Empire of Japan

The **Empire of Japan** is from 1868 until 1947, and is one of the factions featured in Call to Battle 2.

A predecessor of the modern Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, the IJA was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army. The IJA was dissolved in 1947 after World War II.

## History

During the Tokugawa shogunate era, Japan didn't had an official unified national army as its land was divided by feudal domains. The Imperial Guard was formed in March 1871 and was considered the predecessor to the Imperial Japanese Army.

Fast forward to the early-20th Century, the Imperial Japanese Army was becoming larger thanks to conscription. During World War I Japan aligned themselves with the Allied forces, despite its previous conflict with Russia and subsequently the IJA captured German colonies in the pacific.

After a series of border conflicts with the newly formed Soviet Union and the establishment of a Manchurian puppet state. Japan became more distant from the former Allied Powers.

On September 1st, 1939. Nazi Germany with the help of the Soviet Union invaded Poland, beginning the Second World War. 2 years later, the IJA carried out a surprise attack on the naval base of Pearl Harbor, causing the United States to enter the war against Japan along with other consequences.

## In-game

The Empire of Japan was one of the first factions to be added in Call to Battle 2. Interestingly it wasn't present in its predecessor, Call to Battle 1. The Empire of Japan are always present on the Axis side. They fight against the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Soviet Union in the Pacific Theatre

### Classes

* **Rifleman:** Wears a Type 90 helmet with neck flaps and a star located on the front. A khaki Bousyo-i uniform with a belt holding ammunition pouches, a canteen located on the belt, and a backpack with pouches, a cloth blanket, and other necessities. Khaki pants. And brown boots. Players start with an Arisaka Type 99.
* **Assault/Technician:** Similar to the Rifleman pattern, albeit with two long ammo pouches on the front. Players start with the Arisaka Type 38 Carbine
* **Support:** Similar to the Rifleman pattern, lacks the backpack present in the previous classes. Players start with the Type 96 MG
* **Marksman:** Wears the same pattern as Support. Players start with the Type 97 Sniper Rifle.

## Weapons

Below is a list of weapons used by the Empire of Japan.

### Pistols

* Nambu Type 14
* Nambu Type 14 A
* Nambu Type 14 B

### Submachine Guns

* Type 100/40 SMG
* Type 100/44 SMG
* Model 2 SMG (kit item)
* NM-A Type 2 SMG (kit item)

### Bolt-Action Rifles

* Arisaka Type 38
* Arisaka Type 38 Carbine
* Arisaka Type 38 Cavalry
* Arisaka Type 99
* Arisaka Type 99 Long Rifle
* Arisaka Type 99 Sniper Rifle
* Arisaka Type 97 Sniper Rifle
* Arisaka Type 44 Carbine

### Semi-Automatic Rifles

* Type 4
* Type 4 'Jungle Camouflaging' (kit item)

### Light/Heavy Machine Guns

* Type 96 MG
* Type 99 MG
* ATU Type 97 7.7mm

### Bayonets/Melee Weapons

* Type 30 Bayonet
* Katana
* Elite Katana (kit item)

## Battles

* *Khalkhin Gol* ***/***  vs
* *Okinawa **/***  vs
* *Saipan **/***  vs
* *Buna Gona **/***  vs
	+ *Twin Villages **/***  vs

* *Guam **/***  vs
* *Iheyajima **/***  vs
* *Kuala Lumpur **/***  vs
* *Peleiliu **/***  vs
* *Tarawa Atoll **/***  vs
* *Hacksaw Ridge **/  vs***

## Kits

* Kenpeitai
* Frontline Scout
* Bushi Soldier
* Elite Sniper
* Naval Infantry

## Gallery

RiflemanAssault/TechnicianSupportMarksman
## Trivia

* The Empire of Japan originally had more lighter colored and less detailed uniforms. The helmet also lacked neck flaps, no helmet cover and resembled the old stahlhelm model.
* The Empire of Japan are the only faction that fight by themselves as of now, without another faction backing them up.
* Before update 5.2, when playing as the Empire of Japan during the beginning of a match. *Kimigayo*, the Japanese national anthem plays in its entirety.
* In update 5.6, the Empire of Japan received their own unique set of skins. Originally they used the universal skins other faction share.

## References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial\_Japanese\_Army
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniforms\_of\_the\_Imperial\_Japanese\_Army
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_Japanese\_military\_equipment\_of\_World\_War\_II