The Empire of Japan

The **Empire of Japan** is a country in East Asia. It consists of the Japanese Archipelago, the Korean Peninsula, and several Pacific Islands, including Taiwan, Micronesia, Polynesia and Polynesia. Japan has direct administration over several coastal regions on mainland Asia, including Zhanjiang, Shanghai, Weihai, and Dalian.

Japan controls the majority of East and Southeast Asia through the management of various puppet governments, the Japanese Government claims that these states are independent such as the National State of China and the Independent Republic of the Philippines. These are in fact occupied territories of the Japanese Empire that are forced to submit in both their military and their economy. The Japanese Empire only admits to one directly controlled territory and that is the Japanese Territory of Siberia which was seized in the Soviet-Japanese War in 1943 and 44.

All of these countries are members of the Dai Tōa Kyōeiken, an alliance through which Japan controls its territories and manages relations with client and Imperial Puppet states, as well as Trade. The Main Japanese Trading partners are the British Empire who hold the vital trading fortress of Singapore on mainland Asia. The British Empire is the Japanese's largest rival in Asia but they instead opt to maintain peaceful relations due to the strong Royal Navy presence.

## History

### Pre-war (before 1939)

Japan's rapid industrialization and militarization led to its emergence as a world power and the establishment of a colonial empire following the First Sino-Japanese War, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Russo-Japanese war.

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident launched by the Japanese in July 1937, would cause one of the most brutal conflicts the world has ever seen. The Second Sino-Japanese War

### Second Sino-Japanese War (1937 - 1942)

Despite the numbers advantage for the Chinese Army, the political instability between the Communists, Kuomintang and the Chinese Warlords despite proclaiming a United Front led to a weakened state of the United Front's forces. The Chinese Armies were overwhelmed during the opening months of the war. Japan’s vastly superior armed forces, armed with modern guns, sailing on battleships, and riding on soaring planes tore through division after division. In the opening year of the war alone, the Republic of China lost the vast majority of its cities, crucial to the continuation of the conflict. Amphibious Invasions along the coast throughout 1938 to 1941 would press the Chinese Armies inland, losing supplies and allies the further they were pushed inland.

In 1940, the Empire of Japan invaded French Vietnam and French Colonies in Asia, this created a de-facto alliance between the United Front and the retreating French Republic. This made little difference however as with the Defense of Hengyang, Mao Zedong , the leader of the Communist Forces was killed in the defence alongside a significant portion of the Communist Fighters. This defeat would set the Kuomintang back greatly as the communists were some of the better forces in the United Front. The Communists then dropped out after this defeat in 1941.

A year later, the war would end with the Last Stand, the Battle of Chongqing. The Last Remnants of the Chinese Army led by Chiang Kai-Shek attempted to defend Chongqing against 120,000 Japanese Forces. The 17,000 Chinese Force would hold for several days before being slaughtered on the 9th of August 1942. Chiang Kai-Shek was killed in the fighting. The Chinese Forces surrendered on the 14th of August and the Second Sino-Japanese War ended with a definite Japanese Victory.

However, Japan did not emerge unscathed. The tatters of democracy which still held in pre-war Japan, were slaughtered in the blood of war. A new state emerged, one built for war, one not seen anytime before. A new word would arise to define these states - totalitarian. Japan was now a pure war machine and ideologically devoted to war and the Emperor. The defiance of the Chinese Armies and the blood spilt created a new generation of Japanese Soldiers. They committed war crimes across the continent and were ruthless. China was destroyed.

This peace would not last long though, a year later the Japanese War Machine would kick back into action to enter The Second World War.

### Second World War Involvement (1943 - 1944)

Other than the minor involvement in 1940 against France, Japan was keen to stay out of the Second World War on either side. The Top Generals of Japan feared the Americans. They believed if the Empire of Japan also entered the war against the Soviets, the Americans would spring into action and crush the Japanese. They also feared the British and if they sided against the Germans then they would enter into a war with the British Empire if the British decided to fully enter.

However, with the war in it's seemingly closing stages in 1943 with the death of Stalin and fall of Moscow, Japanese Leaders believed the war would be over and the Japanese could finally stand down their armies, who were poised on the Soviet Borders as a precautionary measure. But something unforeseeable occurred, the Soviets defeated the German Army at the Battle of Zlatoust and had begun a full counteroffensive. The Japanese were immediately in a state of panic as it looked like Germany may be defeated and then it would be Japan next. As the Soviets captured Gorky, the Japanese crossed into Siberia and began to siege Vladivostok.

The Soviet Army stopped as the Japanese Army flooded into Siberia. Zhukov formed a ceasefire with the Germans and sent his entire army to the East to defeat the Japanese. However, Lavrentiy Beria would begin a coup against Zhukov and would eventually take control of the Soviet Revolutionary Government. Beria saw war with Japan as the end of the USSR. He then sought a ceasefire with Japan which the Emperor accepted. Hirohito formed the Japanese Territory of Siberia as a way of controlling the vast lands ceased in the war.

### Post-War (1944 - 1946)

Over the next two years, the Empire tried to break away from it's brutal warpath. It survived seven years of total war, yet it could not survive the peace that followed. They are now fierce rivals with Germany and in a tense period with the British in Singapore. The Japanese now were forced to have good relations with the British or risk economic collapse. The Empire of Japan appears as a world superpower, but keen observers can see the cracks hiding just under the paint. Japan's invasion of the Philippines in 1945 was only saved by President Garner's inability to take action and declare war. This has greatly moved America to a near point of hostilities with Japan.

The Japanese Showa Government is falling apart, being split between the pre-war liberals and the new war hawks. In the middle of this is the Emperor and the Traditionalists, desperately trying to keep the peace between the two sides. The political situation is dire, no major reforms or change can be made with the Liberals, Radicals and Traditionalists all arguing with each other. Should the party completely fall apart, a functional government will be impossible, and Japan will be locked in political stagnation, something which Japan can't afford, and which may bring the Emperor to take action to avoid this eventuality. Despite the Emperor having absolute power, he has not interfered with the Politics and instead allowed his Showa Party which was formed as the only party of Japan (therefore combining the Liberals, Radicals and Traditionalists all into one). Led by Isoroku Yamamoto , representing the Traditionalists, he has the tough job of managing the party/Government and ensuring the grittier details of politics are carried out on the Emperor's behalf.

This political failure has made dissent grow in it's occupied lands. The National State of China and the Independent Republic of the Philippines have both seen a rise in separatist movements and wide spread violence against the military forces occupying the people.

Economically, Japan is dominated by the Zaibatsus, economic conglomerates. They dominate Japan's economy by owning almost every industry in both Japan and its allies. During the war, the Zaibatsus had developed a close relationship with the government and the various branches of the armed forces, which ensured they received all the contracts for the increasing supply needs of the war effort. This put the Japanese Government in debt to the Zaibatsus, a matter which is always the focus of political debate in the Showa Party.