The G.E.M. Series Naruto Shippuden Naruto & Sasuke Kabuki Ver. set celebrates a special illustration drawn by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto tied to the live-action kabuki theatre adaption of the manga. These 9.1” figures of Sasuke and Naruto can be purchased separately or as a set and placed side-by-side. Fans who buy the set are treated to a spectacular gold and black nameplate stand that can hold both of them! The vivid kimono Naruto and Sasuke wear are like art paintings that suit their personalities. Each carries a katana in one hand, accompanied by a removable hat commonly worn during the samurai period of Japan. Both the matching katana and hats reflect the lifelong brotherly bond that these two share, while the mirrored poses allude to the duality of their ninja ways!
Asian Clothing Figurines Review
Asian Clothing: Japanese Kimono
Kimono Type: Kabuki Kimono: Tachiyaku
Accuracy Rating: 5/5
Explanation: Kabuki lovers, heads up! Here's an excellent reimagining of two anime characters as kabuki protagonists! It appears that they’re both characters from the play "Ukiyozuka Hiyoku no Inazuma.” Naruto appears to be Fuwa Banzaemon Shigekatsu, while Sasuke appears to be the character Nagoya Sanza. The Naruto/ Banzaemon character famously wears a flashy kimono with a clouds-and-lightning print, while the Sasuke/ Sanza character wears a signature swallows-in-the-rain printed kimono. The climax of the play is when both samurai encounter each other in the Yoshiwara and fight over the affections of the same oiran (i.e. high ranking courtesan). Check how the figurines' costumes compare to the original kabuki kimono below.
(Source: https://enmokudb.kabuki.ne.jp/phraseology/3633/)
I think these kabuki protagonists map well onto Naruto and Sasuke respectively. Naruto's character, Banzaemon, is considered a dandy, who dresses in flashy & eccentric styles; not unlike Naruto's signature neon orange outfit. The lightning motif connects back to Naruto via his father (Minato Namikaze) who perfected a lightning-based technique! Banzaemon's backstory features a lot of nefarious schemes, betrayals, and death; similar to Naruto's origin story. Sasuke's character, Sanza, is a character who has lost his home and family, much like Sasuke did. The swallows on his kimono connect back to Sasuke via his signature "chidori" technique, which translates to either "1,000 birds" or "plovers," a type of bird, as well as his Cursed Seal form, which gave him the ability to fly. Interestingly, Sanza is also infamous for having lots of women fawning over him and being considered quite handsome, which is also very true of Sasuke! Together, these characters also fit the overall themes of their stories because they're meant to be rivals! In the kabuki play, it's over a woman, which is one of the many rivalries Naruto & Sasuke shared in the anime. Overall, an amazing pair of figures for fans of both kabuki and Naruto!
