TOMOE GOZEN, battle of Azawu, 1184 (Alexandros Models)

[Pedro Molina]

Ref. O/52 TOMOE GOZEN, battle of Azawu, 1184

90mm. White Metal

Sculpture: Ebroin
Boxart: Alexandre Cortina

 

[Alex Long]

Superb. Beautiful looking figure and beautiful painting too.

Alex.

 

[captnenglish]

Beautiful and intimidating in more ways than one.

 

[clrsgt]

Absolutely superb sculpt; and there aren't words to describe the painting.

 

[Gaudin]

Stunning work by Alex for sure - on every account

 

[Redcap]

Brilliant in all respects.
Gary

 

[swralph]

Excellent figure

 

[harto]

It's a nice figure but if her armour and equipment are meant to be historically accurate then there seems to be some serious issues; the armour looks like a cross between an O Yoroi (basic box like armour which was common among high ranking Samurai in this period) and a Do Maru (wrap around body armour which although used in this period tended to be used more by foot soldiers rather than mounted archers - which all high ranking Samurai basically were). The O Yoroi body is a three sided box closed with a separate plate on the right side and typically only had four skirt pieces (one on each side). The Do Maru wraps around the body and fastens on the right side and has more skirt pieces. I've never seen the combination of armour as depicted here but happy to be corrected if the sculptor had historical sources (rather than modern re-enactors). Also, one thing that virtually everyone seems to miss: The armour pieces which cover the shoulders (which are in O Yoroi style given their size) are in fact fastened to the shoulder straps of the cuirass by a centrally placed ring at the top which is tied to a corresponding ring on the shoulder straps usually by a strip of white doe skin. This is what holds the shoulder guards in place. The ties at front and back are simply there to limit lateral movement so the shoulder guards do not slip too far forward or back (their ties also seem incorrectly depicted here as they should both fasten to the agemaki bow which is a complex knot hanging at the back of the armour, not to the waist belt as depicted). I have lost track of the number of Samurai kits where the shoulder guards somehow float mysteriously supposedly suspended by only the side ties. The "trousers " depicted I have also never seen in this period, more common is these are part of the arming robe pulled up and tied and so would be much fuller and more billowing in shape. She also seems to be carrying a spare bow string (the circular item placed over her sword), but carries no arrows or bow. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice kit and maybe I'm a bit anal when it comes to Japanese armour but this looks more like a loose representation of Japanese armour than anything historically accurate.

 

[Drenth]

C'mon! Great mini i think!! More fantasy (movie like) than historical correct! Very cool stuff like ever from this manufacture!

 

[Mjølner]

Remember this, Tomoe Gozen is a woman, they dress and think different than men (and thank god for that) and here is a description of her. Tomoe was especially beautiful, with white skin, long hair, and charming features. She was also a remarkably strong archer, and as a swordswoman she was a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot. She handled unbroken horses with superb skill; she rode unscathed down perilous descents. Whenever a battle was imminent, Yoshinaka sent her out as his first captain, equipped with strong armor, an oversized sword, and a mighty bow; and she performed more deeds of valor than any of his other warriors. — The Tale of the Heike[3] " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoe_Gozen

 

[TADATSUGU]

Good call Harto,
I am in full agreement with your comments, but there is an illustration in Vol 1 of The History of Japanese Armour by Ritta Nakanishi, showing something not a million miles away from the model's armour. (sorry, tried to include an attachment but it didn't work).
Although most of my sources would back up your comments, Nakanishi's text comments that, "The Kurenai-odoshi Doumaru-yoroi used by Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune is thought to be (have been) a transitive example of the evolution from O yoroi to Domaru armour". In other words, these armours were not regulated, and development from one style to another did not suddenly happen overnight. As long as the direction of the timeline is not abused, any combination of armour styles available at the time could surely have been adapted. Is it such a great stretch of the imagination to supose that a tailor-made 'cuirass' could have been manufactured to order, in a style more accomodating for a woman to use?
I am also of same opinion that Tomoe Gozen would have probably worn The O yoroi, but I don't think the armour depicted by the model is by any means "impossible."
I am unaware that any reliable examples of Tomoe Gozen's armour actually exists, and her reputation and fame have been partially fableised and much romantisised anyway, in say the fashion that Boudicca has, so what is real and what is imagined? I have seen a number of Japanese illustrations of her, as well as many re-enactment pictures, all of which vary greatly. If the Japanese people are ready to play freely with image of their national heroines, should we be that bothered about specific acuracy in this one instance anyway?
The 'trousers' do however also look odd to me, but they could always be built up with epoxy putty - yeah I know -you shouldn't have to at these prices! The bow string reel could also be removed. For such a lovely figure, I think I'll still be tempted to buy one, with a view to doing some adaptations of my own.
Would love to hear from someone else with more definative info on the sculpt, or the source matter.

 

[TADATSUGU]

tried to attach the pic mentioned last post -hope it works

 

[denstore]

I really like it! Absolutely stunning!

 

[lopee]

This is very nice. Something (and great) new to market.

Martin

 

[Wayneb]

Love it for what it is...do you think all your relatives,friends or even most peers are going to notice all those nit picky details as mentioned above?....I don't think so.....Wayne

 

[MrBMB]

I normally don't buy these types of figures but this one is great
Her face is sculpted so well
A must have!

 

[mil-mart]

Superb sculpting and painting, congratulations.

Cheers Ken

 

[Johan Kees]

Very beautiful miniature but I have serious reservations about the very unnatural looking sculpting of the hair, and that is quite a real pitty. Sorry...

Jhan

 

[Paul Kernan]

Historical vs Fantasy....I still think it is a spectacular piece. However, I am in agreement with Johan. IMHO, the dynamic posing of the hair does not look natural.

 

[denstore]

I must say that I like the hair. Maybe not the painting of it though, but that is a matter of taste.