Nippon (Principia Moderni)

This is a profile page for the country Nippon (Japan) and its successor states as a part of the Principia Moderni (Map Game) game. It was formally controlled by Cosman246 but now it is under the control of VonGlusenburg. This page only shows Nippon since VonGlusenburg took control of the nation (1749 onwards).

Government
The Imperial House of Japan are the Dynasty which sit on the Imperial throne of Nippon. Nippon is a monarchy with the Emperor the head of state, however the Shogun rules in his place. The Shogun makes use of advisers and the Daimyo of the many prefectures across Nippon in order to work out government policy and enforce it.

The Daimyo lords govern their prefectures via the Machi bugyō There is a Machi bugyō office in the prefectural capital of each Prefecture, where around 100 Machi bugyō officials would oversee the running of the prefecture on the Daimyo's behalf, by running the police and fire-fighting forces of that prefecture; running the prefectural court by serving as judges in the prefectural courts; as well as managing a full range of other administrative and judicial responsibilities; including managing the tax revenue from the prefecture's citizens.

Administrative Divisions
Nippon is split up into 12 regions, are then split up into 56 prefectures spanning across the Nippon home islands (Hokkaidō, Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū), as well as the Nansei islands, Karafuto, Kamochatoka and the Chishima (Kuril) islands. These prefecture divisions in the home islands can be seen on the map opposite. The entire Nansei Island chain is a prefecture and the entire Chishima island chain is also a prefecture. Karafuto is also a prefecture now after the Karafuto colony became part of the Nipponese nation properly, and the rest of Karafuto was annexed following the the Karafuto reclamation war of 1777-1786. Kamchatoka became a prefecture of Nippon in 1790 too.

Each prefecture is ruled by a Daimyo who are in charge of administrating their own region. These Daimyo are also part of the Daimyo council which consort with the Shogun and his advisers on running Nippon. Each region also has a Regional Daimyo council where the Daimyo of that region meet up, to discuss matters concerning running the region, however these aren't that important when compared to the national Daimyo council with the Shogun, since this is where the policy making takes place. The regional councils are more for Daimyo supporting one another to rule their own prefecture; for example if a Tsunami was to hit a prefecture, then the other prefectures in the region would be the first to help, and other prefectures in different regions would help out if necessary or forced to do so by the Shogun. However the prefectures which take up the whole region like Chishima & Nansei prefectures their regional councils are different, as instead of being each prefecture Daimyo of the region, it is instead the governor of the individual islands in these prefectures.

Colonies

 * The Colony of Satotochi: This colony was founded around OTL Gonzaga in 1757, it was founded after the efforts of Daimyo Nishio Tadanao, who wanted Nippon to have her own supply of tropical goods like sugar, tropical fruit, coffee, etc. Sugar cane plantations are the main source of income for this colony, followed by tropical fruit orchards, logging and fishing. The colonial capital is Tadanao (named in honour of the colony's founder, Nishio Tadanao) and it is situated around OTL Gonzaga, Cagayan.


 * The Colony of Atarashii Nippon: This colony was founded around OTL Rabaul, Papa New Guinea, in 1807 and claims the rest of the OTL Bismarck Archipelago as part of the colony. The colony was founded following the efforts of the Inaba clan, and its head Inaba Masanobu who wanted to start another trading company to rival the Satsuma Corporation and Nishio Sugar Company, but needed land for plantations, and the Inaba clan couldn't get the required land in Satotochi colony because of the Satsuma-Nishio corporate control over the colony. Its main activities are plantations of sugar & fruit, there are also logging activities and fishing too. The colonial capital is Port Rabau, which is situated where OTL Rabaul, Papa New Guinea is.


 * The Colony of Ringga: Founded in 1819 following the Second Neapolitan-Pahang War, Nippon gained the Lingga islands, which are just off the coast of Sumatra. Nippon consolidated the territory of the Lingga islands she had acquired from the war by forming a colony comprising the Lingga islands into the colony of Ringga. A naval base, and a port are present on the north of Lingga island in the capital Port Ringga, and the colony is used primarily as a stopping point for Nipponese ships travelling to the west. Plantation work is also carried out on the island by the Tadagani Corporation. The Tadagani Corporation own the full plantation rights of the colony, and their plantations grow crops including sugar, cocoa, coffee, and fruits. Because of these plantations, the Tadagani Corporation employ the local people to work in the plantations mostly, and have created a sort of class system in Ringga colony, by establishing a ruling Nipponese class, and a working native class. Otherwise the main Nipponese port of Port Ringga in the north of Lingga Island is an important trade centre for Nipponese trade, a stopping point for Nipponese ships heading westwards, and is the capital of the colony.


 * The Colony of Papua: Following the Finnish-Turnate War of 1817, Nippon gained Misool island, Morotai island, Seram Laut and a few other smaller islands in the east of the Turnate nation; and then incorporated those islands into the colony of Papua. The capital Maruaasu is located in the bay north of the southeastern peninsula on Misool island. The colony 's main industries are plantations, fishing and logging.

Vassal states of Nippon

 * Chamoru: Chamoru is located in OTL Mariana Islands and was formed after the Imperial Nipponese Navy reached the Mariana Islands and make contact with the local Chamorro people on the islands. After some negotiations with a local chieftain, the chieftain agreed to become an ally of Nippon and has his Chiefdom became a vassal of Nippon; thus creating the Nipponese Vassal State of Chamoru on July 1st 1776. Chamoru has since gone on to annex the rest of the Mariana islands too, following the Chamoru expansion taking place from 1799 until 1801.

Puppet states of Nippon

 * Sunda: Established in 1821 to bring the nation of Sunda out of civil disarray and to stop the pirate problems around Java, Nippon's Ringga Grand Fleet were sent to support a Pro-Nipponese coup in Sunda, and this coup was successful, thus creating the Nipponese puppet state of Sunda is born, ending the vast majority of the pirate problems around Java. The puppet government is ruled by local Javanese but overseen by Matsudaira Sadanobu who was a former close adivsor to the Shogun.

