Berliner Zinnfiguren/Flat Figures/Unpainted figures/Military History/Japan products

Samurai versus War Elephant - Burmese-Siamese War (1563-1564) 49,95 €

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:15:47 +0200

Courier: "Oda Nobunaga is dead!" - 21st June 1582 34,95 €

Wed, 20 May 2026 06:25:09 +0200

General Akechi Mitsuhide killed his master Oda Nobunaga, who was staying at the Honnô-ji temple in Kyôto, at dawn on 21 June. The traitor then sent a messenger from Kyôto to the west with an offer of alliance to the Môri clan. Akechi set out to become shogun, which he then was for 13 days until his defeat at Yamazaki and death on 2 July.
During the night, however, the messenger had lost his way and was apprehended in the camp of Nobunaga's most able general Toyotomi Hideyoshi, where the truth about Nobunaga's death was wrested from him by torture. Hideyoshi then ended the siege of Takkamatsu-jô Castle and marched east in a legendary forced march to be the first to confront the traitor Akechi Mitsuhide. As early as 2 July, he annihilated Mitsuhide's army near Yamazaki, thus ushering in the change of power to himself.

The messenger gallops at top speed along the elevated road in a landscape of rice fields. The road is about one metre higher than the plots. The picture above shows such a road.
At the side of the road are some bushes and a grave. Various pedestrians are on the road and look in wonder at the express courier, the centre of the scene. Some look after him, others towards him and others let him pass, more or less voluntarily.
Before the rider, a sleepy dog jumps to the side. Behind the rider, a fresh water carrier curses because he was almost ridden over and now has to find his balance again. Those couriers were really inconsiderate. It is not only in our time that there are road hogs.

Some explanations of the individual figures

WEKO 16 The express courier (tsukai-ban): The messenger is fully equipped in tight-fitting armour. No helmet, but a lush headscarf arranged for under the helmet. The long hair blows in the wind. In his left hand the reins, on the right a riding crop. On the back a white waving horo sack with decorative knot attached and a blue sashimono (crest bar) with a black mon (crest). The sashimono on a thin, light bamboo frame bends in the wind. The silk asses of the horse, not a white horse, are blue. The rider is armed with a tachi. This is a long Japanese sword with a sabre-like blade. It is more curved and usually slightly longer than the more familiar katana.
WEKO 25 The cleric (bozu) wears the typical priest's robe, calf-length with long sleeves, made of thin black cloth, a white under-kimono and with a Buddhist rosary made of thick wooden balls. He uses a wild staff to carry a thick sack with his belongings. His robe is a little more sloppily tucked into his belt so that his paunch can be seen.
WEKO 26 The pilgrim (nenro) holds a pilgrim's staff in his hand. Around his neck a ribbon (stole) with a religious motto, a bag in front of his belly and hip. On his back he carries a carrying altar.
Pilgrims stamp their staff as they walk and there is a very distinctive sound to entice people out of their houses to donate.
WEKO 24 The apothecary with medicine chest, note the case for pipe and tobacco pouch at his belt.
WEKO 29 A Gorinto gravestone with floral decoration and a praying woman. Probably a traffic victim. You can still see family graves along paths in fields in the countryside today. Obviously not everyone was buried in the nearest temple cemetery.
Next to her lies her luggage. A small box wrapped in a sling and a discarded straw hat over it.
WEKO 30 The younger sister of the praying woman. She stands behind her sister and waits her turn. Open hair, tied relatively low at the back with a pretty bow, is typical of unmarried girls. Accessories are an apron and a bag in her hand, the handbag to the kimono, so to speak.
The apothecary, the praying girl and her younger sister are dressed somewhat finer than the peasants. The pharmacist is probably in green. In Japanese culture, green is associated with life. On hemp, green looks more like a muted olive.
The praying girl and her sister, for example, are in old pink or very pale purple, with a yellow-beige obi (belt). Rest to taste.
WEKO 27 A positionless samurai, a ronin with flat eboshi cap, typical of the Sengoku period. The tip of his lance is sheathed, otherwise the man would be a walking safety hazard, and his spike would rust away in no time.
WEKO 17 A swearing fresh water carrier to supply the field workers, unbalanced by the rider. A small round tobacco tin can be seen on his bag.
WEKO 18 A wooden porter. My dear Scholli, the man really has a heavy load to carry.
WEKO 19 The vegetable farmer wears Karusan trousers, a richly crazy type inspired by the knee breeches of the Portuguese.
WEKO 20 A farmer's wife
WEKO 21 A lad
WEKO 22 and 23 Farmer's girls
For the farmers and the ronin, the rule of thumb is, the colours always more muted and darker the older. Children definitely in bright colours, but not too garish. Muted browns, reddish brown, grey, blue, blue-grey, ochre - were the trend colours of the season. Simple patterns, especially stripes. If there were ornamental patterns, they were relatively large because it was difficult to apply them in small formats on hemp, cotton was not yet very widespread outside Kyushu in the 16th century. Hemp textiles are too smooth and too coarse.
Besides, in the Muromachi period until the beginning of the Edo period, it was downright shameful for adults to show their heads uncovered in public. To be bareheaded was virtually a badge of child status.
Trousers did not appear until the Edo period. Before that, leg warmers were worn underneath.
WEKO 28 An Akita Inu. The Akita Inu is an ancient Japanese national breed. Akita stands for a province in Japan, the suffix "Inu" translates simply as "dog". Colour: Red, sesame, brindle, white, each with white markings on the head, chest, legs, under the belly and under the tail.

