The Clash of Samurai and modern Infantery

[dr.puppenfleisch]

Dear honorable members of the LAF,

as I own a lot of classical samurai, geishas, samurai-monsters and classical japanese buildings, but am actually more interested in Pulp-settings and rules with lots of shootings, I thaught wargaming the japanese 1870ies. In the Meiji-Era can be found several conflicts, where traditional Samurai faught the new, modern imperial army with their western advisors. So for example during the Boshin-war (imperial Army against the Army of the Shogun) or the Satsuma-Rebellion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boshin


From 1867 to 1886 the imperial soldier was dressed like ACW-Unionists. I can provide japanese heads from Westwindproductions. They probably wouldn't 
fit with Perrys plastics. So my first question to the LAF is: What ACW-Unionists-Miniatures could be the right choice for Westwind-Heads, or: how and where can I provide japanese heads that would be the right choice for Perrys.

Seconce: in 1868 the Shogun-trooper looked like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JapaneseBakufuInfantryApril1867.JPG Any suggestions for miniatures?

And finally: For conversion-purpose on vivtorian-style Ladies - where could I find heads of asian women...

Thank you so much,
dr.puppenfleisch

[Johan]

Redoubt has acw with seperate heads, saves you the trouble of removing them.

[joroas]

....and Dixons sell separate Katanas, so  you can add swords too.

[sukhe_bator]

The Illustrated London News has some excellent illustrations of shogunate and 'modern' soldiers of the period. Well worth trawling through.
Also spotted a potentially useful website
http://www.blackshipsandsamurai.com/yokohama/yb_core_chaos.html
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.old-japan.co.uk/JILN-front-cover-lrg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.old-japan.co.uk/book_jiln.html&usg=__Kw4on3PpwCXSglxTkW7XRI5SK6Q=&h=578&w=400&sz=69&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=1o9VWd545_i7VM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522illustrated%2Blondon%2Bnews%2522%2522japan%2522%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

[Cory]

Reaper put out a single Mehji era officer in their Chronopia line that should fit well with Renegade.

As to suitably Japanese faces for the women I have seen the nose trimmed down slightly and the eyes painted in with a pen to avoid giant eyes work.

[sukhe_bator]

An interesting project. You could also probably introduce some other Europeans too. The main military influence was not the Americans as portrayed in 'The Last Samurai' but the French. The ACW uniform being modelled on the French pattern. All the European nations were vying with the Japanese authorities for trading privileges and influence at the expense of their rivals. At some point the Germans were influential too. Opportunities abound for Military Attaches and shady dealings. I think the Japanese military uniform was pretty much the same right up until the Russo-Japanese War. If there's any 25/28mm ranges for that conflict they might provide useful variants...

[dr.puppenfleisch]

Thank you to all of you. Some great links I didn't had in mind for that project. There seem to be more possibilities than I'd expected. Will have to think about it.

[Poliorketes]

At some point the Germans were influential too.

AFAIK after the french defeat 1870/71. The japanese have always been good at copying, but only from the best. Until 1870 the french army was rated the best (except by Moltke as i suspect), but afterwards it's been the german.

[argsilverson]

Good japanese figures are those produced by Parroom Station for VSF.
They make ideal infantry of the era.

Check the Brigade games website when they will be re-available!

[The_Wisecrack]

out of interest. who are the troopers in the last samurai. they wear very similar uniforms to those of acw unionists. i reckon some redoubt could do. (but what heads to choose)

[sukhe_bator]

In the film they are supposedly American-trained and equipped Govt. troops, but historically were French-trained Govt. troops. However, in practice there was little difference between the two uniforms as mentioned above... See above for ideas on a variety of potential figure sources

[Bullshott]

At some point the Germans were influential too.

AFAIK after the french defeat 1870/71. The japanese have always been good at copying, but only from the best. Until 1870 the french army was rated the best (except by Moltke as i suspect), but afterwards it's been the german.

Despite the Prussian victory ofver France in 1870, the Japanese army continued to be based on the French model - mainly because they had more French speakers than German speakers in in the officer corps! Meanwhile the Japanese Navy modelled itself very successfully on the British Royal Navy.

As well as the Parroom Station Japanese figures (temporarily unavailable following the collapse of London War Room until Brigade Games builds up sufficient stock to re-launce them) look at Redoubt's Boxer Rebellion range for infantry. For figures suitable for late 19th century sailors look at the Pulp Figures' range for some very nice Japanese sailors in caps.

[Mr.J]

The Japanese soldiers look a lot like Copplestones BoB Chinese infantry, the only major difference that I can see in their appearance is that they wear puttees instead of boots.
Just thought this might solve the problem of swapping heads although you would probably need to work on their boots depending on how religious you are with your detail.

[sukhe_bator]

As an afterthought, If you want some unusual but appropriate firepower to add to your scenarios, I have seen 2 Museum examples of Japanese copies of the Obusier de 12 de Montagne, Modele 1828, a pattern of  French 12 pounder mountain howitzer which first appeared in Europe in 1810. The design saw service around the world well into the 1860's, notably in Mexico and the American Civil War. Undoubtedly it was introduced on or around the time of the French Military Mission to Japan in 1868-9
see
http://markerhunter.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/us-mountain-howitzer/