Former Nipponese colonies and Vassals

 * Kamchatka/Kamochatoka Colony: 1752-1790 Ascended to becoming an actual part of the proper Nipponese nation as Kamochatoka prefecture.


 * Karafuto colony: 1752-1778 Ascended to becoming an actual part of the proper Nipponese nation as Karafuto prefecture.

International Relations
Allies (nations with alliances with Nippon): Trade agreements: Trading Posts
 * Vietnam
 * Finland
 * France
 * China
 * Korea
 * Persia
 * Prussia
 * Neue Brandenburg
 * Naples
 * Burma
 * Finland
 * France
 * China
 * Korea
 * Haiti
 * Neue Brandenburg
 * Burma
 * Finland (The Finnish have a trading post in the city of Kōchi (Kōchi Prefecture)
 * France (The French have a trading post on on the island of Dejima in Nagasaki bay (Nagasaki Prefecture)

Economy

 * Main Exports: Silk, guns, swords, spices, sugar, fruit, rice, fish, and seafood
 * Main Imports: Precious metals, iron, technology, rice, and weapons

Big businesses of Nippon

 * The Nishio Sugar Company (Nippon's biggest sugar grower, sugar refiner and seller of sugar & sugar based goods) (Based in Satotochi colony) (Owned by the Nishio clan)
 * The Satsuma Corporation (A large producer of tropical fruits and sugar. Also owner of the main Kagoshima fishing fleet) (Based in Satotochi colony) (Owned by the Shimazu clan)
 * Takato Arsenal (A large weapon manufacturer) (Founded by Takashi Gunto, and since his death ran by a board of directors)
 * The Nipponese Plantation Company (Owns lots of plantations growing a wide range of goods from sugar, tropical fruit to coffee) (Based in Satotochi & Atarashii Nippon colonies) (Owned by the Yamauchi clan)
 * The Rarapon Corporation (Sugar & fruit plantation owners in the Atarashii Nippon colony, also owners of the main Port Rabau fishing fleet) (Owned by the Inaba Clan)
 * The Tadagani Corporation (Plantation owners growing sugar, cocoa, coffee, fruits, etc.) (Based in Ringga colony, where they own the full plantation rights of the colony) (Owned by the Mizuno clan)

Important people
Here we have a few lists of important people in the Nipponese Empire such as a list of Emperors, Shoguns, notable Daimyo, military figures, businessmen, etc.

Emperors of Nippon:

 * Emperor Momozono (1747-62)
 * Empress Go-Sakuramachi (1762-70)
 * Emperor Go-Momozono (1770-1780)
 * Emperor Kōkaku (1780-1823)
 * Emperor Ninkō (1824-1846)

Shoguns of Nippon:

 * Tokugawa Ieshige (1749-1760)
 * Tokugawa Ieharu (1760-1788)
 * Tokugawa Ienari (1788-1837)

Notable Daimyo of Nippon:

 * Tokugawa Ieshige (leader of the pro-independence movement, became Shogun after securing Nippon's independence)
 * Ichigo Akamatsu (Former Daimyo of Kamchatka Prefecture, got himself exiled for insulting the Shogun in 1752)
 * Nishio Tadanao (Important member of the pro-indendence movement, Daimyo of Shizuoka prefecture, also started the Nipponese colonisation of tropical colonies by having the colony of Satotochi set up, and then with his clan (Nishio clan the Nishio clan) Nishio Tadanao sets up the Nishio Sugar Company was set up to grow, refine and sell sugar & sugar based goods)
 * Tanuma Okitsugu (Conqueror and subsequent ruling Daimyo of Karafuto prefecture)
 * Inaba Masanobu (Daimyo of Kyoto Prefecture, the 34th, founder of the Atarashii Nippon colony, and founder of the Rarapon Corporation)
 * Mizuno Tadakuni (Head of the Mizuno clan, Daimyo of Naga prefecture, and founder of the Tadagani Corporation)
 * Matsudaira Sadanobu (The Daimyo of Miyagi Prefecture, first Overseer of Sunda, and chief senior councilor (rōju shuza; 老中首座). He retired from his position as rōju in 1793 and his position of family headship in 1819. However in 1821 he is offered the role of Overseer to the Nipponese puppet state in Sunda, which he accepted, and continued to do until his death in 1830.)

Important military figures of Nippon:

 * Admiral Tokugawa Munetada (Appointed Admiral of the Nipponese Navy by his older brother, Shogun Tokugawa Ieshige; responsible for greatly expanding the navy and colonizing the remaining Chishima islands)
 * Tanuma Okitsugu (Commander of the Karafuto invasion force in the Karafuto Reclamation war)

Notable Nipponese Clans:

 * The Tokugawa Clan (The clan of the Shoguns on Nippon)
 * The Nishio Clan (The clan of the Daimyo of Shizuoka prefecture, and owners of the Nishio Sugar Company)
 * The Tanuma Clan (The clan of the Daimyo of Karafuto prefecture)
 * Shimazu clan (The clan of the Daimyo of Kagoshima prefecture, and owners of the Satsuma Corporation)
 * The Hitotsubashi House, one of the three Gosankyō branches of the Tokugawa Clan (Controllers of the Imperial Nipponese Navy fleets north of Edo)
 * The Shimizu House, one of the three Gosankyō branches of the Tokugawa Clan (Controllers of the Imperial Nipponese Navy fleets south of Edo)
 * The Tayasu House, one of the three Gosankyō branches of the Tokugawa Clan (Controllers of the Imperial Nipponese Coastguard)
 * The Yamauchi clan (The clan of the Daimyo of Kōchi Prefecture, and owners of the Nipponese Plantation Company)
 * The Inaba Clan (The clan of the Daimyo of Kyoto Prefecture, and owners of the Rarapon Corporation)
 * The Mizuno clan (The clan of the Daimyo of Naga prefecture, and owners of the Tadagani Corporation)

Other Important people:

 * Takashi Gunto (Founder of the Takato Arsenal & developed mass-production methods for swords)

Military
The Nipponese military has reverted back to the days of old thanks to the new Tokugawa Shogunate with Samurai warriors being the main military force/power in Nippon. But the Imperial Army and Navy were around to protect the nation itself from foreign forces; members of the Imperial Nipponese Army and Navy are the only people allowed to possess and handle guns in Nippon after the 1763 decree.

