Figure Name: Nendoroid #179 Sawako Kuronuma
Figure Maker: Phat! Company
Retail Value: ¥2,850
Available at: AmiAmi | HLJ | Hobby Search | Play-Asia

I was a little surprised by Sawako's box. At first glance, it looks like a plain, gray box. Look a little closer and you see doodled flowers and other pretty pastel details! Besides that, there's nothing to look at, but it's a nice touch to actually design the boxes a little better.

When you take Sawako out, her default head has her smiling and her arms are in front of her in a relatively neutral, but cute stance. Her legs don't really move, she's only got the one hair do and her arms can't really be posed since they're molded to look best as they are here.

She's just got this little bow in front, the buttons on her jacket are detailed as well as the cuffs. In terms of "detail," those are pretty much "the spots."

Looking at her from the side, you can see there's just a little bit of movement with her pleated skirt there, and she's got her conservative socks on with some black shoes. Nothing extravagant here, again, and it's just plain old Sawako with nicely molded hair. 

"Kazehaya! Wait...!", she seems to say. This is her "surprise" or "shock" or "speechless" alternate face. I like it a lot, although not as much as her goofy face. Instead of tons of accessories, Sawako comes with three alternate faces. In the tray there are two sets of alternate arms and the pup, Pedro. That's it. No, really. That's it.

Here's the reaction face. That's. It.

While I agree that the set came with too little, it really does seriously emphasize Sawako's expressions in the best way. You get the only four faces that matter, really, besides the pouty worry face she has on relatively often, and she doesn't do much of anything with her arms; I mean, it makes sense. There isn't a heck of a lot to her.

Would it have killed them to give us an alternate hair style and a gym outfit, though? I know it's possible, Ayasaki Hermione (reviewed) came with two bases, two outfits, plenty of accessory limbs, even bunny ears (and tail) and it all fit on the tray. Surely a gym suit along with the picked-up hair style wouldn't have been too far of a stretch? I would take one less expression for a little more variety.

That's just me, though. And that's just Pedro (or Maru-chan). He's just a happy little pup, isn't he? He isn't very posable, either, by the way, besides his head swiveling (not that I'm complaining as that's pretty much par for the course).

Sawako looks pleased! Here's alternate face number three. You're also seeing the last pair of alternate arms/hands. These were a little tricky to get on because I am a goof and didn't realize the hands pop off so I could get the arms in first, then put the hands back.

All of the hands in general are a bit difficult to work with because her hair doesn't give at all, and it isn't forgiving, mold wise. If you turn her head too much, an arm may pop off altogether. Those held-together hands from the pleased image? I lost count of how many times they popped off before I just stopped trying to pose her without being dead-on altogether.

This is probably the reaction that most people have to the set: a resounding "what?", then maybe a "meh."

I would surmise this is the kind of figure that applies to lovers of the character more than someone who purchases things based on the options and variety. At ¥2,850, a little less than your average Nendoroid, she is definitely worth your while if you want to represent your love for Rage ni Todoke, though! And let's face it, the goofy thinking face makes it worth every penny if it makes you smile the way it makes me smile.

What are your thoughts? Is it worth it at her lower price point, or is happy Sawako still just a little too bland for your tastes?