic mask, was passed down through generations: the Second Generation (Mitsuharu Misawa), the Third Generation (Koji Kanemoto), and the Fourth Generation (currently with New Japan Pro-Wrestling).

MEDICOM TOY, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, has released numerous "Tiger Mask" related items since its establishment. One such item, released in March 2012, is the "Tiger Mask (Early Model Yellow 2nd Edition)," a复刻 of the soft vinyl doll that was a huge hit when first released by Nakajima Manufacturing in 1969.

The doll faithfully recreated the gimmick of revealing Naoto Date's face when the mask was removed, along with a vinyl cape, sash, and the original packaging. A succession of villainous wrestlers were also released, and the series expanded significantly to over 50 figures.

In December 2013, the "Sofubi Fighting Series" began, featuring legendary real-life professional wrestlers brought to life in soft vinyl (distributed by Ingram). The first release, naturally, was the "First Generation Tiger Mask." The head sculpts, deliberately rendered in a retro sofubi style of the 70s and 80s, were all created with the permission of the wrestlers themselves or their affiliated organizations, clearing all portrait rights.

The addition of the "Second Generation Tiger Mask" to the Sofubi Fighting Series is said to be the result of over ten years of negotiations between MEDICOM TOY, Ingram, and the Misawa family.

Prior to this, official merchandise for the Second Generation Tiger Mask was scarce, limited to the wrestling album "Tiger Mask: The Birth of a New Tiger Legend" by Kogen Sha during his active career and the VAP DVD-BOX "The Legend of Misawa's Tiger ~Seven Roars of the Masked Tiger~." There were virtually no three-dimensional figures.
Consequently, when footage of the Second Generation Tiger Mask and Mitsuharu Misawa was used in SANKYO's pachinko machine "CRF Tiger Mask 2" in 2013, it caused a significant stir among fans.

The long-standing refusal to grant permission may have stemmed from Misawa's own internal struggles.

In his 2004 book, "Idealist: Pro-Wrestling Must Always Evolve," Misawa wrote, "As long as I was in the ring as Tiger Mask, I couldn't fully express the pro-wrestling that Mitsuharu Misawa envisioned. I struggled with this dilemma during my time as Tiger Mask."

Despite his imposing physique of 185cm and 110kg, he often performed aerial moves to honor the First Generation's image, which led to knee injuries and prolonged absences. "If I had settled for the position of Second Generation Tiger Mask and abandoned my own wrestling style, I wouldn't be who I am today." The "unyielding Misawa," who would later lead Japanese pro-wrestling, was forged during this era.

Yukihiro Nakamura, who runs the professional wrestling mask specialty shop "Pro-Wrestling Mask World" in Suidobashi, Tokyo—a district renowned as a mecca for combat sports—was one of those captivated by this story.

He began making masks on his own at age 14 and became a professional mask craftsman at 27. In 2003, with the planned return of the First Generation Tiger Mask, he was directly contacted by Satoru Sayama and became his exclusive mask craftsman. The "YN" mark, bearing Nakamura's initials, is a symbol of trust.

Currently, all of MEDICOM TOY's First Generation Tiger Mask products are produced under Nakamura's supervision. While MEDICOM TOY has traditionally focused on recreating the visual appearance of items, Nakamura provides precise instructions on how the human skull would fit inside the mask, breathing further life into the creations.

Upon obtaining the rights for the Second Generation Tiger Mask, MEDICOM TOY approached Nakamura about producing the replica mask, to which he readily agreed.

"Having already worked on official masks for the First and Fourth Generations, I was eager to be involved with the 'Tiger Mask' project. The reason I was able to create the Second Generation mask this time is because I was allowed to borrow the actual mask from All Japan Pro-Wrestling personnel to create a pattern."

It was a mask torn during the New Year Wars Takasaki event on January 25, 1986, after being hit with poison mist by The Great Kabuki.

"When Misawa debuted as the Second Generation Tiger Mask, he initially used a mask type called 'Yagiri' from the First Generation Tiger Mask. About two months later, his first original mask appeared, characterized by a pattern from the temples to the nose along the lower part of the eyes, which is called 'Gegeri.'"

"The mask I borrowed from All Japan Pro-Wrestling personnel was a 'Legend' type design with a large opening around the mouth. This was originally created when Mr. Sayama (the First Generation Tiger Mask) asked the craftsman to make it similar to the mask of Mexican luchador El Solitario, by extending the pattern below the jawline. "

"If you remove that part, the nose gets crushed when the mask is tied at the back, making it difficult to secure an airway. However, the craftsmen of that era repeatedly refined the design to create a method that ensured sufficient space for the nose."

