Game of Diplomacy: Youngtown Redux
Countries
1. Japan
A powerful country, “the Britain of the East” Japan is clearly a strong power defensively and has some offensive capabilities. Yet, Japan’s main flaw is the fact the defensiveness of the Japanese Isles weakens its offensive position requiring convoys and control of the seas to move inland that is needed to win. In that perspective, Japan overarching goal then should be to make Tsingtao, Vladivostok, Shanghai, Peking, Guangzhou, Saigon, and Singapore; Japanese or allied with Japan. With those ports in control Japan is almost assured a survival and strong possibility of a solo or draw. Japan is overall comparable to Britain however is a bit weaker defensive (in the short term at least) and stronger offensively.
Position
Japan has a very secure position in the East with three fleets and an army Japan has a very good chance for 2 or 3 builds and landing an army on the mainland. The Philippines, Formosa, Korea, and Karafuto are all within grasp in the first year. Yet, there is one respect where Japan is a bit weaker defensively than Britain, while Britain only have the French fleet in Brest; Japan has a Russian, Chinese, and German fleet within striking distance. There is also a critical sea space that will be contested with Japan; East China Sea which touches 6 SCs, 3 of which are Home SCs.
Targets
To win a player only needs 1/3 of the SCs or 28. This is where Japan struggles a bit. Let’s start north with Vladivostok, Karafut, then all of “Greater China” (All Chinese Home SCs, Tsingtao, then the 4 neutrals of Mongolia, Korea, Xinjiang, and Manchuria for a total of 9) this gives Japan 14 in the north and center. Moving south Japan can seize the Philippines, Borneo, Java, Saigon, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and Burma. This puts Japan at 22, now picking up the remaining 5 is where Japan has to think of for the long term game. Japan can seize a European SC or two with the off boxes but this is gain and hard to defend yet somewhat possible. Japan could end up mopping up India and take Ceylon, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay for a win. It would be really hard work to take Omsk or Persia since they are easily held from the west. A few more possible end game SCs are Afghanistan, Mogadishu, and Oman.
Openings
Japan has some options in the first year. We will be concentrating on the fleets. While the Army in Kyoto has a lot of options indeed this is deceiving. The army should move into Non-SC Japanese territories depending on what fleet that the army is going to be convoyed on. Sapporo should go to Sea of Japan if possible. With this it keeps Russia on its toes, keep Russia away from Japan and contests for Korea and Karafuto. However, if Russia’s friendship is desired it may be better to move into North Pacific Ocean. Tokyo is useful to move into the South Pacific Ocean which will be able to pick up a build in the south. North Pacific Ocean with Tokyo in combination with Sapporo-Sea of Japan is a risky gambit to gain control of northeast Asia, I don’t recommend it but, it has merits. Osaka has the awkward East China Sea conflict to deal with. It is 100% preferable for Japan to take East China Sea in the spring however this can be opposed by China or Germany or in a worse case situation the combination of both.
Friends and Enemies
Japan has a few neighbors to deal; the most important however is China. Shanghai will always be a threat to Japan, China is also a crucial part of a Japanese Empire, it would be extremely hard to get a solo without China or its neutrals that China will claim. Short term alliances and deals can be formed but, in the long term China and Japan are hardly compatible. Germany or Russia in that regard can be good short to midterm allies given a token position in the Far East. As Japan they are ultimately going to have to be dealt with less they become a threat. Ideally, Japan work to create alliance against China and then work one by one knock off the Europeans. An Anglo-French war in the south is very much preferred for easier expansion in the South and with an Anglo-French alliance a serious threat to Japanese expansion. India can be a friend or foe. India has solid armies which can help Japan on its landward expansion while its fleets can be a major problem in the long term. It preferable for India to go west and it is possible for India and Japan to form a mid to long term alliance.