Drawings: Sascha Lunyakov
Engraving: Rolf Grünewald

Toyotomi Hideyoshis Forced March - 1582 52,95 €

Wed, 20 May 2026 06:25:09 +0200

The express courier arrives from Kyoto, where on 21 June 1582 Akechi Mitsuhide murdered his master Oda Nobunaga in the Honnoji temple. Akechi set out to become shogun, which he then was for 13 days until his defeat at Yamazaki and death on July 2.

In between, messengers from Kyoto rode out in all directions to deliver the news to Nobunaga's generals who were scattered fighting on the various fronts. Naturally, the expectation was for all to be the first to avenge the lord's death, not least to justify further claims of their own afterwards.
The cleverest won, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He had just all but completed the siege of Bitchu-Takamatsu Castle in the west by flooding it. Hideyoshi was smart enough to wait for the commander's seppuku and the handover, while he already ordered the local population along the route towards Kyoto to provide food and water along the road. Then he set off in great secrecy. They ran more or less the whole distance, even at night. The horsemen in front, Ashigaru partly leaving some pieces of armour behind.
In fact, Hideyoshi surprised his opponent west of Kyoto, not so far from present-day Osaka at Yamazaki. In the battle, Akechi was crushingly defeated and, as he fled, was ignominiously stabbed by a peasant.

