Empire of Japan

Background
The Empire of Japan existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the new post-World War 2 1947 constitution and the new creation of modern Japan. It represented the Japanese Archipelago and other conquered lands.

Using the slogans of Fukoku Kyōhei and Shokusan Kōgyō, the Empire underwent a sudden surge of industrial and military power. It has the fasted industrialization in human history, with all these conditions adding up to the Empire of Japan's rise of power and the establishment of an empire after the First Sino-Japanese War, and World War 1. Economic poverty, the Great Depression, and the rise of militarism all led to the Empire joining the Axis Powers in September 27, 1940.

Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
In 1931, the Empire of Japan, using the Kwantung Army invaded Manchuria. The Chinese government barely resisted, resulting in Japan annexing Manchuria. In Feburary 1932, Japan established the puppet state of Manchukuo. Their annexing was finally stopped when the Soviet Union and Mongolia succeeded with the Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation in 1945.