Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Pulp => Topic started by: Andy in Germany on August 21, 2025, 07:05:51 PM
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The Elder Son realised that we could potentially have a Japanese Pulp League. He is... rather excited with the idea, especially when he realised "we could have a Yakuza league".
In the Middle of the Atlantic? Never mind... I'll find a reason. Ascension is the hub of all kinds of international crime, gambling, people trafficking and smuggling, so they may be triang to build contacts, find smuggling routes or even retrieve the imperial mirror that has been stolen by the barbarian foreigners.
I'm looking for figures, probably more armed civilians, possibly sailors. I like a couple of the Sakuragi Miniatures figures, but a few male figures would be good. As they'd probably not be wearing traditional garb so far from home, I wondered about adapting "European" figures.
I'm trying to avoid caricatures: my lads are half Japanese and can trace their ancestry back to a Samurai family with links to Kochi Castle: That's not to say they'd be "offended" at the more caricatured designs, more that they'd point and laugh so much we wouldn't get a game started...
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Foundry does some in western suits with katana in the Street Violence range - including a sumo in a suit (not one of those inflatable ones). Non stereotyping is in no way guaranteed...
the clothing should pass for your era on Ascension.
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Finally dug them out, thanks. I think the two gangster types would work, although the chap with the sunglasses will need work...
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Dixon might work for you:
https://www.dixon-minis.com/shop/yakuza-28mm/
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Those look pretty good too. They'll need some "backdating"... but I suspect that's the case for most ranges.
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Yeah, I haven't seen any "Pulp Era" yakusa types. The Dixons should backdate relatively easily.
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The Elder Son realised that we could potentially have a Japanese Pulp League. He is... rather excited with the idea, especially when he realised "we could have a Yakuza league".
In the Middle of the Atlantic? Never mind... I'll find a reason. Ascension is the hub of all kinds of international crime, gambling, people trafficking and smuggling, so they may be triang to build contacts, find smuggling routes or even retrieve the imperial mirror that has been stolen by the barbarian foreigners.
I'm looking for figures, probably more armed civilians, possibly sailors. I like a couple of the Sakuragi Miniatures figures, but a few male figures would be good. As they'd probably not be wearing traditional garb so far from home, I wondered about adapting "European" figures.
I'm trying to avoid caricatures: my lads are half Japanese and can trace their ancestry back to a Samurai family with links to Kochi Castle: That's not to say they'd be "offended" at the more caricatured designs, more that they'd point and laugh so much we wouldn't get a game started...
You have summoned me?
I'm working on some interwar pulp miniatures at the moment, but it may take a few months before they're ready for production. I do promise they, like the previous miniatures, will be 100% non-stereotypical looking.
I looked into yakuza for the pre-war era, but it seems the yakuza as we know it is more a product of the post-war reconstruction. It existed before but seemed to have stayed closer to its roots of gambling and racketeering cheap goods stands. The ban on open carrying of swords was also still in effect, so the best bet for "muscle" would be gangsters with handguns and a "boss" in traditional dress and a fedora or bowler hat.
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Ah, but on Ascension Island, the ban on open sword carry is not in effect!
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So these guys are Korean, not Japanese, but they are pulpy and the Japanese were in the villain role in the movie that inspired them:
(https://files.ekmcdn.com/adf666/images/misc-01-manchurian-bandits.-578-p.jpg?v=4b36011a-046e-47f3-bf1a-66810b14ca0e)
https://www.empressminiatures.com/misc-01-manchurian-bandits-578-p.asp
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Ah, but on Ascension Island, the ban on open sword carry is not in effect!
Indeed. In fact, it may well be considered a badge of honour on the Island.
You have summoned me?
I'm working on some interwar pulp miniatures at the moment, but it may take a few months before they're ready for production. I do promise they, like the previous miniatures, will be 100% non-stereotypical looking.
Ooo; sounds good. I'll probably let the lads decide the characters over time.
I looked into yakuza for the pre-war era, but it seems the yakuza as we know it is more a product of the post-war reconstruction. It existed before but seemed to have stayed closer to its roots of gambling and racketeering cheap goods stands. The ban on open carrying of swords was also still in effect, so the best bet for "muscle" would be gangsters with handguns and a "boss" in traditional dress and a fedora or bowler hat.
I figured the Yakuza would be a bit more low-key between the wars, and also on Ascension they'd be unlikely to wear a Yukata. As you say, regular Gangsters would probably be the best bet to start with and we'll "upgrade" as different figures become available. Perhaps the head office is rotating gangsters over time.
I like the idea of the Boss in traditional dress and a fedora as well.
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So these guys are Korean, not Japanese, but they are pulpy and the Japanese were in the villain role in the movie that inspired them:
(https://files.ekmcdn.com/adf666/images/misc-01-manchurian-bandits.-578-p.jpg?v=4b36011a-046e-47f3-bf1a-66810b14ca0e)
https://www.empressminiatures.com/misc-01-manchurian-bandits-578-p.asp
I like the chap in the pinstripe suit...
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I was just looking at those and telling myself to stop buying more stuff three days ago! I think they could work, at this scale it's hard to pinpoint ethnicity. Though, there's also genetic overlap as many of the first people to inhabit Kyushu arrived from the Korean peninsula and about 20 years ago the Heisei emperor stated Japan's Imperial family are partially descended from a Korean dynasty. The dude in the center is the best, just add a katana to his left side and he'd give off some Hijikata Toshizo from Golden Kamuy vibes.