I don't really get what this is all about. It's not like these are real characters in the fiction - is it just a way to get people to buy the figures?
Tried using some google magic on Saporro to find out what the theme for this guy is. I found the "famous white chocolate biscuits called shiroi koibito" and the "Sapporo Snow Festival". Not sure if white chocolate and snow have anything to do based on this guys white Ultra magnusy color scheme *shrugs* Anyone know?
Not really. Mold selection is: "What we have Legends/EZ Collection toys of." That's pretty clear. -ZacWilliam, which is why so many folks keep expecting actual toy repaints out of this eventually.
If there are toys and they're each exclusive to the location they're tied to, it will be entertaining watching people try to track down a complete set.
Wait... another redeco of an Animated Mold? How can I get this Sapporo Prime thing? Will be in online pre-order soon?
It's called "marketing". TakaraTomy are trying to make a push with Transformers in Japan. They know that Transformers doesn't stand a chance against big names such as Gundam, but they're doing what they can with it. That's why the Arms Micron figures are targeting a different age group than TakaraTomy's recent figures (e.g. Henkei and United). They're trying to make them more appealing to children and changing up their marketing strategy to help the Transformers brand to better in Japan. Each place in Japan is being assigned a Prime character (new and made-up, of course, although somewhat official, since it's TakaraTomy doing it). It also appears they will be producing Legends/EZ figures based on these designs (i.e. repaints of Legends/EZ figures).
Sapporo is the largest city on Hokkaido, it's also the seat of Hokkaido prefecture. Which I'm pretty sure most of these are related too.