Furthermore after the "Imperial Armed Forces Act (1764)" came into force, meaning that each prefecture was to supply an army of at least 1,000 men to the Imperial Army in times of war; and the soldiers of these armies where to be a mix of around 40% full time professional soldiers, and 60% part time reservist troops. The IAF Act of 1764 was later amended by Shogun Tokugawa Ienari in 1818 so that each Daimyo has to provide an army of at least 2,000 men to the Imperial Army in times of war; and the soldiers of these armies where an equal mix of full time professional soldiers, and part time reservist troops. This was done to make it easier for Nippon to wage war on multiple theatres like it was doing at the time so the amendment.

The IAF Act of 1764 also allowed anybody over the age of 16, enrol on the 2 year solider course at their prefecture's Imperial Military Academy, to become a solider. Upon completion of the course people could be selected to join the Imperial Army as full time soldiers if they were good enough. Otherwise they became reverse troops, who would go back to their everyday lives and once a year be called to the Imperial Military Academy for drills and such, to keep the reservists in shape; and in times of war, the reservists would be called upon to join the Imperial Army. Soldiers got tax breaks too, so this encouraged lots of people to become reservists or to send their sons to become reverse soldiers so that they would benefit from the tax break in later life, and to give them discipline. The army uses mostly muskets with bayonets, with a Wakizashi as a back up for hand-to-hand combat, with some soliders using Katana swords as back up if it is likely they are going to be in hand-to-hand combat. Pistols are also issued but only to officers, and soldiers willing to supply/buy their own.

The 1764 Imperial Armed Forces Act also created the Imperial Nipponese Coastguard, which is a mix of the Army and Navy, and is specificity there to protect Nippon's shores from being invaded by foreign powers. The Imperial Nipponese Coastguard mostly consists of a coastal artillery batteries dotted along the Nipponese coastline, and in the harbours of large Nipponese ports. These are manned by 20 Coastguard soldiers usually, and have on average 4 long range artillery guns.

The Imperial Navy on the other hand, was made up of only full time professional sailors, thanks to the 1764 IAF Act. Under the rule of Admiral Tokugawa Munetada, the first Admiral of the Imperial Navy since independence from Vietnam, the navy was split up several fleets, each to protect an area of Nippon. For example you have the Chishima fleet, Hokkaidō fleet, Karafuto fleet, Shikoku fleet, Satotochi fleet, Inland Sea fleet, etc. The fleet is increasingly being populated by European style Galleon ships, in order to make the navy more modern, however there are still hundreds of smaller Chinese style Junk ships, as well as some Turtle ships, Red Seal ships, too. However the Junk ships and red seal ships are used mostly as boarding ships, as they are much smaller, and agile than the Galleon ships, so Nipponese marines (who are well versed in hand-to-hand combats using either swords or pistols) could board enemy ships and take the enemy ships, whose sailors weren't usually as good at hand-to-hand combat compared to the Nipponese marines. The INN began a period of great expansion and upgrade from 1813 with the development of steam powered ships, and to increase the range of Nipponese naval power.

There is also the Shinsengumi police force which is a military police force, created under the 1764 IAF Act. Its role is to police the land and protect the Nipponese citizens from criminals and bandits; the Shinsengumi are formed after 2,000 Samurai and Ronin pledge allegiance to the Shogun. As well as organised crime, they are also there to stop rebellions, riots and coups.

Wars Nippon have been involved in

 * 1777-1786 The Karafuto Reclamation war: Nippon vs the various feuding warlords of Karafuto Island. Nippon won this war and annexed all of Karafuto back into the Nipponese Empire.
 * 1788-1794 The Swedo-Russian War of 1788: Nippon joined the Franco-Swedish alliance against Russia in order to protect newly independent Finland. The Imperial Nipponese Navy bombarded and raided Vladivostok and aided Finland's invasion of Russian New Zealand. Nippon won this war and got exclusive land rights to the Kamchatka peninsula.
 * 1799-1801 The Chamoru Expansion War: Nippon decided that her vassal state of Chamoru should rule over all of Micronesia, and modernized the Chamoru military greatly. The join Nippon-Chamoru grand fleet then went about seizing the rest of the Micronesian islands from their natives, and incorporating those islands into Chamoru. The war was a very easy one for Nippon-Chamoru due to their overwhelming power over the Micronesian natives.
 * 1816-1819 The Second Neapolitan-Pahang War: Nippon became an ally of Naples so that Nippon could aid Naples in her invasion of Pahang, in return for Nippon gaining the Lingga islands. The Imperial Nipponese Navy seized the Lingga Islands in 1818 rather quickly thanks to naval support/bombardment. The INN then preformed coastal raids of Pahang territory to help Naples in the rest of her invasion, seeing how Nippon had gained her allocated territory from the war. Nippon's Vassal state Chamoru, also sent Naples supplies to aid her in the war.
 * 1817- The First Finnish-Ternate war: Nippon decided to aid her good ally Finland in her invasion of Ternate, so that Finland could conquer the Maluku Islands. Nippon originally asked for just Misool island, but ever generous Finland offered Nippon an added bonus by also giving Nippon the Morotai and Obi islands as well. Nippon then thanked Finland for offering Morotai island, but asks if Nippon could have Seram Laut instead of Obi island, to which Finland agreed to giving Nippon Seram Laut instead of Obi Island. Nippon's involvement began in 1818 with Nippon seizing Morotai island, and the INN defeating Ternate's navy in a naval battle near Obi island. The invasion of Misool than began, and the INN also send in ships to support Finland's navy. Nippon's vassal Chamoru also sent a detachment of troops to support the main Finnish army too. Once Misool was taken, Nippon moved to take Seram Laut, and once Seram Laut was under full Nipponese control, Nippon went to support Finland's navy & army in seizing the rest of Turnate.

