Fashionably late, as virtually all Alter releases are, Yagyu Jubei is the latest release from what is perhaps the premier manufacturer of scale figures. She comes from the property Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Girls, and I’m not entirely certain what that’s supposed to be; the website lists a few upcoming books, but I’m guessing it’s mainly a franchise built to peddle character goods. The original character designs appear to be done by NiΘ, who has also done character designs for Nitro+ H-games like Demonbane and Zoku: Satsuriku no Jango, both of which have also gotten the figure treatment from Alter.
Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi was apparently a real person during Japan’s feudal age, and is a popular source for modern day adaptations.
A number of other figures from Hyakka Ryoran have been announced, and several of them are exclusive to Japan mail-order sources. It’s a very annoying trend.
Jubei is, like many of Alter’s figures, sculpted in 1/8 scale. She stands in a bit of a saucy pose, one hand on her hip and the other raised in something of a salute. People with a rope fetish are going to like her a lot as she is veritably swathed in cordage. She has a pair of swords tied to her thighs. Her main sword is ridiculously large, and looking over the character designs for the series, it appears that excessiveness is a common theme. There’s a maid with a skirt reminiscent of a circular saw, a fighter with a tie-front school uniform and loincloth, and a girl with a hammer larger than her torso.
The sculpting is outstanding, as usual. There’s a lot of detail going on here, lots of ropes and tendrils of hair flying around, lots of little ornaments in her hair. Add her confident pose to the mix and you have anything but a staid figure.
Painting is similarly good and I don’t see any major problems. I’ll admit that I’m not a huge fan of Jubei’s color scheme, though. I’m not a big fan of pink and red as a color combo; it works okay with Nana since she has the purple hair to offset it some, but I’m not sure how good it looks here. The sword scabbards do help a bit in that respect, with the big black sheathes framing her body.
NiΘ tends to give characters fuller, more curvy proportions, and I like how it looks here. Jubei’s got a bit of thickness to her thighs and a tiny waist, which looks pretty cool.
I wonder what that thing on her back is? It looks like a drum or something.
It’s been a long wait for Jubei but I think she looks pretty good. I’m not sure if I’m getting the rest of the series; I’m probably going to pass on the maid girl, but I might pick up Senhime. At least, I think Senhime is getting a general release; I recall seeing unpainted pictures of the prototype figure during this year’s summer Wonder Festival.
Other reviews are up at HappySoda, Exelica Meteor, and foo-bar-baz, all of which feature their usual awesome photographs.
I’ve been plagued with computer problems all weekend. My main computer is down, so I’m having to process my pictures and type this review on my laptop, which I haven’t used in years. I actually only used this machine for two-boxing in World of Warcraft and burning CDs. I hope the pictures came out alright since I’m not really used to processing my pictures on this machine.
I thought Daiki Kougyou’s Saber was going to be my biggest purchase this month, but I guess I’m going to have to get a new computer pretty soon.
Two Nitro+-style characters from Alter, Metatron and Jubei. Oddly, I only own three figures in total that are derived from NiΘ designs.
November 8th, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Thank you for the nice photos, always been great.
I had noticed it since it was out for pre-order. But, I regret not pre-ordering this figure any earlier.
Procastination always kick in… zzz…
Also, thanks for the earlier reply on the manufacturing facts. That was cool!
November 8th, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Nice figure indeed, if I was still focusing on PVC, I would have picked her up, but alas, PVC is no longer my main focus. BTW, my Gathering Kenshin pics are up~
November 8th, 2009 at 9:48 PM
>> softz
Thanks! Yeah, I waffled a bit before ordering this figure. I think she was actually sold out at HLJ when I made up my mind to order her; fortunately for me, Hobby Search still had their preorders open.
>> Wolfheinrich
I saw them! They look great XD I wish I had an Isoroku partner to keep Kenshin company.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:44 AM
Your picture are great (as always). I’am waiting with impatient Jubei. She is one of my favorite 2009 figure ^^ So sensual and sexy ! I love her blue eyes (amazing regard).
