The S.H.Figuarts SAMURAI SWORD from popular anime "Chainsaw Man" is released on July 29, 2023.
SAMURAI SWORD is a villian who clashed with Chainsaw Man in multiple white-hot battles. This formidable foe has been recreated with painstaking attention paid to his unique appearance, and articulation technology you can only get from S.H.Figuarts. It all comes together in an action figure that captures all of the funky charm of the original manga.
Daiki Hamano, the voice actor who portrays Samurai Sword, and a big S.H.Figuarts fan himself, held the S.H.Figuarts Samurai Sword in his hand while Aizawa, the person in charge of product planning for S.H.Figuarts's "Chainsaw Man" series, gave a thorough explanation of the figure's awesome features! We also asked them to talk about the "Chainsaw Man" series and characters.

■ About S.H.Figuarts SAMURAI SWORD

――Mr. Hamano, what did you think when you saw the finished product?

Hamano:  I was wondering which company would sculpt Samurai Sword, and when I heard that it would be S.H.Figuarts, I was sure that it would definitely come out really cool. Now I have the actual product in front of me, and it really doesn't look out of place from any angle. It can move in all kinds of ways and has a very lively sense about it.

Aizawa:  Thank you.

Hamano:  It's always nice to see a character that I've been involved with or portrayed made into a figure. Being able to actually hold the characters and play with them or display them really expands the ways you can enjoy a work even beyond sight and sound.

Aizawa:  I agree.

Hamano:  Characters like Chainsaw Man, Power, Aki, and Makima have been made into figures several times each, but suprisingly, Samurai Sword hasn't. Well, I guess he is a villian...but now the third item in the S.H.Figuarts "Chainsaw Man" series is a villian!

Aizawa:  Samurai Sword was a candidate in the lineup from the start, but there were other candidates for the third item as well. Ultimately, we selected Samurai Sword with the reasoning that users probably want to reenact fights with an enemy they've seen in the series.

Hamano:  Yeah, I think you're right. They don't have to just be displayed side by side, but they can also be posed facing off against each other in the midst of a confrontation. I'm honored that S.H.Figuarts has branched out to Samurai Sword to expand their range of play, and I'm also glad to see it as a toy lover myself.

Aizawa: As Mr. Hamano said, adding villains to the series expands the series, but it was not without its challenges. In general, the theory is to first line up allied characters side by side.

Hamano:  Himeno and Kobeni are both cute and funny.

Aizawa:  While there are very charming characters, we still place importance on playing with the figures [as toys]. Even though CHAINSAW MAN has this much movability and can pose as if in battle, if there's no opponent to fight...I wouldn't go so far as to say he's just shadow boxing, but there is a certain something missing. In the end, I thought that having a villain the others can fight against would be a plus for the series lineup.

――Next, as the person in charge of product planning, please tell us what you think are the figure's highlights.

Aizawa:  As a sculpted figure, the sword has got to stand out the most, so we were very particular about it, right down to the coloring.

Hamano:  The handle of the sword looks like cloth. Of course, the coloring [of that part] is properly done. Normal figures probaby wouldn't be painted as precisely down to the fine gold details.

Aizawa:  At first glance, the paint job looks simple, but it's a character that has been carefully designed with different colors, including around the face. I think the users will appreciate that we were particular in trying to bring the character into three dimensions without spoiling the feel of the original manga.

Hamano:  Because you have to recreate the world of the work, right?

Aizawa:  Actually, the area around the waist actually has a slightly different design than in the original manga. We based that area on the anime.

Hamano:  I see. There's a lot that goes into it.

Aizawa:  If it was based off the manga, it would be more like a sword case.

Hamano:  That's right, it's like a mysterious stock or something. It's not clearly displayed.

■ About the Work

──Please tell us about the original work, "Chainsaw Man."

Hamano:  When I read the original, I felt something extraordinary. It doesn't look like a Jump manga. There aren't many Jump manga where blood gets spilled and both the enemy and the main character are beaten down. From the beginning, I felt that it had a unique atmosphere, including the dialogue (laughs). I remember everyone reading it with lots of anticipation.

Aizawa:  That's right. You're not able to predict the developments during the serialization.

Hamano:  Right.

Aizawa:  I think it's amazing because of the sense of speed that comes with purposefully skipping explanations, and the waves of fun that come from wondering what will happen next again and again each week. Many people in the company, including myself, were interested in the character designs as well, thinking they would definitely look great sculpted. It was right around that time that I was put in charge of planning for S.H.Figuarts. It was really nice being put in charge of making a product that I wanted myself, considering I had been reading the manga while it was still being serialized.

Hamano:  There was talk of auditions [for the anime], and while I didn't exactly feel like there was no chance, my mindset was like, "Wouldn't it be nice to be chosen, even if it's a slightly different role than I'm used to?" I guess the planets aligned, but I was honestly surprised when I was selected.