1700s

 * 1747: A group of Japanese Daimyo demand greater autonomy for Japan from Vietnam


 * 1748: The Pro-Nippon Daimyo see more Daimyo join their cause, and they continue to demand greater autonomy for Nippon from Vietnam. The Vietnamese make a deal with the pro-independence Daimyo. The Vietnamese will officially declare Nipponese independence in 1750 in exchange for an alliance with the new Nipponese government. The leader of the pro-independence daimyo will become the new Shogun, but the Emperor will remain in power as he is of the Yamato dynasty (the Japanese Imperial family). Nipponese traders also found a small port and trading post on the bottom of Karafuto island.


 * 1749: The pro-independence Daimyo agree to the Vietnamese deal, however the current Shogun does not agree with this, and he demands that he remains Shogun. The pro-independence Daimyo however see this current shogun as weak as he never did anything to get Nippon her sovereignty back. The pro-independence Daimyo hire ninjas to kill the current Shogun, and the current shogun is killed. The pro-independence Daimyo have their leader Tokugawa Ieshige from the prestigious Tokugawa clan is declared Shogun, thus starting the "Edo/Tokugawa period" and ending the "Vietnamese Vasal period". Tokugawa Ieshige begins to negotiate with Vietnam so Nippon gets Kamchatka, Karafuto (Sakhalin), and the Chishima (Kuril) islands, since these are Nipponese majority territories. The Vietnamese agree to Shogun Tokugawa's territory requests, as the Vietnamese had already planned to give them to Nippon before the independence movement started. Shogun Tokugawa thanks Vietnam for agreeing to his requests, and for Vietnam's help to get Nippon back on its feet after the lawless period of civil disarray and anarchy. Tokugawa hopes that the two nations shall remain good friends and allies for many years to come.


 * 1750: With independence gained by Nippon, the people rejoice and a parades takes place in the Imperial capital of Kyoto, and the Shogun's capital of Edo. The military forces are amped up in order to make sure the country is protected. The Imperial navy is greatly expanded in order to make sure Nippon can control the many islands in her empire. A trade deal is also formed with France.


 * 1751: Nippon reorganises the nation so each prefecture of the empire is ruled by a Daimyo, and they take part in the Daimyo council with the Shogun & his advisers so national policy can be decided. Nippon also claims the rest of the Chishima (Kuril) islands, and the remaining Chishima islands begin to be colonized, with 800 sq KM being colonized this year. Nippon also ask Russia for their territory on one of the Chishima (Kuril) islands in return for a trade deal and an alliance. Russia refuses this deal though.


 * 1752: Nippon expands her territory in the Chishima (Kuril) islands by 800km. The Shogun also removes Kamchatka's prefecture status and makes it a colony of Nippon, after Kamchatka's Daimyo insulted the Shogun. The Daimyo of Kamchatka is also exiled to, and he goes to live in North America. The Nansei islands also become a prefecture of Nippon as Nansai Prefecture, comprising both the Satsunan Islands and Ryukyu Islands. The colony of Karafuto is also declared after joining together the two trading posts and their adjacent territory into one colony


 * 1753: Tokugawa Munetada is appointed Admiral of the Nipponese Navy by his older brother, Shogun Tokugawa Ieshige. The new Admiral is tasked with overseeing the expansion of the Imperial navy and colonizing the remaining Chishima islands. He does this by having several new European style galleon ships commissioned into the Imperial Navy, and colonizes 500 sq km of the Chishima islands too.


 * 1754: The remaining 250 sq km of the unclaimed Chishima islands are colonized by Nippon. With nearly all of the Chishima islands now under Nipponese control, Nippon once again ask Russia Finland for her territory in the Chishima (Kuril) Islands, this time offering a trade deal and money. Finland agree to the idea, and negotiations begin between the two nations. The Imperial navy is also greatly expanded with mostly lots of Frigates being added to the navy. Admiral Tokugawa Munetada also splits up the navy into several fleets each to protect an area of Nippon e.g. the Chishima fleet, Hokkaidō fleet, Shikoku fleet, etc. Crops from Europe are bought by Nipponese traders so the Nipponese settlers in Karafuto, Hokkaido and the Chishima islands can grow food more suited to the climate in the cold northern Nipponese territories. Things like wheat, soybeans, potatoes, onions, pumpkins, and corn are grown by settlers and this encourages a lot of the poorer Nipponese to move up north in order to be given land and crops to grow on the land. Nipponese miners move into the Chishima islands to mine the islands, and many tree farms/plantations are set up too by the Nipponese timber industry. Lots of fishermen also set up residence to fish the well-stocked seas around the Chishima islands. 250 sq km is colonized in Karafuto to, as more settlers move their to make use of the cheap farm land. An alliance is also formed with France.


 * 1755: A deal is made with Finland in which Nippon gain the Finnish colony on Chishima Islands Chain, and in return Finland gains a trading post in the city of Kōchi (Kōchi Prefecture). New buildings and a few small forts are built in the Chishima islands. The Karafuto colony is expanded by 1250 sq km, and Nippon ask Hanthawaddy if Nippon can buy Hanthawaddy's colonies in Karafuto and on that Yaeyama island opposite Taiwan.


 * 1756: Nippon ask Hanthawaddy again if Nippon can buy Hanthawaddy's colonies in Karafuto and on that island opposite Taiwan. Nippon also expands her Karafuto colony by 1250 sq km. Nippon also offers China a trade deal. Daimyo Nishio Tadanao also starts to appeal to the Shogunate that Nippon should found colonies in warmer climates so Nippon has access to her own supply of sugar and tropical fruits.


