Japan: The Asian Power 1900-1936
Japan's entrance into the world stage as a serious power was a journey that revolutionized the world in many respects. Japan itself, at the turn of the century, had just come out of a rather turbulent civil war, between the warrior ruler the "Shogun", and the traditional Meji emperor in Kyoto. This war was mainly over foreign involvement in Japan, which up until that point, was decades behind the rest of the world, still adhering to Medieval practices in regards to farming, and industry was nonexistent. However, once foreign powers invested and began to modernize Japan, the traditional anti-foreigner sentiment took hold, and thus the war began. Ironically, France, America and Great Britain sponsored both sides, and foreign advisers were in high demand, some even given traditional tiles and fiefdoms. The result of the war was not only the victory of the Emperor, but the emergence of Japan as a modern power. Oddly, Japan never abandoned it's traditional virtues, simply marrying it to it's modernization, producing beautiful works of art of factories for example. However, Japan was not truly considered significant until the Russo-Japanese war(8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905), in which Japan outclassed the Russians, who suffered a humiliating string of defeats, and greatly affected their prestigious place in Geo-politics.
A beautiful Japanese woodblock print of the battle of Mukden, a decisive Japanese victory.
A cartoon depicting Russia's prestige flowing through the Hourglass, watched by a defeated Tsar. The Russo-Japanese war was the beginning of the end for Imperial Russia
However, Japan's true calling came in World War 1, where she joined the Entente in 1914. Japan's role was many beneficial to herself, as she took most of the German-leased ports in China, as well as the Pacific Islands. It also allowed herself to assert her rights over Manchuria, which she had taken off the Russians. Following the Russian Revolution, she seized certain Russian assets, which were given back to the USSR at the end. Japan was allowed sit along the "Big Four" at Versailles, but like Italy, Japan did not really benefit from the treaty, though she was allowed to keep captured German assets. Japan also emerged out of the war as a major power, regocnized by all European states as a serious force in Asia. Unfortunately, despite the increase in light industry in the war, Japan suffered from extreme rural poverty, and had very little heavy industry to speak of. To compensate, Japan was the spearhead in Battleship warfare, and had a Navy few other powers could hope to match.
The "Wakamiya" a seaplane carrier. This was the basis of the modern aircraft carrier, and a beacon of Japanese innovation.
The "HIJMS Aki", an example of Japanese Battleship innovation. This was based off the British and German Dreadnought design, but with a few modifications.
Japan suffered political strife and financial disastrous, much like the rest of the world during the 20's. The Army, desperate to restore order hired and fired (and assassinated) ministers and bureaucrats. It came to a head however, over the Mukden incident in 1931, whereupon a Chinese nationalist .attempted to blow a railway line in Manchuria. The bomb went off, and the train simply kept going. This was the excuse the army needed. Of it's own accord, the Japanese army invaded Manchuria for the second time, attacking Chinese troops, and the war was quickly won. The puppet state Manchukuo was established. This act of aggression led to Japan's expulsion from the League of Nations. It was the beginning of Japanese Nationalism, and the start of it's international isolation from the powers that criticized it as "brutal" and "reckless".
The spot where the bomb went off, sparking the Mukden incident.
Imperial forces move into Manchuria. Note the winter gear, a recent practice in the IJA, after 1905 war where many men died of attrition.
Our story begins on the eve of war with China, as I find the year 1936 to be dreary. We'll get a rundown of the plan, and I'll show you our force composition.