This is my first Japanese Kitbash, a Sniper. Typically, and IJA sniper was simply a soldier who very carefully waited and measured their shots.  In general, western armies would typically consider them marksmen.  They were not specially trained and outfitted. Most "snipers" encountered by US forces did not have telescopic sights or special weapons, simply a bolt action rifle and a will to die for their country.

 

My second sniper kitbash, a Sniper in a "grass suit". The japanese sniper was different than the western world sniper.  IJA snipers typically completed one-way missions, waiting for the enemy lines to pass them, then sneaking out to do damage and terror behind the scenes.  They rarely survived their missions, instead preferring to stay behind sniping until killed.

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Okinawa "hold-out" circa 1947 Hold-outs, dedicated IJA soldiers who refused to accept Japan's surrender, were found months, years, and in one case, decades later on the "lost" islands across the Pacific.   This soldier represents one of several who stayed hidden on Okinawa until 1947, when they finally came forward to surrender to their old unit's Non-commissioned officer.

IJA Armored car.  Refueling and Rearming

IJA Suicide Tank Destroyer Towards the end of the war, ill-equipped soldiers with nothing to lose would strap explosives to their backs, and throw themselves on the ground beneath oncoming tank treads.  This soldier has a tank mine (contact triggered) on a bamboo pole, and grenades/explosives strapped to his back.  He is expected to charge the tank, detonate his charge, and die for his country.

 

IJA soldiers in Manchuria, Winter 1942 These two soldiers are bundled for the cold Manchurian winter.  Japan fought the Chinese and Russians through out the northern part of China towards the end of the war.  At this stage, the only enemies these two would see were Chinese soldiers... Japan and Russia had an uneasy alliance/non-aggression pact

 

The IJA landed forces on the Aleutian Islands, successfully taking Kiska Island.  A small contingent of troops remained there until bloodily removed late in the war.

One of my favorite kitbashes is this IJA Cavalry officer in Manchuria, in the early fall of 1941.  These officers frequently left their family katana behind, and used a true Cavalry saber.  The saber was longer, and allowed better reach from horseback to enemy than the shorter katanas.  This soldier carries a shorter version of the classic Arisaka rifle, specially modified for cavalry use.

 

IJA Lance Corporal, circa 1937. At this time, the IJA uniform still held many aspects of the vintage WWI uniforms.  Up until 1939, the IJA uniform remained almost identical to their WWI version, which was in itself very similar to the uniforms worn by US soldiers.

 

.  IJA Mortar Crewman carrying what was badly known as a knee mortar.  This was essentially an infantry operated grenade launcher, very simple and accurate.  The misnomer "knee mortar" came from the curved baseplate, that was thought early on to indicate that the device should be placed on the thigh of the operator to be fired.  The first shattered femur of an Allied engineer proved that method of operation was incorrect.  More on Japanese Grenade Launchers!

 

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Japanese Soldier, Chemical Warfare, China 1940 I saw a photo of a squad of Japanese soldiers in a Chinese village, all wearing gas masks. This inspired me to create a simple kitbash of my own, simply because of the very uniqueness of the image. I had never seen Gas masks and Japanese soldiers in the same pictures. The German soldier and their gas mask cylinder are almost inseparable, but to see this in the Pacific theatre seemed rare. Close study of the photo showed me that the canister style masks were almost exactly the same as those worn in WWI, and the kitbash fell into place.

Japanese Light Machine gunner.

IJA Heavy (taisho) Machine gunner and officer.
	Japanese heavy Mortar crewman
	Another LMG soldier

IJA Pilot This figure will look almost exactly like the IJN pilots (on the navy pages).  In fact, there were very few difference between the uniforms of either air branch.  The Army pilots typically had a darker wool collar and fur lined soft leather caps, and may have had fur lined gloves (as this fellow does).  The jumpsuit, gear, etc. was basically unchanged between the branches.