Story of Japanese Empire
Here you can see Japanese Empire at it is at year 1919. Japanese is one of 3 rank nations, if strength is measured by population. China is class of it own and France, Norway, Georgia and Indonesia having big advantage over 6th place.
Japan currently first among equals. If you can consider Germany with it's 270 million aryans equal.
Ant here you can see how it is done, only 9% of working class haven't been sent to factories and those are mostly inhabitants of Manchurian region.
While one of smallest nations of earth, if measured by territory, Japanese controlled territories is far flung and offers good bases for power projection. Japanese archipelago is core territory. Of it's 6,852 islands Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyūshū is by far the largest ones. Here is concentrated half of Japanese population and over 61% of our industry. Loosing those territories would effectively spell doom to This country, and that's why strong navy is one of our priorities.
Sahalin, Formosa, Kamchatka, Korea and various Pacific islands is considered to be inner ring of Japanese conquests . Keeping these territories is vital to secure naval and air bases in close proximity of core territories. Of above mentioned territories one have crucial role - numerous and industrious Korean citizens have long been conquered and pacified. These territories holds exactly 15% of Japanese manpower and industry, as well as minor coal fields.
Lastly there is Manchuria and our Indian holdings. As these are most recent acquisitions Immortal Emperor takes great care to tighten his grip on those territories. Manchuria has always been disputed territory between China and Japan. In these 1,8 million square km lives 13 million people, mostly of Manchu origin. They have been accepted as a loyal citizens of Empire and causes no trouble. Nevertheless Chinese still see part of Inner Manchuria as theirs. In the beginning of 1901 part of these territories were sold to China as a sign of good will reducing Japanese territory by 3 provinces.Only 4% of our Industry is located there, but that is soon to change.
Further south and good deal to west is Japanese India. Bordering superpower of our time it was viewed as precious but vulnerable asset. It turned out that Indonesian ruler have more virtues than power. Our two nations were able to negotiate alliance allowing us to enlarge our oversea territories. These, outlined with blue, were bought from Prussians for 900 000$, and the one, outlined with yellow was promised to be handed to our control if favorable peace deal with Georgia and Western allies is possible. About 27% of our subjects live in India, though only 7% have been granted citizenship rights. Those live mostly by subcontinent West side and is considered loyal enough. On paper impressive 21% of our national product is produced here, though, in reality only 8% is being exported from Imperial ports, 11% if Governor of India is brutal enough, to be called Prince of Terror. Rest is used to appease ungrateful.
I have heard rumors, that Georgia will have to part with Socotra and Seychelles islands. If that is the case infrastructure of these islands will be built up to serve as forward bases.
) If necessary we could just sit about occupying them for the next fifteen years and scoop up a nice amount of extra rares when we hit HoI. Naval supremacy for the win!
