There is something very cool about putting a Japanese force on the table.
The mix of stubborn infantry, oddball armor and elite naval troops always feels different. With Armies of Imperial Japan: Third Edition now on pre order for a January 29, 2026 release, Warlord have basically said, here is the definitive way to do it. This book is 96 pages of full colour, all focused on making Japan feel like Japan in Bolt Action. Since it also arrives with new minis and a new starter, it is pretty clear they want people playing Pacific and China in 2026.
A Full Rebuild of the Army List
This is not just a light refresh. The book gathers Japanese units from across the whole war and then pairs them with a new suite of National Special Rules. That is the important part. Japan in Bolt Action has always leaned into things like fanatical infantry and close assault tools, but this version is built so you can dial that up or down to match the campaign you want to play. Because the options are folded into one place, it means you can run early war China, island fighting, or late war home defense without jumping between sources. It is meant to feel different from a Soviet horde or a German veteran list, and this time you get the levers to make that happen.
Into the Jungle with Hiroo Onoda
No Bolt Action book is complete without a character model, and this one is a gem. The special figure is Into the Jungle, which is their take on Hiroo Onoda, the officer who kept fighting on Lubang for 29 years after the war ended. That story is legendary in military history, and it fits the tone of Japanese armies in game, because they are the force that refuses to go home. Here he is shown as he started that long war, neat uniform, full kit, ready to obey orders no matter how long it takes. On the tabletop you can drop him in as an NCO or a platoon commander, which is perfect for narrative games. Just remember to pick him up after the battle or he might still be holding out in your carry case in 2055.
New Plastics, New Toys, Same Relentless Theme
To line up with this fifth wave of Bolt Action books, Warlord are rolling out two new plastic kits. The biggest deal is the new infantry platoon kit that covers the Imperial Japanese Army, the Special Naval Landing Forces, and even something extra they are not quite saying yet. That matters because Japanese collections are often a mix of those uniforms and helmets, so having one flexible sprue is going to make painting faster and armies more consistent.
On top of that there is the Type 98 AA truck, so you can finally bring mobile autocannon fire to those tables where enemy aircraft or light vehicles have had it too easy. There is also a new plastic vehicle that they are holding back for a reveal, which suggests they are trying to round out the motor pool a bit more for the mid war period.
Start a Japanese Army in One Box
Because not everyone wants to build a list from scratch, they are releasing a For the Emperor starter army at the same time. That box brings the new infantry straight in, then adds a Chi Ha tank, a Ho Ro self propelled gun, and the support pieces to make a proper force. So you get armor, artillery, and the infantry core that this new book actually expects you to have. Since the book is clearly written to give Japanese players more list personality, this starter is a pretty good way to jump in without scavenging old metal kits or chasing out of print blisters.
Final Orders
Armies of Imperial Japan: Third Edition looks like the version Warlord have wanted to do for a while. It is one book, modern layout, new national rules, plastic support, and a themed character that actually speaks to the way Japanese armies play in Bolt Action. It should make narrative games in the Pacific and Southeast Asia cleaner to run, and it should also give competitive players more tools than just bamboo charges and bomb sticks. So if you have been waiting for a good excuse to paint jungle uniforms, slap some kanji on an AA truck, and shout Banzai without feeling weird about it, January 29, 2026 is your date.
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