Japan (Nazi Nukes

The Empire of Japan (Kyūjitai: 大日本帝國; Shinjitai: 大日本帝国; pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku; literally Great Imperial Japan or Great Empire of Japan, officially Great Japan, Empire of Greater Japan or Greater Japanese Empire; more widely known as Imperial Japan or the Japanese Empire) was a Japanese political entity that existed during the period from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until its defeat in World War II in 1945.

The country's rapid industrialization and militarization under the slogan Fukoku Kyōhei (富国強兵, Fukoku Kyōhei? "Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Military"), led to its emergence as a world power eventually culminating with its membership in the Axis alliance and the conquest of a large part of the Asia-Pacific region.

Despite several large scale military successes during the first half of the Pacific War, the Empire of Japan, after suffering numerous defeats as the war progressed, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, surrendered to the Allies on September 2, 1945. A period of occupation by the Allies followed the surrender and dissolution of the Empire, and a new constitution was created with American involvement. American occupation and reconstruction of the country continued well into the 1950s eventually forming the current modern Japan.

The Emperors during this time, which spanned the Meiji, Taishō and Shōwa eras, are now known by their posthumous names which coincide with those era names: Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito), Emperor Taishō (Yoshihito) and Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito). 大日本帝國 Dai Nippon Teikoku Empire of Greater Japan ↓ 	1868 – 1945 	↓ Flag 	Coat of arms Flag 	Imperial Seal Anthem "Kimi ga Yo" "Imperial Reign" Location of Japan Japanese Empire in 1931. Capital 	Tokyo Religion 	State Shinto Government 	Constitutional monarchy Emperor - 1868–1912 	Emperor Meiji - 1912–1926 	Emperor Taishō - 1926–1989 	Emperor Shōwa Prime Minister - 1885-1888, 1892-1896, 1898, 1900-1901 	Itō Hirobumi - 1888-1889 	Kuroda Kiyotaka - 1889-1891 	Yamagata Aritomo - 1906-1908, 1911-1912 	Saionji Kinmochi - 1901-1906, 1908-1911 	Katsura Tarō - 1913-1914, 1923-1924 	Yamamoto Gonnohyōe History - Meiji Restoration 	January 3, 1868 - Prefecture reform 	August 29, 1871 - Constitution 	November 29, 1890 - Surrender 	September 2, 1945 Area 	675,000 km² (260,619 sq mi) Population - est. 	97,770,000 Density 	144.8 /km² (375.1 /sq mi) Currency 	Japanese yen Korean yen Taiwanese yen Japanese military yen