Our Top Action Figures Picks This Week

Every week, we curate our favorite action figures from our ever-changing inventory of pre-owned Japanese collectibles. These are the items that genuinely caught our attention — whether for their rarity, their exceptional condition, or simply because they're remarkable pieces that deserve a proper spotlight. We handle each item personally before listing it, and the selections below reflect real enthusiasm, not just availability.

This Week's Highlights

Featured Items

• Transformers Micro Powered Master DaiAtlas C-348 General Commander Zone G1 1990 — HD Toys Store Japan
• Metal Fight Beyblade Mercury Anubis 85XF Brave Ver. TAKARA TOMY CoroCoro Limited — Takara Tomy
• Transformers Cassette Bot VS Cassette Ron Mp-15/16E Masterpiece Takara Tomy — Takara Tomy
• Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater Camouflage Ver. 1/6 Action Figure RAH Medicom Toy — Medicom Toy
• Mobile Suit Gundam THE ORIGIN Blu-ray Disc Collector's Edition Complete Set 2018 — HD Toys Store Japan

A Brief Look at the Franchises Behind This Week's Picks

This week's selection spans several landmark franchises in Japanese collectible history. The Transformers Zone line, produced in 1990, is widely regarded as one of the final chapters of the original Generation 1 era in Japan — a period that ran from 1984 through the early 1990s and generated some of the most sought-after Takara pieces in existence today. DaiAtlas, as the General Commander of Zone, holds a particularly prominent place among G1 completionists. In our experience inspecting these older Takara releases, the diecast and plastic tolerances from this period vary considerably, so finding a complete, well-preserved example genuinely stands out.

The Takara Tomy Masterpiece line — home to pieces like the Cassette Bot VS Cassette Ron MP-15/16E set — has been in production since 2003 and remains one of the most technically refined action figure series ever released. According to Bandai's and Takara's production catalogs, Masterpiece figures are engineered to a far higher tolerance than standard retail releases, with multiple points of articulation and die-cast components that justify their collector-grade status. I've seen collectors display these sets as standalone centerpieces precisely because the engineering speaks for itself, even without additional context or accessories around them.

Medicom Toy's Real Action Heroes (RAH) line, which launched in 1998, brought a different philosophy to the high-end figure market: fabric costuming, hyper-realistic proportions at 1/6 scale, and meticulous attention to licensed character accuracy. The Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater Camouflage Ver. is a strong example of what made that line so compelling — the combination of soft goods, articulated body, and character-specific detail places it closer to premium fashion doll craftsmanship than traditional plastic figures. We have handled dozens of RAH releases over the years, and condition of the fabric elements is always the first thing we assess; this one presents very well.

Why Collect Action Figures?

Japanese action figures represent some of the finest craftsmanship in the collectibles world. From the precision engineering of manufacturers like Bandai and Good Smile Company to the artistic vision of series like Gundam, these items are both beautiful display pieces and valuable collectibles. The Gundam franchise, which began with the original Mobile Suit Gundam television broadcast in 1979, has generated an extraordinary volume of collectible material across more than four decades — from early Clover diecast toys through to modern Master Grade and Perfect Grade kits. Mobile Suit Gundam THE ORIGIN, first released as a manga series in 2001 and later adapted into a celebrated OVA from 2015 to 2018, brought renewed collector interest to the franchise's foundational UC timeline storyline, making the 2018 Collector's Edition Blu-ray set a genuinely meaningful piece for dedicated fans.

The pre-owned market in Japan is particularly exciting because Japanese collectors tend to maintain their items in exceptional condition. This means you can often find near-mint items at a fraction of the original retail price. In our experience inspecting hundreds of pre-owned pieces sourced locally in Japan, the standard of care is consistently high — many items arrive with original packaging, instruction sheets, and accessories fully intact, which is increasingly rare for figures of this age and provenance.

Condition Grading: What to Look For

When evaluating pre-owned action figures — especially older releases from the 1980s and 1990s — there are a few key areas worth understanding before you buy. Yellowing of white or light-grey plastic is common in figures from this era and is caused by the bromine compounds used in the original manufacturing process; it is largely cosmetic and does not affect structural integrity, though it does impact display appeal. Joint tightness is equally important: on figures that have been played with, friction joints can loosen over time, while figures that have been stored — particularly in original packaging — tend to retain their original tension. We always test articulation on every figure we list. For limited or event-exclusive releases such as the CoroCoro Limited Metal Fight Beyblade Mercury Anubis, the presence of original inserts and event documentation adds significant collector value beyond the item itself, so we make note of these inclusions in each listing where relevant.

Displaying Your Collection

One of the most rewarding aspects of collecting Japanese action figures is presenting them well. UV-filtering acrylic cases are a worthwhile investment for any figure you intend to keep long-term, as direct light exposure — even from standard indoor lighting — will accelerate plastic discolouration and fade painted detail over time. For multi-figure displays, grouping by franchise or manufacturer tends to create the most visually coherent result; a shelf combining G1 Transformers Takara releases with Masterpiece figures, for example, creates an interesting visual conversation between eras. For larger 1/6 scale figures like RAH releases, individual risers or stands that match the figure's display base keep the presentation clean and reduce stress on the joints from extended posed display.

Related reading: Japan-Exclusive Gundam Collectibles: Rarity & Version Guide — from our blog at hd-bodyscience.com

Every item in our store ships directly from Japan with careful, protective packaging tailored to the figure's size and fragility. If you have questions about a specific piece, its condition, or its completeness, we're happy to provide additional photos or details before purchase. Don't miss the pieces featured above — and if you'd like to explore further, browse our full Action Figures collection to see everything currently available. New items are added regularly as we source from collections across Japan.

Last reviewed: July 2025. Curated by HD Toys Store Japan — contact via our contact page for sourcing inquiries. See our returns policy for purchase confidence.