Some explanation of the individual figures

WEKO 31 A high officer and excellent horseman. Wearing full equipment and imitating his master with the exotic tiger skin saddle blanket.
WEKO 32 Toyotomi-domo Hideyoshi, riding a nervously prancing horse. Gesticulating loudly with a command fan, urging his men on.
He wears gold armour with prominent white feathers at the sleeve openings. It is one of the original pieces of equipment preserved by Hideyoshi, and dates relatively early. Mr. extravagant Hideyoshi always rode white horses with exotic tiger skin saddle covers. Gold was Hideyoshi's heraldic colour. Besides also white and red.
WEKO 33 Ashigaru archer. The bow and arrows are combined in a supporting structure. In addition a sword and a conical hat (jingasa).
WEKO 34 Farmer with wooden barrel, pouring water. Across the barrel are some bamboo sticks tied together, on top of which are some ladles.
WEKO 35 Ashigaru horse-holder with jimbaori waistcoat. He is desperately trying to regain control of the reins that have slipped and to calm the nervous horse.
Jimbaori waistcoat (Jimbaori=field camp overcoat). Usually sleeveless, these are richly embroidered and often bear the coat of arms of the clan or liege lord on the back. Such waistcoats were a popular and cheap way for a lord to show off.
WEKO 36 Ashigaru with yari. This man has left his breastplate at home and is now armed only with armoured sleeves and splint leg guards. A sword, headband and wild long hair. Plus some accessories on his belt.
WEKO 37 Ashigaru with Yari. He has lowered his kimono to his waist. Armour protectors on the sleeves and simple armour on the lower legs. Conical helmet and yari. His sword is not in his belt but is carried by hand.
WEKO 38 Ashigaru with yari. He is wearing a full set of equipment. Equipped in armour made of sewn-on leather or metal plates (tatami-do), spare sandals and baggage, and a back flag (sashimono).
WEKO 39 Akita Inu. The dog growls and yelps in defence of its territory. Akita Inu is an old Japanese national breed. Akita stands for a province in Japan, the addition "Inu" translates simply as "dog". Colour: red, sesame, brindle, white, each with white markings on the head, chest, legs, under the belly and under the tail
WEKO 40 Farmer's wife with rice balls (onigiri) and small rice cooker. The onigiri are large and almost fill the woman's palm. The rice cooker is an iron pot with a wide rim and stands steaming on carefully constructed logs.
WEKO 41 Ashigaru with rectangular banner over her shoulder. The banner has a small swivel (maneki) at the top. Only breastplate, but no backplate. On his head a jingasa (conical hat) with cloth and a sword in his belt.
WEKO 42 Ashigaru with conical hat and yari, drinking water from a ladle.
WEKO 43 Samurai on foot. Skimpy armour, small shoulder plates but armour sleeves. A lush headband and armoured cheek flaps. He wears a short sword on his belt and a long nodachi (greatsword) and a regular sword in its scabbard on two strings of cord across his back. A real macho man!
WEKO 44 Flustered Ashigaru with yari and sword. He wears a short kimono with breastplate, but no back armour. Only three armour plates at the front of the hip and a cone helmet. Lower leg armour but no armour on the arms.
WEKO 45 Samurai, bearer with Hideyoshi's great standard (dai uma-jirushi). A golden fruit on pole, a hyotan fruit (not a gourd), gilt leather below, suspended in the manner of a Roman vexillium. The colour gold is already found very often as a banner colour around 1582, even without a coat of arms.
As an elite henchman he also has a special samurai armour with an interesting helmet and two swords. The armour is massive and of the type that replicates the anatomy of an ascetic monk. The helmet is a high Zunari that was completely covered with black hair on top.
WEKO 46 Samurai on foot. A short lance and full armour. A simple Zunari helmet to go with it. He has no thigh armour, otherwise he would be a horseman.
WEKO 47 Ashigaru wants to run on with rice cakes (onigiri), but comes precariously close to the dog.
WEKO 48 Sub-leader (kogashira). A nasty sub-leader who shoos an ashigaru he thinks is too slow in front of him. The kogashira wears fine armour, two swords and the stick, which he also uses liberally. At his hip two quivers of arrows, a sub-leader of archers.
WEKO 49 Ashigaru archer. He wears a headband with armour stripes.
WEKO 50 Samurai on horseback. A very well-dressed young gentleman. A scion from the best house. Fully status-conscious, he parades stiffly and pedantically among the rushing masses on foot. He wears an eboshi cap of lacquered gauze to match his correct riding posture and noble equipment. It was worn under the helmet, but also in the formal camp. His helmet hangs on his back. With it he wears a waistcoat (jimbaori) and is armed with two swords and a short lance in his right hand.
WEKO 51 Samurai on horseback, a veteran of many battles. He is wearing full equipment. A helmet on his head. Two swords and a short lance in his right hand. In addition a rectangular back flag.

Drawings: Sascha Lunyakov
Engraving: Rolf Grünewald

Japanese swordsmiths 11,00 €

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:10:23 +0200

The series consists of two figures, the furnace, accessories and a Shiba Inu.

A very special myth surrounds the sword in Japan, which far surpasses the sword as a weapon and made it a work of art.

The sword sweeper's art had already reached its perfection in the Kamakura period (1185¬1333) and was able to maintain it through all the centuries. The actual art consisted of metalworking and the production of blades in general, not only that of swords, which were, however, the most important cutting weapons. Less attention was paid to the common thrusting weapons, such as lances, only because these were needed in much greater numbers and were therefore simpler in design, while the use of the sword as a weapon has always had the aura of the extraordinary.

The special importance of the sword begins with the early 17th century, when, because of the long period of peace, no fighting weapon was actually needed. But only from then on did it become a sign of privileged knighthood. Samurai families were proud if they could call a sword from the old days, or better, the blade of a well-known master, their own and guarded such swords as the most precious treasures of their rank.

In addition to the technical value, the symbolic nature of the weapon was also important. For the samurai, the sword had become a kind of cult object, the daily care of which was always undertaken by the owner himself.

Japanese swordsmithing is the labour-intensive bladesmithing process developed in Japan for forging traditionally made bladed weapons (nihonto) including katana, wakizashi, tanto, yari, naginata, nagamaki, tachi, nodachi, odachi, kodachi, and ya (arrow).

Ambush on Stage Coach l - Miles City (Montana) - 1880 49,95 €

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:09 +0200

The stagecoach robbery is based on the story of the bandit George "Big Nose" Parrott. In the spring of 1880, he and his gang held up the noon stagecoach between Miles City and Bismarck, Montana. Among the robbers was a man named Isaac "Ikey" Katz, who allegedly intended to open a clothing shop in Gold Country - so he was carrying several thousand dollars. The robbery succeeded.

