Inspiration for Japanese customizations

[cachalote]

i never thought of this possibility but a japanese feudal era them would be simply GREAT.
i very much liked the raiko pictures, thank you tim.
i very much like japan, maybe because the first europeans to reach it were portuguese (we also introduced the first fire arms).
one day i would love to go there.
i will leave you with a "namban" art image, a mix of japanese art with portuguese themes, depicting a japanese guy and a portuguese one (they called us and painted us as the "long-noses")

[Timotheos]

Thanks for adding the pic, Cacalote!

You should go to Japan.  It is very tourist friendly.  Especially considering you know English.

Once you get to Tokyo, you can go to Nikko National Park by train.  Or catch a bus to Mt Fuji.  All self-guided tours.

Or go to Kyoto, hike in the foothills that surround the city, then catch a train to Osaka, and Himeji, where Himeji palace is.

(I miss Japan!)

-Tim

[cachalote]

thank you for the advice tim. 
i am slowly preparing a future visit. 
i am even sudying shinto(ist) architecture together with some of my students (i am also an architecture teacher in my non-playmo life) to be better prepared.
meanwhile i am "offering" you this namban picture of a portuguese man-of-war seen through 16th century japanese eyes.
it looks so much like a playmobil pirate ship, don't you think? 

[Timotheos]

Hi Cachalote

That's a very nice picture!  It looks like a PM ship.

I visited Nara in 2001 and saw many of the old Shinto shrines.  I'm not expert, but remember Shinto shrines being distinctly Japanese looking, whereas the style of Buddhist temples are very similar to those in China (source for their inspiration). 

Incidentally:
I don't think anybody is reading this post, but here's what I think would be great for a Japanese theme.

Era: Kyoto around the time of the Heike civil war

Sets:
Idea 1:
1) Yamabushi / Sohei (warrior monks) with a portable shrine (they exploited these shrines as safe conduct into Kyoto, after which they'd extort the emperor for money before leaving).  Sohei are usually depicted carrying halberds (naganata), bows, and wearing robes.

2) Minamoto (Genji) and Taira (Heike) samurai factions.  These were mounted Samurai who carried bows and swords.  PM could even give them faction colors.

3) The Emperor

4) A few oni (ogre / goblins) if PM wanted to be creative.

The narrative could be: samurai vs. warrior monks

Idea 2: Instead of Heike era, the Fujiwara era with:
1) Mounted daimyo with retainers
2) wandering ronin
3) Mongol invaders (the Mongols beached a few ships on Japanese soil but didn't get far before the rest of the fleet was wiped out by Kamikaze winds).

Narrative: Samurai vs. mongols
====================================================
NOTE: Ninjas and rickshaws need not apply.

[Richard]

Hello, Timmy ... 

Incidentally:
I don't think anybody is reading this post, but here's what I think would be great for a Japanese theme.

There are indeed a few of us who are reading this thread ...

However, the few of us who are reading this thread would probably never believe that Playmobil would ever make the Japanese theme that you have suggested, probably no more than they would actually believe that Playmobil would ever make Fort Zinderneuf and Beau Geste ...

This is regardless of the fact that some of us would really like some day to see both themes produced by Playmobil ... 

All the best,
Richard

[Timotheos]

Hello, Timmy ... 

There are indeed a few of us who are reading this thread ...

However, the few of us who are reading this thread would probably never believe that Playmobil would ever make the Japanese theme that you have suggested, probably no more than they would actually believe that Playmobil would ever make Fort Zinderneuf and Beau Geste ...

This is regardless of the fact that some of us would really like some day to see both themes produced by Playmobil ... 

All the best,
Richard

I'm turning into one of those dreamers I often lambast.

I just can't bear the thought of the inevitable "Samurai vs. Ninjas" PM will likely produce.  It's just so cliched and brain dead.

But, maybe PM will surprise me.  The quality of the Egyptian theme took me by surprise.  Or maybe I'm just pleased because the "tomb robbers" so easily double as non-military citizenry.

Maybe I should migrate to Garden Wargaming, Richard...  I check it out every so often.  It doesn't update so frequently, but it seems the history buffs congregate there.

And, bless Cheng's immortal soul--he has never customized, bothered with, or endured a ninja!*

* If one slipped through the cracks, he clearly has moved forward since that!

I mean... the stream of kitsch... it's almost like a sort of mental masochism...

Round 1:
Ninjas pulling rickshas... Ninjas with Fu Manchu beards... Ninjas laying down railroad tracks and working in a laundry...

Round 2:
Ninjas and their Geisha wives.

IF NINJAS ARE SO JAPANESE, WHY DO NONE OF AKIRA KUROSAWA'S FILMS FEATURE EVEN ONE?

Well, I think Kagemusha might have had one ninja.  He was a doomed little fellow who crept into a castle, was caught, and cut down like a dog.

-Tim

[Richard]

Hello, Timmy ... 

Since you have "opened the door" on Japanese film-makers I would like to add Hayao Miyazaki!

Hayao Miyazaki created one of my favourite films of all time ... Porco Rosso!
(And, I love the Disney version with Michael Keaton and Brad Garrett.)

Jimbo introduced me to this film by creating a wonderful Playmobil version of Porco Rosso ... HERE

Even though this film is set in pre World War II Italy ... it is, in my humble opinion, as Japanese as any heroic Samurai film!

All the best,
Richard

[Timotheos]

Hello, Timmy ... 

Since you have "opened the door" on Japanese film-makers I would like to add Hayao Miyazaki!

Hayao Miyazaki created one of my favourite films of all time ... Porco Rosso!
(And, I love the Disney version with Michael Keaton and Brad Garrett.)

Jimbo introduced me to this film by creating a wonderful Playmobil version of Porco Rosso ... HERE

Even though this film is set in pre World War II Italy ... it is, in my humble opinion, as Japanese as any heroic Samurai film!

All the best,
Richard

Hi Richard,

I haven't seen Porco Rossi, but liked Miyazaki's "Spirited Away".  You have to see the subtitled version though.  The voice-overs change the tone and do a lot more explaining than the original Japanese.

Worse, the Americans all talk contrived-like, as if they're on a first date--in Billy Bob Thornton's chatty fashion (he did a voice in Mononoke-Hime (Princess Mononoke) and it drove me up a wall) or like Hal Berry shooting for another Oscar by acting so gushy sweet (I can't believe Berry is actually older than me!).

The Japanese tend to be fiercer.  Less packaged.

-Tim

[Richard]

Hello, Timmy ... 

I haven't seen Porco Rosso, but liked Miyazaki's "Spirited Away".

As you know, "Spirited Away" is a Miyazaki masterpiece which won him an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature!

You have to see the subtitled version though.  The voice-overs change the tone and do a lot more explaining than the original Japanese.

I have not seen the subtitled version ... but, I'll take your advice and find it!

But, please take my advice and watch the Michael Keaton, Brad Garrett dubbed version of Disney's Porco Rosso! And, don't be surprised if you, like all the rest of us guys who have seen it, fall in love with Gina ...

This Porco Rosso flm just cries for Playmobil customs of everything!

I would love to see Sylvia create a Playmobil rendition of Gina! (If you see the film, you'll know what I mean.)

All the best,
Richard

[Timotheos]

I'll catch Porco Rossi.  There's a Miyazaki fan at my job who also cites that movie.

Another must see:
Kwaidan by Masaki Kobayashi.
It is a vignette of Japanese ghost stories, filmed in color. 

His version of the Yuki-onna (snow lady) is probably the best around.

And no ninjas!  No rickshaws!  Miyazaki avoids them too.

Hmmm.  I'm noticing a trend...