Early 20th Century Japanese Cityscape

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

This is my “rough draft” early 20th century Japanese cityscape I’m gathering and creating terrain for. Japan was in transition and rapidly modernizing through the late 19th and into the 20th century, so using the classic “samurai” buildings alongside American and European ones creates a unique atmosphere for gaming the era. I updated the old style buildings with “glass” (blister pack plastic) in place of paper in doors and windows and sometimes added electric lights from Rubicon’s utility set. Another point for “modernization” was adding street lights and power lines alongside the roadway. These roads weren’t meant for cars nor where they paved in most cases. Private vehicle ownership was still very low; the Ford Model AA truck (Rubicon GAZ-AA) here is property of “Matsuura Shuzo” sake distillery. The distiller still uses his former lord’s triple dot crest; that is the Matsuura clan of Hirado Domain.

Traditional buildings are from 3D Alien Worlds, and Oshiro, and the Western ones are a mix of Patrick Miniatures and Old Glory. Bright orange items are my own prototypes.



Greengrocer, tea shop, and a potter. The blue is too dark, but it's inspired by the local pottery made in Mikawachi and Arita. One intentional anachronism is that I wrote signs left to right, how it’s done now, instead of the period correct right to left. My handwriting is bad enough as it is, didn’t want people to suffer through also reading it backwards. The greengrocer is "Yaoya Oshichi" and is a reference to a famous 17th century story involving young love and arson. As many do.

These buildings are (right to left) Iseki Shoten Kimono Shop, Matsuura Shuzo sake shop, and Sakuragi-ya diner. Iseki Shoten was the name of my wife's grandmother's kimono shop in real life. Matsuura Shuzo is a reference to our area's feudal lord, a dynasty of pirate samurai who ruled for something like 800 years. Beyond them are European city buildings which are implied to be on the main shopping street's edge. The more "modern" buildings would be downtown with older ones spreading out around them.

A miniature inspired by my wife in front of her grandmother's kimono shop. I'm also proud of the outdoor tobacco counter on the right; these were ubiquitous and even the real kimono shop sold cigarettes from a counter.

Sakuragi-ya with its fancy glass windows and electric outdoor lights; a wartime customer waits outside

Small shrines wedged into city blocks like this are rather common. The colorful corner building is a modern cafe where moga (modern girls) and mobo (modern boys) congregate to smoke cigarettes, talk radical ideologies, and listen to jazz music. The man-pulled cart across from the Model AA truck (domestically built in Japan) were still common sights.



As more develops I'll add to this topic.

[marianas_gamer]

Nice! I look forward to seeing more of your work on this. I like and appreciate your personal stories that are incorporated into the builds and the truck is just great.

[Freddy]

Great looking scenery! What kinda game you plan to play on it?

[joekano]

Lovely looking little town!

[swiftnick]

That really is very cool. The backstory and wee details are fascinating.

[carlos marighela]

That looks superb! Wonderful attention to detail and the mix of old and new has the ring of truth to it.

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

Great looking scenery! What kinda game you plan to play on it?

I've used it for Pulp Alley ("The Tail of the Snake is Long and Winding" in the Pulp section was played on it) and it can be a stand-in for any game that requires a city. I have more buildings not shown here, such as rowhouses and a shrine, so it's pretty versatile. I just re-arrange and swap out bits as needed.

It can also be used for Bolt Action for invasion of Japan scenarios like below. Since the invasion of Kyushu was due to begin to November, it would have gotten cold pretty soon after arrival so I used Warlord's new Winter Americans from the Battle of the Bulge set. And I can assure you, Kyushu gets cold despite the palm trees!

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

I appreciate everyone's support and comments! There's more to come as I use the town and add detail.

[mikos khan]

Outstanding work.  Best depiction of a Japanese town that I've seen.  BTW the woman in the green kimono bears a distinct resemblance to the gorgeous Miiko Taka - coincidence?   

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

Thanks! It's a coincidence, but I think Ms. Taka has the kind of face thats sought out for models, actresses and idols even today so its not surprising.

[commissarmoody]

Love the scenery and attention to detail. And am looking forward to seeing more in the future.

[Cat]

Ooh, great start!

[carlos marighela]

Finding Japanese in winter kit to oppose those Americans will be a struggle. There was an article somewhere about kit bashing Warlord winter Soviets with their Japanese.

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

In late 1945, finding winter kit to give to Japanese troops was probably even harder.

[blacksoilbill]

That is a very nice terrain collection you have there.