Japan's Strategies
This strategy is designed for games in which new industrial complexes have limited production (either IPC value = number of units built at a new complex per turn, or IPC value times 5 = IPC value of stuff built a new complex per turn).
On the first turn, if Russia has not attacked Manchuria nor sent some of their forces east, buy fighters. Throw all the air and sea power you have (except transports) that can reach the Hawaii sea zone into an attack on U.S. Hawaii navy. If it goes well and the U.S. does not reinforce the U.S. West navy, attack that on the second turn. Do not worry about your naval losses on these attacks and U.S. counter attacks -- you're just buying time.
During the first turn, use the transports to bring as much manpower to Asia as possible, stripping the Phillipines and taking land units from your capital. Only attack on the Asian continent if it looks like a really easy win.
On the second turn, buy a factory and infantry. Do not even think about buying navy. Attack the Allies' weakest links in Asia, but be sure to keep one of your original Asian territories in strong defensive position. Ship whatever you can to the contient, and put the factory in your contenental stronghold.
After that, always produce the maximum value in land units at your new factory. Spend the rest of your money on fighters built in Japan. Send fighters built in Japan to Asia, unless the U.S. starts to become a threat to your capital.
If either the U.S. or U.K. build an Asian factory, the only goal you then care about is capturing their factory. Focus all your efforts on that.
If the U.S. and U.K. do not build Asian factories, your contiental production will soon crush their Asian troops. Once the U.S. and U.K. cannot seriously threaten your Asian presence, build a SECOND factory in Asia in a territory with an IPC value of 3.
Once you have two Asian factories, you will be able to build five or six tanks (or 25-30 IPC's of land units, depending on which rules you are playing with) in Asia every turn. You are now a SERIOUS threat to Russia. When you only had one factory in Asia you were just an minor annoyance to Russia. Now you are ready to take the great bear down.
While you are doing this, America will probably take over most of your Pacific empire. Don't worry, you'll be making enough money in Asia to afford it. If the U.S. gets too dangerous in the Pacific, keep Japan and the Asian coast territories well garrisoned, and consider sacrificing some of your fighters in offensive battles for the chance to kill U.S. transports.
Russia may figure out what you are up to, and devote a lot of resources to stopping you. Relax. If they do that and Germany is not almost dead, let the Germans finish of Russia. Axis wins either way. -antichrismaman
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