[Samurai Statue] Date Masamune in Battle of Osaka Castle [SA-0023]

Date Masamune: The One-Eyed Dragon

Known by the epithet "The One-Eyed Dragon," Date Masamune was a legendary one-eyed hero of Japan's Sengoku (Warring States) period. Near the end of the era, he emerged like a comet in Oshu—a vast northern region roughly corresponding to present-day Tohoku. Said to have modeled himself after Oda Nobunaga, Masamune boldly shattered the old conventions of Oshu, a region that had lagged behind in unification. Succeeding to the headship of the Date clan at the tender age of eighteen, he fought relentlessly through fierce battles and, within just a few years, rose with unstoppable momentum to become the preeminent feudal lord (Daimyo) of Oshu. This figure captures Date Masamune in a dynamic, lifelike equestrian pose.

Sculptural Beauty Capturing a Fleeting Leap

Bursting with a vitality so vivid you can almost hear the horse’s neigh, and depicting Masamune raising his iron war whip (teppen) high into the air, this piece radiates the raw intensity of the battlefield—capturing the exact moment he either commands an assault or rallies his troops. Clad in his signature black-lacquered five-plate armor (Kuro-urushi Go-mai-do Gusoku) with an eyepatch covering his blind eye, this statue delicately reproduces every intricate detail of his samurai armor even at a tabletop scale. Go-mai-do Gusoku refers to armor constructed from five hinged iron plates forming the cuirass, famously worn by successive lords and retainers of the Sendai Domain. Clad head-to-toe in jet-black armor that makes his golden crescent moon helmet crest stand out dramatically, his attire strongly reflects the bold aesthetics of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

Dedication to Coloring

The crescent moon crest (maedate) on his helmet is finished with genuine gold leaf, imparting an authentic, radiant luster.

The back of his jinbaori (surcoat) features a striking red color scheme reminiscent of his famous Yamagata-monyo (mountain-pattern) surcoat. Black, red, and gold—the hallmark colors of the Azuchi-Momoyama period—are arranged in exquisite balance, creating a timeless finish that highlights all the key focal points.

Rather than applying a multicolored paint job, selective accents of color are added to accentuate the deep, lustrous jet-black finish reminiscent of traditional black lacquer.
As Masamune’s black-lacquered five-plate armor is famously said to have inspired the design of Darth Vader, great care was taken to preserve that iconic, imposing jet-black aesthetic.

Artisan Craftsmanship

Every single step of the production process is carried out by hand by skilled artisans. Each piece is meticulously crafted using time-at a workshop directly managed by Kensin Co., Ltd., a specialist in fine art sculpture. Based on an intricate master prototype sculpted in Japan, the entire process—from molding to final finishing—is completed in-house under direct supervision and guidance. Suitable for any interior space, its painstakingly sculpted form and rich coloring ensure lasting appreciation for years to come.

Material: Polystone

Polystone is a compound made up largely of polyurethane resin  mixed with powdered stone additives that give it added weight and the porcelain or "stone-like" feel that results in the materials' name itself. This material is mostly used in the European art objects. It is durable and highly effective at maintaining a sharp paint finish. 

The historical figure is the elaboration of the three dimensional images.
All the items started to get popular among adults as "King of Hobby" in Europe. It was spread in Europe as of great royalty and titled nobility.
On 2007, for the first time in Japan, Kensin Co., Ltd developed and offers the first historical figure and armor customes.
All the molding and the repainting is done one by one by our craftsman. There is also a strict supervision molding and color painting of the item.

Co-operation in Development

Profile: the late Mr. Hiromichi Miura, Advisor and Prior Managing Director at that time Mr. Miura has conducted research on armor a Japanese samurai warrior of the Sengoku Period. He was one of the few Japanese armorers in the world. His research enabled us to recreate a set of armor in 1/4 scale that is identical in every way in the real armor of the day. In 1969, Appointed as Recommended Armorer by the Association for the Research and Preservation of Japanese Helmets and Armor. In 1975, Conducted repairs and restoration to a piece of Japanese armor that was presented by Tokugawa leyasu to King James I that is stored in the Tower of Museum. He has also restored and reproduced armor from many other regions.

Artist-Unno Sohaku

Born in 1962. Since 1990, He started to research and focus on the production of the original armors creation, helmets, kimono, own production of lacquerware from the time of “Azuchi Momoyama Period” and “Sengoku Period” of Japan. In 1997, Unno Sohaku requested “Mr. Hiromichi Miura”, to develop the 1/4 scale real armor of “Samurai Warrior – Oda Nobunaga”,  who is the only person associated with the preservation of Japanese helmets and armor in Japan. Continuosly, there was development of other real armors of 1/4 scale of Samurai Warriors of “Sanada Yukimura” & “Uesugi Kensin”. Under the watchful eye of artist and creative producer, Unno Sohaku, many professionals engaged in developing high accolades for its authentic reproduction of Sengoku period statues based on historical documents from the time. The final result is a product made of the highest quality.

Our proprietary research materials and the 1/4-scale armor reproductions crafted by our company based on them

Each of our historical samurai statues is meticulously developed from these intricate armor archives.

KENSIN'S Workshop In 1997, Unno Sohaku established a group of professionals engaged in developing three dimensional models. The professionals design and manufacture the three dimensional art molds, placing the most importance on detailed and accurate representation of original armors of helmets of Sengoku Period based on historical documents from the time. We are trying to produce fine art which will be appreciated in 100 years’ time from now on. All the molding and repainting is done one by one by our artisans. We are the only company with the specialist knowhow to excel in creating products to these exacting quality standards. Under the watchful eye of artist and creative producer, Unno Sohaku, the ten or more artists working for KENSIN Kobo Studio, each expertly work on different product manufacturing tasks such as molding, assembly, finishing, and painting.

###

Handling Precautions for Statues

• Display and Store: Please display the product away from high temperature, high humidity, and direct sunlight, as these may cause deterioration.
• Placement: This product is made of fragile materials. To prevent damage from tipping or dropping, please place it on a stable and secure surface.
• Lighting: Avoid exposing the statue to intense or strong lighting, as this may cause fading or discoloration.
• Safety: Keep out of reach of children.
• Fragile Parts: Please avoid touching the delicate and finely detailed areas, as this may lead to breakage.

*The images are for illustrative purposes only.
*The coloring may differ from the image due to the handwork of the artisans.
*Sizes are prototype measurements and may differ slightly from the actual product.
*Colors may appear different depending on the display device used.