Thus, combining the Second Generation Tiger Mask's distinctive "Gegeri" pattern with the "Legend" type designation, this mask was named "Gegeri Legend." The red jewel on the forehead, shining against the gold lamé body, further evokes his heroic presence from that era.

"While the pattern is important, the body is the lifeblood of a wrestling mask. For the wearer, if the body doesn't fit well, they can't have a good match. Not only did I create the pattern from the original, but I also met Misawa and know his head size, so I made slight adjustments to ensure it wouldn't be tight even if he wore it. Details like the subtle difference in the length of the tiger pattern on the back of the head are all preserved from the original."

Nakamura emphasizes that a key aspect of his mask-making process is wearing the mask himself before meticulously applying each pattern piece by piece.

"The body fabric is stretchy, while the pattern is made of enamel. If you don't apply the pattern while the fabric is stretched, it will pull when the wrestler wears it, preventing a proper fit. Therefore, setting the pattern while wearing it is crucial."

"Naturally, it's more efficient to apply the pattern while it's on a mannequin, but the lines in the hollows below the eyebrows don't come out as cleanly. So, I wear it, look in the mirror, and apply each piece symmetrically, ensuring not a millimeter of deviation. If you could see the process, you'd understand how incredibly time-consuming it is."

"While the finishing is meticulous, our primary focus is on achieving a natural fit when the wrestler wears it. Therefore, the highest compliment we can receive is when someone says, 'I can barely feel that I'm wearing it.'"

MEDICOM TOY is reportedly planning various initiatives to respond to requests for the "Second Generation Tiger Mask," such as "We want to see sofubi figures in different mask variations" and "We'd like to see him in his green long tights." We eagerly await further news.

Coincidentally, Pro-Wrestling Noah, the promotion founded by Misawa, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year since its inaugural event at Differ Ariake. On October 11, 2025 (Saturday), "LINE Yahoo! PRESENTS WRESTLE ODYSSEY" will be held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan.

In this milestone year, we hope you will acquire these items and reminisce about the youthful prowess of the unparalleled genius wrestler, Mitsuharu Misawa.

SFS Second Generation Tiger Mask (Gegeri Legend Edition)
The first release in the Sofubi Fighting Series "Second Generation Tiger Mask" is here.
Supervision Cooperation | Yukihiro Nakamura (Pro-Wrestling Mask World)
Prototype Production | MOTOR KEN
Size | Approx. 250mm (Height)
How to Purchase | Orders accepted from July 24, 2025 (Thursday) 0:00 to August 31, 2025 (Sunday) 23:59 at 1/6計画 stores, MEDICOM TOY online stores, and Pro-Wrestling Mask World (Tel: 03-6261-1988).
Release Date | Scheduled for January 2026 Shipping
Price | ¥14,300 (incl. tax)
Distributor | Ingram
*The photo shows a sample under supervision. The actual product may differ slightly.
© Ikki Kajiwara, Naoki Tsuji / Kodansha © Mitsuharu Misawa

Second Generation Tiger Mask (Gegeri Legend Edition) Replica Mask
An official YN-made mask. A ultimate piece crafted by hand, one by one.
Size | Approx. 270mm (Height)
How to Purchase | Orders accepted from July 24, 2025 (Thursday) 0:00 to August 31, 2025 (Sunday) 23:59 at 1/6計画 stores, MEDICOM TOY online stores, and Pro-Wrestling Mask World (Tel: 03-6261-1988).
Release Date | Scheduled for January 2026 Release and Shipping
Price | ¥129,800 (incl. tax)
*As only a few masks can be produced per month, please allow over 5 months for delivery.
*Order acceptance may be suspended depending on order volume.
*Sales at Pro-Wrestling Mask World stores are also planned to coincide with shipping.
*The photo shows a sample under supervision. The actual product may differ slightly.
© Ikki Kajiwara, Naoki Tsuji / Kodansha © Mitsuharu Misawa

Pro-Wrestling Mask World
http://pwmw.jp/index.html
Address | Suidobashi TJ Building 5F, 2-9-5 Kanda Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours | 13:00 - 18:00
Closed | Mondays (Open on national holidays)
*The store is scheduled to relocate within the year. The new address and any temporary closures due to relocation preparations will be announced on our X account, etc.