To commemorate the 20th anniversary of its initial broadcast, MASKED RIDER FAIZ is joining the S.H.Figuarts (SHINKOCCHOU SEIHOU) lineup, which sculpts its figures starting from the skeleton in pursuit of both the original appearance of the hero and the natural mobility of a figure. We interviewed actor Kento Handa—who played the main character Takumi Inui—so we could show him a prototype of the product hear his thoughts about it.

――What are your impressions of the prototype?

Handa: When compared to the previous S.H.Figuarts MASKED RIDER FAIZ (released in 2010), you can see how the SHINKOCCHOU version was made to look just like the actual suit. When viewed on its own, I have no complaints about the previous figure at all, but when I see the new SHINKOCCHOU one, I definitely prefer it! I feel that this is a very good product, and I highly recommend you take a look at the actual item yourself. Of course, the view from the front is amazing, but also the sheer size and volume you can see from behind is quite amazing. The development team's desire to create a figure that closely resembles the image of Faiz in the show can clearly be seen in the figure. The mask has probably been reproduced better than any other Faiz figure to date. The simplicity of Faiz's face has always made it difficult to find the right balance.

――The range of motion in each joint has been further improved in this new figure, allowing it to be displayed in a variety of cool poses, just like on the show.

Handa: It is amazing how just a slight bend of the arm can change one's impression of the figure. When I think about Kamen Rider, I think about the Rider Kick (Crimson Smash), so it was important to me to know if this figure could make such a pose. When it was explained to me, I was surprised to learn that the shoulder armor is connected to the chest by a belt-like inner layer that doesn't interfere with the movement of the arms. This aspect dramatically increases the realism of the suit, almost as if it were the actual suit itself. I was told that this is technique is being implemented for the first time in Faiz, but it seems like it could also be applied to future products.

――When sculpting the figure, the body of Seiji Takaiwa, the suit actor for Faiz, was faithfully replicated and then each part was covered in various pieces of armor.

Handa: The famous "Takaiwa Pose," in which Faiz stands ready to face the enemy, has also been perfectly rendered. It looks so real, it's almost as if Mr. Takaiwa was shrunken down and put on the suit himself. If you could have Mr. Takaiwa interact with this figure and recreate the same pose... I think a project like that would be really interesting to see. Mr. Takaiwa, you may not be able to pose the figure as well as you can make the poses yourself (laughs). One detail that caught my attention was the Faiz Phone mounted on the belt, which can open, close, and turn up to 90 degrees. Such fine precision for such a small item. You did an amazing job! How did you manage to do it? (laughs).

――In order to achieve both posability and an aesthetically pleasing appearance, soft materials were used for the movable parts on the bottom of the feet, so that the seams were less noticeable.

Handa: Your commitment to detail is amazing. I can clearly see that a great deal of effort and wisdom has been put into areas that aren't normally paid attention to. One of the characteristics of Faiz is that the soles of his feet are extremely detailed, right? I'm happy to see that SHINKOCCHOU hasn't skimped on such areas this time around, and has molded them with precision.

――The release of S.H.Figuarts (SHINKOCCHOU SEIHOU) MASKED RIDER FAIZ has been announced. Please say one last thing to the fans.

Handa: Of all the posable Faiz figures to date, I think this one looks the most like the suit in the show. I would recommend this figure to anyone, even to those who have never been interested in or bought a posable figure before. It's important to be exposed to the best first, because if that initial impression isn't great, your interest in the genre may not develop any further. From head to toe, every part of this figure has been painstakingly crafted with love and attention to detail. S.H.Figuarts (SHINKOCCHOU SEIHOU) MASKED RIDER FAIZ will surely deepen your interest in figures more than ever.

This series uses one of S.H.Figuarts's new ways of manufacturing figures to reproduce the soul of the small-screen heroes as dynamic, 14 cm figures. In the "true bone carving method" (Shinkoccho Seihou), figures are constructed from the inside-out, starting from the skeleton instead of the exterior. This results in more natural movement while preserving the character's personality.