Greetings all,
thanks to the Samurai special and some trailers for Shogun 2 : TW, I've began creating some clickies from the age of the Samurai in Japan. (Pre-industrial Japan)
In the future I might recreate the final battle scene from The Last Samurai, great but sad scene.
I'm anything but an expert on this matter, so correct me if you see anything that isn't accurate.
So the first customs will be these: a Samurai and a spearman of the Ashigaru.
The system in Japan at the time is somewhat comparable to the feodal system in Europe during the Middleages. The top class were the Samurai, originally warriors but later on landlords much like their European counterparts. The Japanese emperor only had a ceremonial meaning during the time when the Samurai were at zennit of their power. (16-17th Century.)
The land was controlled by a Shogun, who was the upper class in the feodal system.
Much like the European Medieval knights, the Samurai weren't very numerous in numbers, and they formed the elite while they had more common infantry to form the bulk of their armies. These infantryman were called Ashigaru. While Samurai acted as cavalry, they also fought on foot.
This clicky represents a spearmen of the Ashigaru. The armour is a lot lighter than that of a Samurai and of inferior quality. The Egyptian belt works very well as the swordbelt, as it allows the Katana (?) to be positioned horizontally.
The Samurai is the one from the special, with some things added. (I really love Playmobil's work on this special, he reminds of the red armour Tom Cruise uses in the movie.) On his back is a Sashimono, a banner which I believe was only carried by those who earned it in battle. It's still a prototype so I haven't put a design on it yet.
I used a gas mask as the face mask for which the Samurai are so well known of. The special came with two Katanas, but Samurai usually wore two swords, one long (Katana) and a shorter one. I used a machete for the shorter one since it's the closest thing in design to the Katana.
I really liked the fact Playmobil bothered to make a peg on the back of the armour, allowing something to be added. The piece used here is what holds the bow of the Mongolian Horseman from the Easter egg. The banner itself is made of a lance, a fork that's used with roasting and a piece of paper.
More clickies from this theme will come soon...
Gaetano
