Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Wataru Ryujinmaru - Various angles (1/6)

Wataru Ryujinmaru - Various angles (2/6)

Wataru Ryujinmaru - Various angles (3/6)

Wataru Ryujinmaru - Various angles (4/6)

Various angles

The torso frame and main joint parts (the gray sections) are shared across the entire series.

For weapons, you get the Toryuken and the Dragon Bow.

The Dragon Bow can be deployed and mounted on the back.

Wataru Ryujinmaru - The dragon head on the right shoulder can open its mouth, and can also be detached and attached to the he

The dragon head on the right shoulder can open its mouth,
and can also be detached and attached to the head or hand using a joint part.

Wataru Ryujinmaru - Articulation. It's a bit of a shame that the knee bend angle is limited due to the joint structure.

Articulation.
Due to the knee joint structure, the bend angle is a bit narrow, which is a little disappointing.

Waist articulation.
Not bad at all considering the short torso.

The shoulders have a great range of motion forward/backward and up/down, which really helps with posing.

If you pull the toes out slightly, you can bend them downward.

Toryuken pose

Dragon Bow pose

Wataru Ryujinmaru - Toryuken two-handed pose (1/3)

Toryuken two-handed pose

The right shoulder dragon head applied to the head/hand

Wataru Ryujinmaru - Alongside the HG Ryujinmaru released in 2023. The size is similar, but the proportions and fine details a

Alongside the HG Ryujinmaru released in 2023.
The size is similar, but the proportions and fine details are quite different.

Wataru Ryujinmaru - The Ryukaikou and Kaiyuukotsu included as first-edition bonuses. The back of the Kaiyuukotsu is pretty ho

The Ryukaikou and Kaiyuukotsu included as first-edition bonuses.
The back of the Kaiyuukotsu is pretty hollow.
It seems unavoidable since that side faces inward when combining with the first-edition weapons from other kits later on.

Ryukaikou and Kaiyuukotsu equipped

Poses with the Ryukaikou and Kaiyuukotsu

Ryujinmaru, appearing in "Mashin Sozoden Wataru" — the fourth TV anime in the Wataru series, which kicked off in January 2025 — has been released as part of a new lineup. Unlike the HG Ryujinmarureleased in 2023, this one comes without a separate grade designation. It's a series concept where the torso frame and joints are shared, with only the outer armor changing between kits.

The first release in the lineup is naturally Ryujinmaru, and it shows off proportions and details that are quite different from the HG Ryujinmaru. No seals are used at all — the color separation alone does a fantastic job of nailing the design colors. The shared joint parts for the series offer solid joint strength, though the articulation is a bit of a mixed bag. The knee can't bend past 90 degrees due to the joint structure, but the shoulders are some of the most flexible I've seen.

The shoulders can swing nearly 90 degrees both forward/backward and up/down, which is a huge help for all kinds of poses. It's easy to grip the Toryuken with both hands, and the shoulder articulation alone gives poses a really dynamic feel. The waist also bends a little in all directions relative to the compact body, so overall posing is a bit easier than with the HG. As for weapons, you get the Toryuken and the Dragon Bow — the Dragon Bow comes with a deployment gimmick and can be mounted on the back. There's also a gimmick where you can detach the dragon head on the right shoulder and use it in place of the head or hand.

On top of that, first-edition copies include an extra weapon runner, letting you equip the Ryukaikou on the left hand and the Kaiyuukotsu on the back. These can also be combined and used together with the first-edition weapons included with the simultaneously released Kirinmaru and Fujinmaru.

With its excellent color separation and shoulder joints, Ryujinmaru has made a fantastic comeback. It's a similar size to the ¥2,600 HG Ryujinmaru, but at ¥1,500, it feels like a much better deal. If you're a longtime Wataru fan, this is a no-brainer, and it's also easy to recommend to anyone who likes the look of it — a great little kit all around. :-)

Ryujinmaru | 2024.12 | ¥1,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.