
It’s been said that the costume design for Darth Vader, one of the most recognizable outfits in the history of film, was heavily inspired by samurai armor. The similarities are pretty easy to spot, what with the face plate and helmet backing that continues lower down the back of the neck than what’s normal for western helms.
But what if you kept going until you came full-circle, and designed a set of samurai armor based off of Vader’s? You’d get something like this awesome figure that just went on sale in Japan.
You can thank manufacturer Tamashii Arrows for this crossover. Vader is part of the company’s Meishou Movie Realization series, which reimagines iconic movie characters with an infusion of Japanese flair. The newest member of the lineup, the Meishou Movie Realization Samurai General Darth Vader, went on sale earlier this month.
With the release of the trailer for the upcoming seventh Star Wars movie, there’s been a lot of discussion about its three-beam lightsaber. While it may not be the most practical design for a science-fiction laser sword, it is pretty stylish in its own way. Still, it isn’t quite as cool as Samurai Vader’s light-katana.
▼ Looks like Vader’s new duds means he can’t resist the urge for a little bit of Japanese cinema-style chambara swordfighting.
▼ “No. I am your chichioya.”
The 9,504-yen (US$81), 180-milimeter (7.1-inch) figure comes with two versions of his katana (drawn and sheathed) and three sets of hands.
While minions aren’t part of the Samurai Vader package, a samurai stormtrooper figure is set to go on sale next May.
The stormtrooper stands just a little shorter than his superior, at 170 millimeters, and is also slightly more affordably priced at 8,424 yen ($70). While he lacks the Sith Lord’s lightsaber, the package does include a sword, sheath, and blaster.
Plus, just like the Vader figure, the samurai stormtrooper comes with three sets of hands, which can be removed and swapped in and out to match whatever pose you’re going for.
▼ The starkly defined nipples though, are fixed in place.
Source: Artist Database, Tamashii
Images: Tamashii













Darth Vader in Death Star armour brandishes lightsaber katana, joins the Samurai force in Japan
We check out the new Samurai Star Wars figurines from Bandai and Tamashii Nations【Pics】
Samurai Vader: a historical take on a favorite from a galaxy far, far away
Darth Vader Head Planetarium Lulls You to Sleep Then Haunts Your Dreams
Hold the Force in the palm of your hand with limited edition Star Wars plushies from Takara Tomy
Starbucks Japan releases two new seasonal drinks that blur the line between summer and autumn
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Japanese workers reveal their top five mysterious rules they wish would disappear【Survey】
Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
Japanese convenience store sunglasses just became our newest Convenience Wear obsession
Dog-friendly Wanwan Liner bus to begin operations between Tokyo and Osaka this fall
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Tokyo giving out free furoshiki from Pikachu’s designer to help tourists carry their garbage home
Kyoto shop turns traditional Japanese kimono into teddy bears, with special meaning hidden in their patterns
Totoro shaved ice wows Studio Ghibli fans in Tokyo for a very limited time
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
12-year-old foreign tourist missing in Japan, police asking for help finding her [Video]
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Japanese gacha machine in Shibuya now sells tiny capsule terrariums
The Japanese city where ordering grilled chicken doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually get chicken
Japanese airlines set to cut fuel surcharges for international flights in September and October
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
If Darth Vader owned an iPhone, he’d probably keep it in a stunning wooden ukiyoe Star Wars case
New Samurai Stormtrooper from Tamashii Nations is ready to fire up the troops for feudal battle
What do Kamen Rider and Darth Vader have in common? They’re both in this (insane) video!
Awesome cardboard Darth Vader costume lets you become an eco-friendly Jedi villain【Video】
Niconico Video user crafts miniature violin-playing Darth Vader out of paper just because he can
What stormtroopers and Boba Fett would look like if Star Wars was set in feudal Japan
Captain Japan? Marvel’s Captain America reimagined as samurai warrior in awesome new figure
Buy this Star Wars PC featuring Darth Vader’s ugly mug, impress your nerdy friends
Keep yourself fed this Holiday Season with these talking Star Wars automatic snack dispensers!
Life-size gold Darth Vader mask is simply dazzling… and also worth US$1.4 million! 【Pics】
Star Wars fever continues — we try out Darth Vader boots from UGG’s Star Wars Collection!
Star Wars cup clingers may or may not use the Force to hang on the rim of your glass
Give in to the beautiful side of the Force with Japan’s new Star Wars skincare masks
Samurai C-3PO is the Japanese warrior droid we’ve all been waiting for
That time Japan went so Star Wars crazy that Luke and Vader made a canned tuna commercial 【Video】