Matt Varga The 40th anniversary doesn’t have to be a wholly serious event. Though the Jumpman celebration has let loose plenty of do-or-die editions of core canon kicks, their approach to the Air Jordan 1 in particular has recently taken a more jovial tone, almost entirely due to an impending collaboration with Bandai Namco. While stateside pre-orders are already open for model kits depicting the “Shadow” and “Reverse Shadow,” those in the collectible company’s home country will get a chance to test their luck with a Gacha-style mystery launch, spread across 18 colorways of Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 miniatures.
A high-profile collaborator is now getting in on the action, as Fragment founder HIroshi Fujiwara took to social media to reveal four of the potential choices, bolstering looks at the “Shadow” and “Reverse Shadow” toys that’d already surfaced. Five OGs are included in the set he let loose; “Black Toe,” “Chicago,” “Royal,” “UNC,” and “Black/White.” While not entirely confirming our hypothesis, it does lend credence to our prediction of the 18; made up of the original 16 that the world was introduced to in ’85/’86, and likely referencing some of the sample/OG-adjacent looks that hit the ’85 cut in the years since, be it the already-appeared “Reverse Shadow,” the “Georgetown,” or the “Varsity Red.”
Again, sadly for US audiences the mini Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 is exclusive to Japan. However, for OG enthusiasts or otherwise dedicated ‘heads, the plotline is still intriguing to follow from afar. Check out in-hand shots included below.
