Name:

The Empire of Japan

Territories:
In addition to of course, Japan, the Empire of Japan controls Korea, Manchukuo(As designated by the Japanese), the Island of Formosa, the Philippines, and the Island of Guam.

Government:

The Empire of Japan is an Absolute Monarchy, ruled currently by Emperor Meiji and his Imperial Court from Tokyo. Various Governmental agencies do exist to assist in the management of the Empire, as well as a parliament, however the Emperor reserves authority to override any of these decisions at anytime, and replace them with his own.

Important Characters:

Emperor Meiji

While originally merely little more than a symbol under the Tokugawa Shogunate Meiji’s quick and decisive actions during the Boshin War lead to the turnover of power to him and the Imperial Court. Emperor Meiji was also quick to exploit the blue coal and rapidly build up Japan’s industrial and military strength, leading to the creation of the Empire of Japan and it’s territories. He is however known to be not afraid to use military strength to quickly put down any rebellions, and thus is also known for being a bit brutal in the treatment of non-Japanese peoples that have been conquered.

Economy:

The Empire of Japan uses a capitalist model to run their economy, with intervention reserved as right of the government. It is to be noted that the government however does control all blue coal deposits, and does also provide subsidies for other industries and the construction of railroads and other infrastructure to further grow Japan’s strong economy. Japan exports huge amounts of blue coal due to it's huge deposits in the Japanese homeland as well as those gained from conquest. Japan also has a strong industrial base, allowing to export machinery and other goods, weapons and other war machines are kept to Japan however with the exception of Small Arms to allies. They also export huge amounts of refined materials to help fuel the economy.

Military:

Japan’s blue coal deposits as well as it’s huge population has allowed it to build up quite a large military. Their Air Force uses top-of-the-line airships to perform bombing runs and the latest in aeroplanes to help combat enemy airships. The navy as well as made large strides in the development of iron ships, and uses them to further secure Japan’s naval dominance over Asia and the Pacific.

Ground forces also make heavy use of blue coal to help fuel the war machine. Mechs and steam tanks are quite large. Mechs are used to fill both artillery roles as well as acting as mobile AA when the forces need it. Tanks are often designed to help punch through other enemy tanks as well as knock down any mechs. Ground forces are equipped with standard rifles, with most divisions possessing a few machine guns for use on enemy forces as well.

History:

The beginning of the Empire of Japan(and thus by extension the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate), can be traced back to the discovery of blue coal in Japan. It was given a Japanese name by the miners who discovered it, and it quickly lead to more deposits being discovered across the Asian Continent. The Imperial Court and it’s supporters found that the territories they held in Japan held a majority of the blue coal in Japan, and allowed them to become rich and industrialize while the other shoguns that supported the old order found themselves collapsing under the growing might of the Imperial Court.

It was shortly following this period that the Boshin War began, seeking to eliminate the Shogunate and once again grant the Imperial Court and by extension the Emperor supreme authority over Japan. The war was relatively short, as the Imperial Court’s access to blue coal was much more than that of the Shogunate, allowing the Imperial Court to dominate the fields with Airships and Mechs, while the Shogunate was stuck with outdated weapons.

With the end of the Boshin War Emperor Meiji stepped on to the steps of the Imperial Palace and declared that with Japan’s access to blue coal it shall no longer be dominated by the Europeans, and that it shall build it’s own Empire. Emperor Meiji began the Meiji Restoration, seeking to fully industrialize Japan and build up its military strength to compete with the rest of Europe. This move became highly popular amongst the Japanese people, as it brought new goods to them as well as new jobs, and made transportation and communication much easier than it would have ever been without the technology.

After Japan’s position was secure, and their military strength strong, they turned their eyes toward the nation of Korea. It was not long before Japan declared war on Korea with one intent, conquering it for the Empire of Japan. While Korea had blue coal deposits it’s touch had been felt much later than Japan, and thus it was not prepared for the Japanese invasion. A few years after the war began it ended, with the entirety of the Korean Peninsula occupied and under Japanese control. The King was forced to sign a treaty under duress handing Korea to Japan, and was then promptly exiled to Beijing in the Qing Empire. 

The Empire of Japan with Korea as a valuable territory of the Empire and a powerful military and a population growing increasingly more Jingoistic by the day the Empire took notice to the Philippines and Guam, realizing that they would make valuable territories and bases for the Empire of Japan. The war shortly began, and while Spain held out much longer than Korea due to their status as a European Nation, they to fell to the Japanese Forces. Spain signed a treaty in Tokyo seceding the Philippines and Guam to the Empire of Japan. The war was also historic as it marked one of the first times a asian nation not only defeated a European Nation but took some territory from them in the process as well.

As the Japanese secured the former Spanish Treaties Japan sent a treaty to Qing Empire which would have granted Japan many unfair trade rights in Qing Ports as well as open up several to Japan. However the Qing Empire refused Japan, as despite Japan’s dominance they still saw themselves as the strongest Asian Nation. The Qing Empire’s conservative values and humiliation by the European Powers at made it, despite blue coal deposits, refuse to adopt even basic industrial machines. The Qing Empire also saw Japan’s takeover of Korea as illegal and still recognized Korea as independent. 

The war did not last long, as Japan easily wiped away China’s old navy, as well as pushing up into Manchuria. After a Japanese forces reached Beijing, the Qing Government contacted Japan and sued for peace. The Treaty signed made the Qing recognize Korea as a part of Japan and the earlier treaty that was signed after the war as legal, in addition the Qing had to open up ports and grant the Japanese several trade rights. Another severe blow was the Qing was forced to secede Formosa and Manchuria(renamed Manchuoko after the war) to Japan. This war and treaty proved Japan was now the dominant power of East-Asia, and that they held more prestige than the Qing.

With Japan’s dominance in East Asia secured many European Nations with colonies still in Asia fear that Japan may try to take them, and while Japan has made no moves to indicate they will do so, the rumors exist none the less.