The Ship Model Forum

ZIPANG is a Japanese manga/anime that provides a "what-if" in both the story and the ship that is the center of the story. The set-up is very much like THE FINAL COUNTDOWN, a modern warship is somehow transported back through time to World War II. Only, in ZIPANG, the ship is a Japanese Defense Force Aegis destroyer, the MIRAI. The story line changes radically from COUNTDOWN, however. In that story, the USS NIMITZ returns to the present time without having any noticable impact on history. In ZIPANG, the appearance of the MIRAI right in the middle of the Japanese task force sailing to the Battle of Midway immediately disrupts history as we know it and things continue to change from that point on. That's the "what-if" in the story. But the MIRAI itself is also a variation. She is a modification of the KONGO class (the JDF version of the BURKE's) that has been lengthened for the addition of a hangar that houses a SH-60 Sea Hawk and an entirely fictional VTOL recon aircraft that resembles a cross between a AH-64 and a V-22 Osprey. The JDF has since put into service a stretched Aegis destroyer that very much resembles the MIRAI, but the manga came first.

This is a 1/1400 model of the MIRAI produced by F-Toys. I have modified and detailed it.



This angle shows the hangar.



This is the VTOL aircraft.



If you have any interest in alternate history, I highly recommend ZIPANG. It is a well told story and does not have any of the annoying juvenile aspects that detracts from much anime. The anime series is available on DVD in the US.

I have more pictures and descriptions of the MIRAI and VTOL at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/sfscalemodels/DDG182Mirai#

http://picasaweb.google.com/sfscalemodels/MVSA32JUmidori#

I forgot to mention that Pit Road produced a 1/700 scale kit of the MIRAI that included the tilt-rotor aircraft. I haven't built that yet, though, so can't say how it will turn out. It looks good in the box.

I have the 1/350 kit coming this week.. I am trying to find the DVD of the series.. The ship has some great lines...

I didn't know there was a 1/350 version. I only build 1/700 or smaller so that's all I looked for.

The entire series (seven discs) is available to rent from Netflix or purchase from Amazon.

I agree that it is a pretty ship. And it is used well in the story.

Hey good day,
was looking through my list of projects to do this winter... Yeah Projects....
This has been on the back burner for a while... I know the kit for this ship was a KONGO with some resin parts to look like the drawing below.
This ship was designed before the real ATAGO was built and not sure if she every return to her present time or remained in WWII. With all that background being said..
So lets do a fresh start a redesign of the MIRAI sort of speaking:::::::

Yes a Fresh start.. What would the MIRAI look like if she was able to return to the modern era .. so lets throw some ideas around here are my thoughts:
The donor kits would be the 1/350 ATAGO, KONGO and TAKANAMI which I was able to pick up for a really good price, plus a loin roar upgrade set for the KONGO...

1. Use the ATAGO hull and deck which is the correct length for the ship based on the descriptions.
2. Use the hangar from the Takanami which appears more correct based on drawing and video have seen.
3. I think the whole section from the forward part of the hangar to the bridge needs to be redesigned. Specifically the Harpoon locations need to be re-located..
4. I know the JMSDF using the lattice structure due to weather conditions in their operational area.. but I think it needs an update...
Thoughts... additions... deletions.. ?????
Thanks
Major-B

That series is not available on the Canadian version of Netflix yet.

I thought one of the better scenes was its duel with the Yamato off Guadalcanal.

But fortunately I bought the whole DVD box set (Japanese with Chinese and English subtitles) at my local anime store here in Richmond BC before it closed down. Ha!



Pity it was only one season though. Seems we'll never know what happened to Lcdr. Kusaka as he's being chased to Manchukuo by the Mirai's XO.

_________________
"Haijun" means "navy" in Mandarin Chinese.

"You have enemies? Good. It means you stood up for something in your life."- Winston Churchill

It sounds like the Manga continued somewhat further, though much of it isn't available in English yet. I watched what there is of the anime and I confess, I rather liked it. Still frustrated that they canceled it so quickly. (Can't ever think of that happening before.)