"Enough" - peasant anger in Japan -1420-1590 55,00 €

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:26:33 +0200

The peasants of ancient Japan have had enough, in addition to taxes and duties, the possession of all weapons is strictly forbidden by the ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi (edict on "sword hunting"). The peasants in this small village muster all their defences and angrily rush to meet the lord's emissaries.
Three different packhorses are included in the series. This can be used to represent different reasons for the peasants' anger:
-one horse carries solid boxes in which tax payments are transported (WEKO 71a);
-one horse carries the surveyor's instruments (WEKO 71b), for the ruler had also ordered a resurvey of all fields in order to be able to tax even the last square metre of soil.
-one horse with weapons collected in the neighbouring village is now to have more of them loaded (WEKO 71c);

After the battle, doctor treats a samurai 11,00 €

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:10:23 +0200

Death and serious wounds were part of the everyday life of a samurai. This wounded man got off comparatively lightly, losing "only" one eye. The story of his wounding and his brave handling of it, certainly offers much material for stories around the campfire.

Arrow wounds to the face and neck were feared because the "treatment" was extremely painful. The head was tied to a tree, then the doctor removed the arrow. If the arrowhead had barbs, he had to resort to a small pair of pliers. Doctors were highly respected, even if they did not always come from the samurai class.

"Yojimbo" 36,95 €

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:35:25 +0200

Many people who are interested in Japanese history and characters are familiar with the feature films of Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998). "The Seven Samurai", "The Castle in the Cobweb Forest", "Ran" and "Kagemusha", among others, present the world of the samurai as the master director saw it from the 1950s to the 1980s. Yojimbo" (1961) also belongs in this series. The film is shot in black and white and is a cynical parable on the depravity of mankind, which was well suited to the Japanese zeitgeist of the 1960s.
At the very end of the Edo period (1603-1868), the old order was disintegrating and local power was slipping away from the shogunal authorities. In "Yojimbo", Ushitora and Seibei, two local potentates, merchants who act like gangster bosses, fight each other in a provincial town. Both are surrounded by a horde of fools who attack each other with swords and other instruments. Kuwabatake Sanjuro (played by Mifune Toshiro), a ronin and the only real samurai among the film characters, arrives in the city. His services as a yojimbo (bodyguard) are courted, but he too is to be betrayed. At first, Sanjuro plays the passive observer and plays the two gangs off against each other.
In the end, it comes to a Western-style reckoning in the middle of the deserted main street. The samurai Sanjuro takes on the Ushitora gang alone. They move slowly towards each other - bad luck for the gang, because nobody stands a chance against the ronin's fast blade.
The series shows some of the most important characters as they are directed by the master Kurosawa himself. Of course, the characters can also be used without the director in other scenes as armed people, robbers or ronin. They should mainly be painted in shades of brown and blue. Sanjuro wears beige and green (not black) clothes. Only the boss Ushitora, his brother Unosuke with the revolver and the woman Nui, who has taken his gang hostage, wear lighter-coloured, patterned clothes.

Samurai versus War Elephant - Part 2 56,95 €

Wed, 20 May 2026 06:50:10 +0200

Burmese-Siamese War 1563-1569.

Namamugi Incident - 1862 46,95 €

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:10:23 +0200

The Namamugi Incident was an attack by samurai on British foreigners in Japan on 14 September 1862. It is also known as the Kanagawa Incident or the Richardson Affair.
The result of this incident was that Kagoshima was bombarded by British ships. In Japanese historiography, this bombardment is considered to be a war between the Daimyat Satsuma and Britain, hence it is known there as the British-Satsumian War.

The incident led to extensive debates in the lower house of the Parliament of Britain. A monument now stands on the site of the incident.
Four British citizens, the Shanghai merchant Charles Lennox Richardson, William Marshall, Marshall's sister-in-law Margaret Borrodaile and Charles Clark (not shown because he had already fled by this time), were travelling on horseback along the Tokaido trunk road towards the temple of Heiken-ji in present-day Kawasaki. As they passed through the village of Namamugi in Tachibana County, Musashi Province, they encountered the uncle of the daimyo of Satsuma, who was acting on his behalf.
The British, out of ignorance or arrogance, failed to dismount from their horses in homage to the daimyo, as was required in Japan at the time. They also ignored or did not understand the requests of the daimyo's guards. As a result, they were attacked by the samurai who acted as Shimazu Hisamitsu's protectors to punish them for disobeying the daimyo. Richardson was killed in the process and the other two men seriously wounded.

