Hello, ARTFX Yamashita here.
Today we're looking at a much-anticipated figure.
SADAKO BISHOUJO STATUE
Releasing March 2025 ¥19,800 (¥18,000 excl. tax)
We've created BISHOUJO versions of countless horror icons in our HORROR BISHOUJO series, but the only sub-genre we hadn't touched was J-horror.
To celebrate the BISHOUJO series' 15th anniversary, the face of Japanese horror, Sadako, is joining the universe.
The original novel, TV specials, and films have terrified fans both in Japan and the world over, and Sadako continues to increase her appearances in pop culture just as she first did in the original books Spiral and Loop.
It is an incredible feeling to finally be able to see Sadako come to the BISHOUJO series.
However!
Because we have so many feelings about this character, the BISHOUJO production team took a great deal of time to realize this concept.
As such, I thought we could look at some of the steps involved in this process.
The first idea was to use the motif of her crawling out of a television set, which is arguably her most famous and frightening scene.
Take a special look at our (Kotobukiya's) rough draft from around this time.
A scary Sadako crawling out of a television
We experimented quite a bit, going back and forth about whether she should be halfway out of the TV or if, since she's a figure, we should model her whole body.
Shunya Yamashita even drew us some rough sketches of various options.
He drew one of her half-out of the TV, another out up to her knees, and then one more out up to her ankles.
However, on one faithful day when we were coming up with ideas...
Someone in the team brought up the fact that she doesn't necessarily have to be coming out of a TV. We should think about what would look best as a BISHOUJO figure.
After that, there were all kinds of ideas.
A blushing Sadako handing you a videotape from the well
Sadako floating above a well base, seen from above
We liked the idea of the latter and decided to pursue further, asking Shunya Yamashita to sketch us some poses.
From there, the idea that would eventually become the figure of Sadako floating above a pile of copied videotapes was born.
This is the final concept!
Final design
Same design with her eye shown
Despite the detours, I think it's an incredible idea and I'm thrilled that we arrived at this point.
Next, let's take a look at the final product!
©KADOKAWA
