[quote=Shiro]
So, after looking at this for a while, I'd be interested in joining. Would Japan, France, or one of the Russia's be viable to play as currently?
[/quote]

Japan and France are open and have pretty negotiable lore, and nothing really going on. Though even then there's a few things to keep in mind.

Russia however is less so, and there are things going on. So your ultimate creative freedom might be really bent up out of shape if you head for Russia. Not only is there a currently renewed Chinese-Siberian push into the "Republic", but you have a considerable amount of crime. The Russian Republic also makes up the largest representing piece of territory up there.

Otherwise I guess you got the failure of the Volgograd state in the Caucus region, and the post-Turkish governorship of their failed Mission in Russia. Or you have the Communist region of Novogord-Saint Petersburg.