Some explanation of each character
WEKO 01 Charles Lennox Richardson had a military background. He is wearing a blue frock coat with large yellow borders. A flat black hat and white linen trousers, but riding boots. Furthermore a wide revolver belt.
WEKO 02 William Marshall wears a blue skirt with a high collar, a Prince Henry cap. Also holding a Japanese riding crop.
WEKO 03 Marshall's sister-in-law Margaret Borrodaile. A normal European lady circa 1860 wearing a large hat and a folded parasol as an accessory.
WEKO 04 to 07 Samurai (guards) in travelling costumes for a foot journey. So straw hat, wide haori jacket with clasp in front of the chest, wide hakama trousers over the kimono. Tied together at the lower legs for walking and covered with leg warmers. With thick tabi socks and straw sandals. Wide cloth belt with short and long sword. Over the left shoulder a bundle of personal belongings.
The jackets are slit at the back so that the longsword can be worn horizontally in the belt. The slit is conspicuously reinforced above with leather or solid cloth so that the jacket does not tear.
WEKO 08 Karo, house elder is basically dressed like the guards. But he is older and wears a wooden jingasa instead of a straw hat.
His hakama trousers fall wide because they are not tied at lower legs. Usually he rides a horse and has just dismounted.
For the samurai and the check, it may be the whole range from medium beige to brown, medium to dark blue (not quite black) or dark greenish blue, jacket, kimono and hakama each in 3 different shades.
Many fabrics in the Edo period had Komon patterns, but so tiny that you wouldn't notice them in 30mm.
No large patterns, but the family crests sewn on brightly. No uniformity of colours.
WEKO 11 The daimyo's palanquin has been put down by the frightened bearers. The lord looks out and directs.
The daimyo in the palanquin may be dressed in quite bright and colourful clothes: Light blue, peachy pink, orange. Interestingly, it was a concession by a ranker to dress quite garishly because it gave the subordinates more colour choices. They certainly had to look more muted than their master.
The palanquin not too ostentatious. No silver or gold, or too feminine (red, light blue), rather natural tones.
WEKO 09 and 13 Ashigaru, these stand above the palanquin bearers and are slightly better dressed. The jacket blazoned and contrasting in colour, not tucked in at the back. A headband instead of a straw hat and the dagger tucked in at the back.
The lance tips of the two Ashigaru are protected at the top with puffs of yak fur.
WEKO 10 The same applies to the Nobori banner bearer with the coat of arms of the Satsuma as to the Ashigaru. The banners range in the spectrum white, deep blue (almost black).
WEKO 12 and 14 Porter, for the bearers a separate colour scheme but more muted than that of the samurai. Small straw hat, the upper garments tucked in at the back (body bandage visible). The legs bare, only sandals. On the back of the jacket large coat of arms of the Satsuma.
WEKO 15 The Chungen horse-holder with the horse of Karo. Chungen (servants) are still one step below Ashigaru and armed only with daggers, pure civilians.
It could also be the daimyo's riding horse. One often sees one being carried along on such trains. Probably it was more pleasant to get out of the rocking coffin occasionally.
For the daimyo a special horse colour, especially white and very bright, expensive silk wrappings. For the Karo rather something modestly bright in red, blue or black, and a brown to go with it.

Drawings: Sascha Lunyakov
Engraving: Rolf Grünewald

Death of Oda Nobunaga at the Honno-ji - 1582 30,95 €

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:20:29 +0200

Prince Akechi Mitsuhide's death, July 2, 1582 42,95 €

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:25:12 +0200

Fleeing with a few retainers from the battlefield at Yamazaki to his castle at Sakamoto, Mitsuhide crosses a bamboo forest. A band of marauding peasants, hoping for booty on the edge of the battle, attacks them. Mitsuhide is fatally shot in the side by a peasant's bamboo lance.
In truth, it is not known how Mitsuhide actually perished. A defeated lord had sepukku to commit on the battlefield. By imputing to him an escape and death by the lance of a peasant, one belittles the hated usurpartor. Regardless, the legend of his death in the bamboo grove has become deeply embedded in the collective memory of the Japanese.

Akechi Mitsuhide, 1528 July 2, 1582),[1] first called Jubei from his clan and later Koreto Hyuga no Kami from his title, was a Japanese samurai general of the Sengoku period best known as the assassin of Oda Nobunaga.