November 9th, 2009 at 2:35 AM
Good luck on the computer front. I actually thought the photos were a-okay, and better than some other photo-shoots. Maybe due to computer limitations you posted less, and only the best? Heh.
I really want this figure. Sure, some Alter designs, like the Haruka Beat-Blades girl(s) have more “Zing!” to them, but I just really really like this figure.
Someone should send one for me, my birthday is coming up.
Heh.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:10 PM
>> Leonia
Thanks! Hope you get your figure soon.
>> Guy
My computer’s been going through its death throes for a while now, but I have the feeling it’s down for the count now. Fortunately I think the problems are with the power supply and the CPU/mainboard/memory, so I’m hoping I can just pull the disk drives and transfer all my stuff to my new machine whenever I build it.
I couldn’t really think of a fancy backdrop to put Jubei in front of so I went with the simple black background. I’m thinking that simpler looks better sometimes.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:51 PM
I think simpler looks better most of the time, especially if you actually allow the light to reach the figure
November 9th, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Great Review.
Ive already said it over at Happy Soda but im gonna say it again:
Im actually pretty hot for this figure but when I heard that some of the figures were HobbyJapan Exclusive and I particulary didnt like the Hattori Hanzo design I called it quits.
I know myself and would want to complete the series and that would mean that Id end up with some pretty enxpensive figures and one I actually dont like.
Its tempting to see al those great reviews though.
Overall a very nice figure.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:54 AM
Yeah, I don’t much like the Hanzo figure (although the character art is okay). I’m not a big glasses person (although I wear glasses myself), and I don’t really have a huge maid uniform fetish. I mean, I really love slutty maid uniforms, but that’s more because I dig slutty uniforms than because I like maid outfits. Her figure’s also got a huge forehead. I’m also passing on that one school swimsuit girl and Jubei’s beachwear figure since she’s a Japan exclusive and I don’t feel compelled to shell out the skrilla necessary to obtain her.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:45 AM
Jubei’s swimsuit doesn’t look as good as this version, which is fortunate, cause she’s a 1,500 copies figure, where you need to win a raffle to get her. Or maybe shell as much as you did for the figure of your dreams, heh.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:17 PM
[...] forget to check the reviews at Happy Soda and Tentacle Armada for more great pictures [...]
November 11th, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Yeah, I do like cute sword-wielding girls in bikinis … but then again, I can’t bring myself to drop $30 on The Oneechanbara, so I’m definitely not going to go the YJA route on that figure.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:06 AM
I have to wait for mine because it’ll be sent with Miku from GSC who have not been released yet.
Your photos, who are amazing, rejoice me in advance for this future acquisition.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:51 AM
Nice photoshoot review…I am starting to really like most of your photos.
How I wish I could do something like that.
Mine’s still in her box, but she’s awesome … love every bit of her. The character design for the hyakka ryoran series is really great in my opinion. Add Alter to the equation and I gladly donate my money in exchange for the figures. I really hope they do all the characters. ^^”
November 15th, 2009 at 2:56 AM
Thanks! I’m really hoping that they’re done with selling exclusively through Japan-only shops. I’m looking forward to Senhime and especially D’artagnan (I know I didn’t spell that right) – I think Alter’s got the potential to make an epic figure of her.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:34 AM
[...] Autres reviews – Akibahobby – Exelica Meteor – Foobarbaz – Happy Soda – Nymphea – Tentacle Armada [...]
January 16th, 2010 at 10:25 AM
Wow. I’ve been looking through reviews of Yagyu Jubei (She’s so awesome. I just got mine, and really happy with her.)
I like your pictures over all the other reviewers. You make her look the most photogenic out of the other shots that other reviewers took.
I especially like that second shot on this page. Her 3/4 view. She looks very different but at the same time familiar. I don’t think I’ve seen a shot like that yet, and it really caught my attention.
Great pictures.
January 17th, 2010 at 1:38 AM
Thanks for the kind words XD