 * 1757: Nipponese settlers expand the Karafuto colony by 750 sq km and the city of Toyohara is founded and becomes the colonial capital of Karafuto. Nishio Tadanao also succeeds in his quest to have Nippon found a colony in a tropical region, after the Nipponese colony of Satotochi is founded around OTL Gonzaga, it is 100 sq km in size. Sugar cane plantations are founded in Nansei islands and in the new Satotochi colony; sugar beet plantations are also opened in Hokkaido and Karafuto. On top of this the unclaimed 400 sq km of the Yaeyama islands opposite Taiwan are annexed by Nippon and added into Nansei prefecture.


 * 1758: The Nipponese colony of Kamchatka expands by 350 sq km as logging activities intensify, the Karafuto colony expands by 800 sq km as more poor peasants move northwards to be given free land, and the new Satotochi colony is expanded by 400 sq km as more sugar plantations are set up by the rich nobles, of whom mostly belonged to the Nishio clan which was the clan of Satotochi's founder Nishio Tadanao. The Nishio Sugar Company was set up to grow, refine and sell sugar & sugar based goods from Satotochi to the Nipponese home market; and this started a luxury foods market in Nippon as the rich nobles began to dine on more sweet foods, especially Kompeitō, which becomes a favourite of the emperor and the emperor began to gift small bags of Kompeitō to visitors. China is once again offered a trade deal after the lack of reply to the 1756 deal, and China agree to the trade deal this time.


 * 1759: Nippon's colonies continue to expand, Karafuto expands by 800 sq km, and Satotochi expands by 750 sq km. A castle with a port are built on the tip of OTL Cape Crillon known as Castle Chirion, and the OTL Cape Crillon is named Cape Chirion by Nippon. The port of Sōya is also built on OTL Cape Sōya, and Castle Sōya is also built too. A ferry service is set up between the ports/jōkamachi of Chirion and Sōya to make transportation between Hokkaido and Karafuto easier. Nippon also thank China for expecting the trade deal, as this has given Nippon access to more rice and tea. The French also ask Nippon for a trading post like Finland, and Nippon grants France a trading post on the island of Dejima in Nagasaki bay.


 * 1760: The Nipponese Shogun Tokugawa Ieshige retires in March, citing bad health for his reason to resign, and Tokugawa Ieshige appoints his first born son Tokugawa Ieharu as the next shogun. Tokugawa Ieshige dies later that year in December. The new Shogun Tokugawa Ieharu vows to expand Nipponese influence across Asia, and he does so by continuing to expand the Nipponese colonies, this year Karafuto expands by 700 sq km, and Satotochi expands by 850 sq km.


 * 1761: The Nipponese Emperor Momozono abdicates in favour of his sister and he dies a month later. Momozono's sister becomes empress regnant, to reign until the late Emperor Momozono's son is old enough to become Emperor himself. Monozono's sister is crowned Empress Go-Sakuramachi. The Nipponese colonies continue to expand, with Karafuto expanding by 700 sq km, and Satotochi expanding by 850 sq km.


 * 1762: The Nipponese Daimyo Nishio Tadanao dies aged 73, after catching Malaria while visiting the Satotochi colony which he practically founded. Nishio Tadanao's adopted son/nephew Nishio Tadamitsu succeeds his uncle's positions as head of the Nishio Clan, Daimyo of Shizuoka prefecture and Chairman of the Nishio Sugar Company. The city of Tadanao is founded on the site of OTL Gonzaga, Cagayan in honour of Nishio Tadanao, and the city becomes the colonial capital of the Satotochi colony. Furthermore the Satotochi colony is expanded by 800 sq km after the Satotochi 1st Army is founded in order to protect the Nipponese settlers and plantations from the local Filipino natives. The Satotochi Fleet is also started in order to give the colony naval protection provided by the Imperial Nipponese Navy.


 * 1763: In order to deal with the bandits plaguing the Nipponese countryside, Nipponese Empress Go-Sakuramachi orders a radical shake-up of Nippon's gun laws, with guns now only allowed to be possessed by members of the Nipponese Imperial Army or Navy. She also announces the creation of the Machi bugyō with a Machi bugyō office being set up in the prefectural capital of each Prefecture, where around 100 Machi bugyō officials would oversee the running of the prefecture on the Daimyo's behalf, by running the police and fire-fighting forces of that prefecture; running the prefectural court by serving as judges in the prefectural courts; as well as managing a full range of other administrative and judicial responsibilities. As well as this, the Satotochi colony is expanded by 800 sq km and Karafuto colony by 400 sq km.


 * 1764: The Imperial Armed Forces Act of 1764 comes into power, which shakes up the organisation of the Nipponese army and navy, and also creates the Imperial Nipponese Coastguard, and the Shinsengumi Military police force, and causes a great improvement in Nippon's military power. For more full details on the Nipponese Military and the changes brought in by the Imperial Armed Forces Act,please click here. As well as this, the Satotochi colony is expanded by 800 sq km, Kamchatka expands by 800 sq km and Karafuto colony by 400 sq km.


 * 1765: Admiral Tokugawa Munetada dies and following the recent Imperial Armed Forces Act of 1764, the Shogun shakes up control of the military and at the same time, cements Tokugawa dominance over Nippon and the Shogunate, by giving each of the three Gosankyō branches of the Tokugawa Clan ownership of a powerful position. The Hitotsubashi House take control of the Imperial Nipponese Navy fleets north of Edo; the Shimizu House take control of the Imperial Nipponese Navy fleets south of Edo; and the Tayasu House became the Chief of the Imperial Nipponese Coastguard. Furthermore the Shogun becomes Supreme Commander of the Imperial Nipponese Army, Navy, Coastguard, and head of the Shinsengumi police force. This move to solidify the power wielded by the Tokugawa Clan however this greatly annoys the Imperial Court. As well as this, the Satotochi colony is expanded by 800 sq km, Kamchatka expands by 800 sq km and Karafuto colony by 400 sq km.


 * 1766: Nippon offers Brunei a trade deal, and Nippon continues to colonize by expanding its Satotochi colony expanding by 800 sq km, and Karafuto by 750 sq km. There are also talks of selling Satotochi colony to Vietnam but these talks eventually fail and Nippon refuses to sell her Satotochi colony in the Philippines.


