Kinkeshi

Kinkeshi (キン消し, lit. "KinnikuEraser") is an extensive and popular line of collectible erasers, an instance of the modern Japanese popular culture institution of keshi. The keshi it includes are monochromatic and derived from the Kinnikuman (キン肉マン) anime and manga franchise, whose primary motif is professional wrestling.

The line was launched in Japan in 1983, and licensed in 1985 for the American market as M.U.S.C.L.E. (reflecting Kinnikuman's English title of Muscle Man). M.U.S.C.L.E. used a harder rubber than Kinkeshi; its U.S. sequel, Ultimate Muscle, had a small release of about twenty Kinkeshi, though a larger run of figures using a plastic softer than M.U.S.C.L.E., but not eraser-like, was released exclusively in the USA.

History

Starting in Japan in 1983, Bandai's Kinkeshi line was licensed in 1985 to Mattel for marketing in the United States and Canada, where wrestling had become popular. This North American line was renamed "M.U.S.C.L.E." (Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere!). The line included 236 official figures, a boardgame, a NES game entitled Tag Team Match: M.U.S.C.L.E., a championship belt figure holder, and a wrestling ring playset. The figures were distributed in clear, blister-packed random four-packs, semi-opaque garbage can 10-packs, and 28 packs featuring non-random assortments. For a short time, the figures were also distributed as a bonus in Nestlé Quik (now known as Nesquik) cans.[1]

The main hero was Kinnikuman, who, in the US, was "Muscleman" and was the leader of the "Thug Busters". The only other named figure in the US line was Buffaloman, who was renamed "Terri-Bull", and was said to be the leader of the "Cosmic Crunchers". Some of the figures were sculpted to resemble popular wrestlers who had competed in Japan such as Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Abdullah the Butcher, and

See also

• Designer toys
• Micronauts
• Toyfinity