First time playing Japan...

[Galithor]

Keep in mind that some of these ideas, like attack Shanxi, and then China, or attack at China at day 140, etc... aren't good ideas for multiplayer games.

The #1 thing that will get your ass chewed out playing as Japan in an organized multiplayer game is unnecessarily jacking up the world tension at the wrong time or by incorrectly declaring war on China. The biggest mistake a novice Japan player makes is giving the Commonwealth 20% world tension waaaaaay to early.

 

[Meglok]

This makes me think that there should be a national focus for Japan to generate some aluminum via some of the methods you mentioned above.

Or just add in the missing aluminum sites in Palau and other areas like they did with rubber.

Keep in mind that some of these ideas, like attack Shanxi, and then China, or attack at China at day 140, etc... aren't good ideas for multiplayer games.

The #1 thing that will get your ass chewed out playing as Japan in an organized multiplayer game is unnecessarily jacking up the world tension at the wrong time or by incorrectly declaring war on China. The biggest mistake a novice Japan player makes is giving the Commonwealth 20% world tension waaaaaay to early.

Tactics in a multiplayer large group game must always be adjusted to reflect team goals and WT effects. The same butt chewing can come from spamming volunteers, early fabrication by Italy, etc.

 

[Dalwin]

Good point about aluminum.

The game designers did a fine job illustrating the aluminum shortages suffered by Japan in WW2. In an attempt to meet the demand for aluminum, Japan accomplished the following in WW2:

1. Developed methods to extract aluminum from Manchurian and Korean shale and clay (instead of more efficient bauxite). Although industrially inefficient, these methods produced tons of aluminum for the Japanese war effort.
2. Established bauxite mines in mainland China's Shandong province.
3. Built aluminum smelters in Taiwan (Formosa), taking advantage of the hydroelectric power on the island.
4. Ramped up bauxite mining operations on the island of Palau.
5. Conquered the bauxite-rich Dutch East Indies island of Bintan (just south of Singapore -- the map erroneously depicts Bintan as a Commonwealth possession, bug report submitted ).
6. Seized and exploited the bauxite mines in Malaya.
7. Lowered the purity of aluminum produced near the war's end.
8. As far as I know, Japan did not accomplish the following: high volume production of wooden airframes a la the de Havilland Mosquito and other wood planes of the era.

HoI4's theme of "Japan suffered from a shortage of aluminum" is accurate.

When Japan comes up for its turn for a dedicated DLC, perhaps Japan's real-world attempts to mitigate its aluminum shortages can be reflected in the new content.

Those are interesting details, but unless I am mistaken, most of those sources of aluminum do not even appear the in the game. There are a few tiny sources that Japan can conquer in all the territory ranging from India to New Zealand. The only sizable source in their half of the world is in the Soviet area north of Mongolia.

This problem is exacerbated by the fact that they cannot even import from Germany (once Japan is at war) without sending convoys through the English Channel. Germany could conquer India and still all trade with Japan will go through the Channel.

 

[Meglok]

Those are interesting details, but unless I am mistaken, most of those sources of aluminum do not even appear the in the game. There are a few tiny sources that Japan can conquer in all the territory ranging from India to New Zealand. The only sizable source in their half of the world is in the Soviet area north of Mongolia.

This problem is exacerbated by the fact that they cannot even import from Germany (once Japan is at war) without sending convoys through the English Channel. Germany could conquer India and still all trade with Japan will go through the Channel.

Yep, I have mentioned it several times and tagged in the devs. There was a huge thread on Manchurian aluminum earlier. I find it so unbalancing now I think I will play Cato the Elder from now on and post "Add Aluminum in Asia" at the end of all my posts.

Add Aluminum in Asia

 

[Telenil]

If you go Mass Assault you will get TONS of MP with Japan. Like over 5 million.

Don't you effectively get that and more by pupetting China? This may be TFV content but it is possible to have division filled with Chinese manpower once you get it as an integrated puppet.