 * 1767: Nippon continues to colonize by expanding its Satotochi colony expanding by 800 sq km, and Karafuto by 750 sq km. Also bandit attacks have significantly declined since the introduction of the Imperial Armed Forces Act of 1764 and the gun law shake up in 1763; this pleases the peasants greatly as now they longer live in fear of bandit attacks.


 * 1768: Nippon holds off expanding her Satotochi colony while talks are held about the dividing of Luzon between Nippon and Taiwan/Vietnam. Kamchatka is turned into sort of penal colony, as criminals are forced to relocate to Kamchatka colony, which causes the colony to expand by 800 sq km. Elsewhere more of the natives in Karafuto are convinced to join the Karafuto colony, and this causes Karafuto to expand by 750 sq km.


 * 1769: Nippon asks Vietnam if they are happy with those borders and agree to them. Vietnam agree to the Nipponese proposal for dividing Luzon, and the Nipponese settlers in Satotochi begin to colonize the east coast of Luzon, expanding the colony by 500 sq km after hearing the result of the border talks. Also the Karafuto colony expands by 750 sq km, and the Kamchatka colony expands by 300 sq km. A trade deal is also formed with Korea.


 * 1770: Nippon expands Karafuto by 750 sq km, Kamchatka expands by 300 sq km and Satotochi expands 500 sq km along the eastern coastline of Luzon. Furthermore, Empress Go-Sakuramachi abdicates in favour of her nephew; and Emperor Go-Momozono assends to the Imperial Nipponese throne. A military alliance is also formed with Korea too.


 * 1771: A Tsunami nearly wipes Okinawa off the map, killing around 15,000 people. Nippon appeals for aid from its allies to help with rebuilding the destruction caused by the tsunami; Finland sends aid, and is thanked for it. The Shogun has national aid sent to Okinawa and rebuilds/forms the army and navy of Nansei prefecture after a lot of the soldiers died in the Tsunami and a lot of the ships were destroyed. The army and navy help rebuild Okinawa by distributing aid and helping to clear away rubble to build new buildings built with brick, concrete and stone rather than wood, so that the buildings could withstand future tsunamis better. A local native warlord in Karafuto is also defeated, and his 400 sq km of territory is annexed into Karafuto. New Lithuania is also offered a trade deal following its recent independence.


 * 1772: The Okinawa clean-up operation continues with more food aid being sent to Okinawa from Honshu, and more new residential buildings being made, after all of the government and military buildings were rebuilt, but the vast majority of the clean up has been completed by now. The Nipponese colony of Kamchatka is formally renamed Kamochatoka colony, and the colony expands by 800 sq km too. Another native warlord is defeated as Karafuto expands, this year 400 sq km are added into the colony. Nippon is also offered an alliance by Persia; Nippon agreed to an alliance with Persia and asked Persia for a trade deal too.


 * 1773: Nippon begins a "Nipponization campaign" in her Satotochi colony, where colonists try to get native tribes on Luzon island to convert to Shinto and join Nipponese society by having their territories join into Satotochi colony. This is fairly successful, and causes Satotochi to expand by 800 sq km. Karafuto expands by 750 sq km too. In Kamochatoka, a new city is founded on the southern tip of the peninsula called Kamochin, which is designated as the new colonial capital of Kamochatoka. Also the tsunami clean-up in Okinawa is finished, and Nippon thanks Finland and the Greater Korean Empire for the aid they sent to help clean-up Okinawa.


 * 1774: Nippon expands her Karafuto colony by by 800 sq km as another warlord in Karafuto is defeated, and his territory is annexed. The Nipponese military is amped up too, and Nippon also asks Russia not to colonize Karafuto/Sakhalin island.


 * 1775: Nippon tells Russia that they don't want to divide Karafuto, as until 1629 it was part of the Nipponese nation, and Nippon wants control over areas with majority Nipponese ethnic groups. In exchange for Russia relinquishing all claims to Karafuto/Sakhalin Island, Nippon offers Russia an alliance (which if you are ever at war Nippon will send you military aid unless it is against another Nipponese ally then Nippon shall remain neutral and offer no help to either side), trade deal, and trading post in Niigata. Nippon expands Karafuto by 800 sq km, and expands Kamochatoka by 750 sq km as well this year.


 * 1776: Nipponese forces in Karafuto defeat another warlord and expand the colony by 800 sq km. Kamochatoka expands by 750 sq km too, as a large number of poor villagers move to Kamochatoka to start a new life for themselves. The Imperial Nipponese Navy also reach the Mariana Islands and make contact with the local Chamorro people on the islands. After some negotiations with a local chieftain, the chieftain agrees to become an ally of Nippon and has his Chiefdom become a vassal of Nippon; thus creating the Nipponese Vassal State of Chamoru. Nippon supplies Chamoru with weapons so that they may go and annex the rest of the Mariana Islands into Chamoru. An alliance is formed with Sweden too.


 * 1777: The Shogun vows to the Emperor of Nippon, that he will return Nippon to the glory days before the great rioting revolution in 1629. Shogun Tokugawa Ieharu declares war on all of the feuding warlords of Karafuto, and declares all of Karafuto will all be part of the Nipponese nation once again. The Shogun appoints Tanuma Okitsugu as Commander of the Karafuto invasion force, and he begins to wage large scale war against the warlords. The first year of the campaign succeeds in gaining 2000 sq km of territory for Nipponese Karafuto. Elsewhere Chamoru expands using the supplied Nipponese weaponry to defeat rival tribes in the Mariana Islands.


 * 1778: Nippon's invasion of Karafuto continues, and Shogun Tokugawa Ieharu is pleased with the Karafuto Reclamation war's progress and is very confident of Nipponese victory. So much so, that he has the current Nipponese controlled Karafuto colony join Nippon proper as Karafuto prefecture with Tanuma Okitsugu as its Daimyo. Commander Tanuma Okitsugu thanks the Shogun for giving his clan control over a prefecture and making him a Daimyo; and shows his appreciation by stepping up the rate of Nipponese expansion/annexation of the island.


