Interest
Darth Vader Goes Back to His Samurai Roots for New Doll
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The 300-year-old Tokyo-based Yoshitoku doll company brought back its Darth Vader musha ningyō (armored samurai dolls) for the Children's Day holiday next month, but they're already sold out. The national holiday takes place on May 5 and celebrates mothers and children's happiness and personalities.
Each Darth Vader is made-to-order by hand. Prototypes were designed by Japanese sculptor Takayuki Takeya The resin-cast/metal doll costs 140,400 yen (about US$1,180) and feature details fans of the films will enjoy, from the backdrops to the Imperial crest on Vadar's armor.
The doll is similar to the company's previous release in 2011, but Vader's robes' color scheme is updated.
Yoshitoku is also offering a Darth Vader armor decoration, similar to how traditional armor would be displayed, for 356,400 yen (US$2,991) and a one featuring just the helmet for 194,400 yen (US$1,631). There's also a Storm Trooper helmet variant for 183,600 yen (US$1541). All three are also out of stock.
Darth Vader's iconic look in Star Wars is credited to the samurai of Japan's feudal era. George Lucas stated that he wanted Vader to look like, "a dark lord riding on the wind with black flowing robes, [and] a large helmet like that of the Japanese Samurai."
[Via Kai-You]
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