Minifigure – Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Tactical Squad WWII (LEGO Compatible)

Character Identification: Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Tactical Squad

This image displays a group of three World War II Japanese Imperial Army soldiers standing in formation. They are wearing the Type 98 Summer Uniform in a sage green color, which was the standard issue camouflage for the tropical jungles of the Pacific Theater (used in battles like Guadalcanal, the Philippines, and Burma).

I will introduce them from Left to Right:

1. The Soldier on the Left: Veteran Infantryman (Rifleman)

• Visual Description: This soldier is distinguished by his face print, which features a goatee/stubble, suggesting he is a battle-hardened veteran who has been in the field for a long time. He wears the distinctive cotton chin strap tied under his nose/chin, a regulation method for securing the field cap (Sen-bou).

• Gear: His torso printing depicts the standard infantry loadout: a leather waist belt with two large ammunition pouches. These pouches historically held stripper clips for the Arisaka Type 38 or Type 99 Bolt-Action Rifle.

• Legs: He wears Puttees (Kyahan), the crisscrossed cloth wrappings around his lower legs used to support the ankles and prevent jungle debris and leeches from entering his boots.

2. The Soldier in the Center: Fresh Infantryman (Rifleman)

• Visual Description: This figure represents a standard “grunt” or private. His equipment is identical to the soldier on the left (waist belt and Arisaka pouches), but his face print is clean-shaven with a stern expression.

• Role: He represents the core of the Japanese infantry forces. Like the others, the Type 98 uniform he wears was made of lightweight cotton to help soldiers endure the extreme heat and humidity of Southeast Asia.

3. The Soldier on the Right: Squad Leader / Assault Officer

• Visual Description: This figure is the officer or NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) leading the squad. He is visually distinct because of his Tactical Chest Rig. Unlike the riflemen who have pouches on their waist, his ammunition is carried high on his chest, a setup often favored by Paratroopers (Teishin Shudan) or assault troops for easier access to magazines (likely for a Nambu pistol or SMG).

• Key Detail: On his left arm, there is a visible Red Circle Patch. This is the Hinomaru (Sun Disc), the national insignia of Japan, marking his allegiance and rank authority.