 * 1779: Nippon continues to expand into Karafuto as the Karafuto Reclamation war rages on. All this fighting also gives the Nipponese Army some much needed experience and lots of opportunities to test out new tactics; which amps up the military. Chamoru expands too.


 * 1780: Nippon continues to expand into Karafuto as the war rages on. The Shogun is also deeply offended by the Tsar's claim to Karafuto/Sakahalin island and the Chishima/Kuril Islands which are not only part of the Nipponese nation but they are populated by Nipponese citizens. Nippon ask Finland to do something about their Union parter Russia and get Russia to remove her claim to Nipponese controlled territories, and former Nipponese controlled territories. Meanwhile Chamoru manages to conquer all of her neighbouring tribes and assumes complete control over the Mariana Islands. Kamochatoka expands too by 800 sq km. Emperor Go-Momozono dies too, and his adopted son from the Kan'in branch of the Imperial family ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne as Emperor Kōkaku.


 * 1781: Nippon continues to expand into Karafuto as the Karafuto Reclamation war continues, but Commander Tanuma Okitsugu expects the war to be over in the next 5 years which the Shogun is pleased by. The Shimazu clan of Kagoshima also decide to get involved in the tropical goods trade, and the Satsuma Corporation is set up to start setting up plantations in Satotochi colony growing tropical fruits and sugar. This causes Satotochi to expand by 800 sq km as new plantations are set up by the Satsuma Corporation.


 * 1782: Nippon continues to expand into Karafuto as the Karafuto Reclamation war continues, and the military is expanded to help the war effort. Satotochi colony also expands by 800 sq km as new plantations are set up by the Satsuma Corporation.


 * 1783: Famine hits Japan and is worsened by the eruption of Asama-Yama which kills 20,000 people and renders the agricultural Shinano and Kuzuke provinces of unproductive for many years to come. France & Finland send aid to Nippon, for which they are thanked. Satotochi colony is expanded by 800 sq km and more plantations are set up to offset the rice shortage caused by the famine in Japan. A large number of the farmers losing all of their crops thanks to the famine decide to join the army so they can actually get some food, otherwise production is stepped up in other areas to offset the shortage in the famine effected areas. Nippon continues to expand into Karafuto as the Karafuto Reclamation war continues, but there are troubles with lack of supplies thanks to the famine so expansion slows down a bit. Meanwhile the rebuilding of the buildings destroyed by Asama-Yama starts.


 * 1784: Nippon continues to expand into Karafuto as the Karafuto Reclamation war continues. Japan's famine continues though shows signs of easing. More food supplies are brought in from aboard as the famine continues, but lots of the poor peasants unable to afford food die. Satotochi colony is expanded by 800 sq km and more plantations are set up to offset the rice shortage caused by the famine in Japan. The Shogun also allows food handouts to the poor in towns across Nippon if they become reverse troops in the army. Thanks to this, and the ongoing war in Karafuto, the Nipponese military power increases.


 * 1785: Nippon's agricultural sector begins to approach its pre-famine levels of productivity, thanks a lot to more plantations being founded in Satotochi as the colony expands by 800 sq km. Furthermore Nippon continues to expand into Karafuto as the Karafuto Reclamation war continues. Finland is thanked greatly for all the aid it sent too.


 * 1786: Nipponese forces defeat the last of the Karafuto warlords and thus complete the Nipponese annexation of Karafuto, and ending the Karafuto Reclamation war. Kamochatoka expands by 800 sq km too.


 * 1787: Nippon begins to properly integrate the newly conquered Karafuto territories into the empire by building infrastructure, setting up new towns, rebuilding damaged towns following the war, and setting up the necessary prefectural administrators and governance. While this is going on Nippon agree to respect Russia's claim to Chukotka and agree not to expand Kamochatoka that far north; but Kamochatoka does expand by 600 sq km this year. Satotochi colony expands by 200 sq km too, as Satsuma Corp. set up more plantations. An alliance with Prussia is formed as well, as Nippon want to remain friends with their former colony and to protect Prussian sovereignty.


 * 1788: Nippon expands Kamochatoka by 1550 sq km as more exile villages are set up, and logging intensifies. Shogun Tokugawa Ieharu dies as well, and Tokugawa Ienari becomes the new shogun. There are also riots in rice shops in Edo and Osaka because the price of rice hasn't returned to pre-famine levels; the riots are dealt with by the Shinsengumi but the Shogun forces the rice shops to lower prices some more, so prices are just above pre-famine prices. This pleases the rioters and the matter is resolved.


 * 1789: Nippon pledges to support Finish independence, and if that means joining the war against Russia so be it. This and being annoyed about Russia's treatment of Nippon concerning Karafuto and the Chishima Islands: Nippon joins the war against Russia. The Imperial Nipponese Navy is sent to bombard Vladivostok and the Shogun wants to gain full rights to controlling the whole Kamchatka peninsula in exchange for Nippon's efforts in the war.


 * 1790: Nippon's naval bombardment of Vladidistok renders the port unusable. With Nippon expecting to gain full rights to Kamchatka peninsula, the Shogun declares Kamochatoka is part of the Empire of Nippon proper, as Kamochatoka prefecture; Kamochatoka prefecture expands northwards too.


 * 1791: Nippon continues to expand northwards up the Kamchatka peninsula. A few Nipponese troops land in Vladivostok and seize the city. They pillage the city and find industrial machines and like, some of said machines are brought back to Nippon. The majority of the machines are put in the recently opened Rangaku museum in Edo. Nipponese Rangaku scientists begin to analyse and observe these machines but they lack the appropriate power sources and understanding of the machines needed to do anything worth while with the machines, and so they shall remain museum curiosity pieces for many years to come.


 * 1792: Nippon sends a detachment of the Imperial Nipponese Navy to help in the Finnish invasion of New Zealand. Nippon continues to expand northwards up the Kamchatka peninsula too. It is expected to be under Nipponese control in the next three years, thanks to the peninsula having hardly any natives to resist Nipponese expansion.


