Journey back to the dawn of the Japanese archipelago. Before the rise of the samurai or the elegance of the tea ceremony, there was the Tateana-Minka. This model is a masterwork of archeological reimagining, bringing the primitive soul of the Jomon and Yayoi periods to your tabletop in 28mm scale. It is a piece of living history, representing the ancient “pit-dwellings” that sheltered Japan’s first communities against the shifting seasons of the prehistoric wild.

The Architecture of the Earth

The Tateana-Minka is defined by its deep connection to the ground. Historically, these structures were built by excavating a shallow pit and raising a timber frame covered in heavy layers of straw and bark.

Our model captures the unique Fuseya-zukuri style, where the roof effectively becomes the walls. The centerpiece of this sculpt is the multi-tiered thatched roof, a design that provided superior insulation and water runoff. At the very peak, you will find the Chigi—crossed wooden finials that would eventually evolve into the iconic roof ornaments of Shinto shrines. Surrounding the base is a low-profile wooden palisade, a detail that suggests a guarded homestead or a sacred site tucked away in the deep cedar forests.

Pioneering Design: 100% Support-Free Printing

We believe that the beauty of a model should be matched by the ease of its creation. The Tateana-Minka has been engineered with intelligent, self-supporting geometry, first engineered and invented by Iain Lovecraft, allowing it to be printed completely support-free on FDM machines.

By utilizing the natural slope of the thatched tiers, we have integrated support logic directly into the aesthetic of the building.

Flawless Execution: Say goodbye to the nightmare of picking plastic supports out of delicate thatch textures. The print finishes clean, preserving the organic “flow” of the straw.
Optimized Efficiency: With no waste material generated by supports, you save on filament costs and significantly reduce total print time.
Instant Immersion: The model is ready for the primer booth the moment it leaves the build plate. The geometry is so precisely tuned that the layers themselves mimic the horizontal binding of traditional Japanese thatch-work.

Whether you are a veteran of 3D printing or a newcomer, this model is designed to provide a “perfect print” experience every time, ensuring that the ancient details—from the grain of the fence to the texture of the mossy roof—are captured with high-fidelity resolution.

A New Dimension for Your Tabletop World

The inclusion of a Tateana-Minka shifts the tone of a gaming table from “medieval” to “mythical.” In 28mm scale, its distinctive circular silhouette and tiered roof create a visual anchor that is unlike any other piece of terrain.

A Bridge to Japanese Mythology

In games focused on Japanese folklore or Yokai hunters, this dwelling is the perfect home for a wise hermit, a mountain spirit, or a forgotten deity.

The Shaman’s Hut: Use the model as a central objective where your players must consult a prehistoric priestess.
Ancient Ritual Sites: Because the architecture predates the formalization of Buddhism in Japan, the Tateana-Minka feels “older” and more “magical.” It is the ideal setting for a ritual to appease a forest Kami.

Tactical Depth and Line of Sight

From a gameplay perspective, the Tateana-Minka offers unique challenges. Its low, sloped profile means it doesn’t just block line of sight; it provides varying degrees of cover.

The Palisade Wall: The surrounding fence provides a “hard cover” barrier for infantry, creating a defensive perimeter that players must breach.
Verticality: The stepped tiers of the roof allow for creative placement of small scouts or supernatural creatures that can “perch” on the ledges, giving them a commanding view of the battlefield.
The Entryway: The detailed, recessed doorway creates a natural chokepoint, perfect for a desperate last stand or a tense room-to-room skirmish.

The Fine Art of the Primitive

Every inch of this model is designed to be a painter’s playground. We have emphasized the “organic” nature of the materials:

Bundled Thatch: The ridges in the roof are deep enough to catch a heavy wash, while the raised edges are sharp enough for high-contrast dry-brushing.
The Wood Grain: The fence and door frames feature a “rough-hewn” texture, suggesting tools made of stone or early bronze rather than modern steel.
Weathering Opportunities: The model includes small patches of sculpted moss and wear. For the ultimate look, we recommend adding “burnt umber” pigments around the base to simulate the damp earth of a true pit-dwelling.

Scalability and Versatility

While designed for 28mm, the Tateana-Minka is a versatile asset. In a samurai-era game, it can represent a storehouse or a primitive village on the outskirts of civilization. In a prehistoric game, it is a bustling family home. Its timeless design ensures it remains a staple of your terrain collection across multiple genres and systems.

Conclusion

The Tateana-Minka is a celebration of Japan’s earliest architectural triumphs. It combines the raw, prehistoric beauty of the ancient world with the modern technical sophistication of support-free 3D printing. By adding this model to your table, you aren’t just adding a building—you are adding thousands of years of history and a sense of wonder that will captivate your players.