──How do you feel about Samurai Sword as a character?

Hamano:  He's impressive as the big enemy that Denji and the others face in the early stages of the story. Also, since the story really starts to accelerate from around the Samurai Sword arc, that turning point adds to his lasting impression. And the design is also good. He's a character with a form similar to Chainsaw Man, and a Japanese sword as a motif. He's got a design that makes you think, "If Chainsaw Man can be an ally, then Samurai Sword can be an ally too, right?" [The manga author] Tatsuki Fujimoto had really good sense in daring to make that kind of character a villian.

Aizawa:  Starting with the battle scene where [Chainsaw Man and Samurai Sword] meet there are so many clashes between them that you can only really get anime, I thought it made for a really wonderful anime. And, to be honest, I thought it would look good as an action figure as well (laughs).

Hamano:  Even the painful scenes were emphasized—there was the music plus that spectacle unique to the visuals. Amidst all that, Samurai Sword fights through in his role as a villain, and he's depicted right until he's properly defeated. What's more, it was very carefully visualized, so there was a real sense of accomplishment in it. I was checking social media to see how everyone was reacting to his defeat, and everyone was like, "That's what you get!" In a good way, of course. I was like, "Ah, it looks like we got it right!" (laughs). I'm sure there are some people who'd say that they like Samurai Sword most. Well, it's precisely because he's such an attractive character that he's been handled so well in the work, in the script, and even at the end, so all I have to do is act and let myself go. That's how it felt.

■ S.H.Figuarts's Characteristic Features

――The packaging of the "Chainsaw Man" series is also unique.

Aizawa: They've turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself (laughs).

Hamano: Yes! They're awesome!

Aizawa:  This is actually just by coincidence, but the CHAINSAW MAN and SAMURAI SWORD packages were made to look like they are facing each other.

Hamano:  That's a coincidence?! You should tell everyone it was intentional!

Aizawa:  Well, it's one of my fixations (laughs). I chose the structure that best fits the figure for each package, and this is how it turned out. I also wanted it to look good displayed even still in the package, like American figures.

──Mr. Hamano, is there a pose you would like to reproduce with S.H.Figuarts?

Hamano:  Samurai Sword is a bit mysterious, and he makes you wonder, "What's with this guy?" So first, I wanted get a photo of him posed looking down a little and glaring like in the photo. After that, there are dynamic poses as if he's fighting Chainsaw Man, and drawing his sword for a kill. After that, there's the scene on the package, where he splits open the head of the fox devil and emerges. It was such an impressive scene that it got a whole page in the manga. I never thought I would do it myself.

■ Future Series Developments

──Tell us about the future development of the S.H.Figuarts "Chainsaw Man" series.

Hamano:  Isn't it amazing how many voices are calling for you to release this or release that?

Aizawa:  Power, the second item in the series, has already been released, and thankfully, the users are happy with her. There are a lot of likable characters, so I personally want to continue with the series. If there's a continuation of the anime, I think it will be fun to play with even more of the appealing adversaries, so I also feel like I want to do my best.

Hamano:  What about Kobeni?

Aizawa:  Yeah, I really feel like I want to go that far. Denji was announced as a prototype the other day, and I would like to make sure that figure goes to market.

Hamano:  As I said the other day at the "Chainsaw Fest" (an event I performed at), there are many people who became fans because of the animation. And there are also those who came to like the original manga because of the anime, and those who watched the anime after reading the original manga. While there are many differences of opinions, one thing that is consistent is that that there are a lot of people who love "Chainsaw Man." And for people who love "Chainsaw Man," this S.H.Figuarts series is definitely one I would recommend. I feel like I've said too much and now I come across like an advertising plant or something (laughs). But I'm saying this because I'm simply a big fan of toys myself and know the excitement of holding these figures in my hands. With this series, you can enjoy the fun of portraying your favorite characters and composing scenes by yourself. Moreover, the play value and cost performance are extremely good.

Aizawa:  It really does sound like we've given you a script. Sorry! (laughs).

Hamano:  Because you have to strike while the iron is hot. I would like everyone to pick it up while they're passionate about it and feel how good this product is, as well as the rest of the series. If you're already a fan of Samurai Sword, you'll definitely like him even more if you pick it up! You can appreciate the different facial expressions and the various positions you can pose him in. It's even okay to joke around. It all adds to the way you view the character. First of all, I think it's important to touch it with your hands. I would like everone to hold it in their hands, touch it, put it in various poses, and just have fun with it. I am sure you will enjoy it. And purchasing them shows support for us.

Aizawa:  And everyone's support will lead to the continuation of the series! Thank you!

──Thank you very much.