The Boxer Rebellion Project, Part 4: Imperial Japanese Infantry from Crusader Miniatures

 I love these figures. Not only can you use them for the Boxer Rebellion, they are appropriate for the First Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895 and also for the Russo-Japanese War 1904 - 1905. 

Essentially the figures are wearing the M1886 dark blue uniform that was heavily influenced by the German Army. My only real complaint is that the national star badge is not sculpted on the caps; but, at the 28mm scale, this can be easily replicated with a spot of Flat Black paint and them a spot of Shiny Gold. 

Historical reenactor of Japanese Infantry circa 1900.

During this period, both rankers and NCOs were also issued a white lightweight uniform for use in hot weather and in this scale, it is almost entirely the same uniform as the dark blue and is appropriate for both the First Sino-Japanese War and the Boxer Rebellion. In fact, it was not uncommon for a mix and match of both winter and summer uniforms.

Japanese soldiers wearing the winter cap and jacket and the white, light weight trousers. The Infantry branch color of yellow appears as black in older photographs.

For my first infantry unit For The Men Who Would be Kings they are Crusader Miniatures packs BJA001 - Japanese Infantry firing/loading, BJA002 - Japanese Infantry Advancing, and BJA005 - Japanese Infantry Command. I decided not to get the figures in full kit; why? Because I'm lazy and I wanted to get them painted quickly (BWAH HAH HAH - wait until you see my painting guide!). 

BJA001 - Japanese Infantry firing/loading.

BJA002 - Japanese Infantry Advancing

BJA005 - Japanese Infantry Command; yep, still need a flag.

Each pack comes with 4 figures so that in my 12 figure unit each figure is unique. I painted the officer as Lieutenant Colonel Shiba Gorō, the military attaché in the Japanese Legation. He was an artillery officer in the Imperial Guard and wears the red piping appropriate for his branch and the guard. I still need to get some Japanese battle flags and I'm going to use the Japanese flag poles from Tsuba Miniatures pack RJ-J08.

Speaking of the Japanese troops in the Legation, virtually every photograph I have seen show them in the dark blue cap, jacket, but white summer pants with white leggings. Basically, you can pick whichever combination of uniforms you want to identify your separate units and easily defeat any uniform Nazi out there! 

"On to Peking!"