[quote=@Wernher]
I agree that its unlikely, but hey, the aim is to have fun. Id say nerf it a little, make Japan be in the process of reforms rather than start 100% ready and induatrializing? Its far fetched but hey, its a roleplay.
[/quote]

I'm willing to listen to this, but to be honest, I also don't get why a far-fetched idea is needed to have fun in a Roleplay. I mean, your 'United States of Greater Austria' is at the very limit of what I was willing to accept (no offense meant), and even then I had reservations about how it had claims on many of its neighbors (including all of Italy). But back to the Japan idea:

I am not against an earlier modernization for Japan, nor an earlier overthrow of the Shogunate. But there are other interesting and plausible ways to accomplish those ends than a peasant revolt that manages to sweep through the nation with miraculous military success and foreign support without strings attached. For example, a sudden plague which takes out the Shogun and his top officers, or Emperor Komei dying and his son falling under the influence of the Southern Daimiyo/Lords early. 

Or even Russia doing a Commodore Perry much earlier.