 * 1793: Nippon continue to aid Finland in their invasion of New Zealand's north island. Nipponese expansion up the Kamchatka peninsula continues as well. Karafuto's Daimyo Tanuma Okitsugu dies too, and his son Tanuma Okitomo succeeds him as Daimyo of Karafuto. The Nipponese military is improved too, as artillery guns with longer range of fire are added to the army and the coastguard.


 * 1794: The Imperial Nipponese Navy continues to aid Finland in its invasion of Russian New Zealand. Elsewhere Nippon continues to expand up Kamchatka, and Satotochi expands by 500 sq km too.


 * 1795: The peace treaty is signed thus ending the war against Russia. The Imperial Nipponese Navy return from New Zealand, bringing with them the Finnish gift of 110,000 Finnish markka, for which the Nipponese Shogun personally thanks the Finnish; and the Imperial Nipponese Navy also bring back reports of lots of uncolonised islands on the route to New Zealand. The Shogun begins to organise a Nipponese exploration of these islands to see if anywhere is suitable for Nippon to establish a new colony. Meanwhile Nippon continues to expand up Kamchatka, and Satotochi expands by 500 sq km too.


 * 1796: Nippon finishes expanding into Kamchatka, and Nippon decides not to go any further north in order to respect Russia's 1787 claim to Chukotka, thus fixing the Nipponese Northern Kamchatka border roughly where the northern orange border on this map is. Satotochi expands by 500 sq km as more plantations are set up, and Nippon helps her vassal Chamoru to set up their navy.


 * 1797: Nippon's Shogun Tokugawa Ienari goes to China for the maiden journey of the Chinese Trans-Coastal Railway. After touring China, Shogun Tokugawa Ienari returns home and announces to the Daimyo council, that Nippon is on the brink of being left behind by the rest of the world if Nippon start industrializing soon, so the Shogun sets up a plan to start industrializing Nippon in a decade or two. Otherwise Satotochi expands by 1250 sq km, and Chamoru's navy continues to be developed.


 * 1798: Nippon questions the UAA claims of Vietnamese abuse of native Africans in their East African colony. Popular opinion in Nippon is that the UAA are lying, and wanted a creditable Casus belli to invade Vietnam's East Africa colony. Since Nippon have an alliance with Vietnam & doesn't have one with the UAA, Nippon shall stand by her ally Vietnam. Nippon sends troops and aid to help Vietnam, push back the UAA. Nippon also helps their Vassal Chamoru, to finish building their navy. With all this military aid being given by Nippon, Shogun Tokugawa Ienari decides to build up Nippon's war machine and commit more funding to the military, and its operations. Satotochi expands by 500 sq km too.


 * 1799: Nippon finishes building Chamoru's navy, and a fleet of Nipponese warships are sent to aid Chamoru in her expansion into Micronesia. The joint Chamoru-Nippon fleet set sail to annex the rest of Micronesia into Chamoru and begin the expansion. This expansion is expected only to take a few years mind you, due to the overwhelmingly greater power of the Chamoru-Nippon fleet against the Micronesian natives, and the small size of these to-be-conquered islands. Satotochi expands by 500 sq km too.

1800s

 * 1800: Nippon annex Karaginsky island to the north east of Kamchatka, and incorporate Karaginsky island into Kamochatoka prefecture. Chamoru's conquest of Micronesia continues to, and it is expected to be under full Chamoru control by the end of next year. Satotochi expands by 500 sq km too.


 * 1801: The Nipponese-Chamoru invasion/annexation of Micronesia concludes with the fleet seizing the last of the Micronesian islands. A swords maker known as Takashi Gunto, in Tadanao City in the colony of Satotochi begins to "mass-produce" swords to sell cheap to settlers to protect themselves in the lawless areas of jungle from bandits, natives and wild animals. Takashi Gunto finds success in his mass-produced swords, and sets up the Takato Arsenal. Meanwhile Satotochi expands by 500 sq km.


 * 1802: Nippon's cities start to expand, as small factories open up in the cities. Elsewhere, the competition between the Satsuma Corporation and the Nishio Sugar Company in the Satotochi colony heats up as Satsuma Corp. begin to expand their plantations to try and surpass the Nishio Sugar Company in the sugar market; however Nishio expands their sugar plantations even more! Corporate warfare between Satsuma & Nishio steps up, and at the latest meeting of the Daimyo council the clan leaders of the Nishio & Shimazu clan fight with one another. The other Daimyo step in however, and set up a cartel agreement between Satsuma & Nishio. Nishio shall be the dominant player in the sugar trade and Nishio will be the dominant player in the tropical fruit trade. This agreement to split up the Satotochi plantation markets, puts an end to the clans fuedings, but on the other hand, this agreement & the previous market expansions, cause the Satotochi colony to expand by 1250 sq km.


 * 1803: In Nippon, the Takato Arsenal expands their activities into mass producing bullets, and also goes into rifle manufacturing. Economic activity in Nippon continues to grow, and this causes the cities to grow even more. The increasing economic activity causes Satotochi colony to expand by 1250 sq km too. Also Nippon forms a trade agreement with Haiti and Korea as well.


 * 1804: Nippon's economy continues to expand as Satotochi colony expands by 1250 sq km as the Satsuma Corporation sets up even more tropical fruit plantations, and the Nishio Sugar Company sets up more sugar plantations. Luxury food prices in Nippon begin to fall thanks to this, and Nipponese tropical food goods begin to be exported by Nippon too.


 * 1805: Nippon continues to expand her Satotochi colony, this year it expands by 1250 sq km. This is thanks to "The Nipponese Plantation Company" being set up by the Yamauchi clan, clan of the Daimyo of Kōchi Prefecture. The Yamauchi clan also have talks with the Nishio Clan and the Shimazu clan about plantations in Satotochi. These talks form a deal in which the Nipponese Plantation Company can only grow limited quantities of sugar and tropical fruits in Satotochi, but is free to grow what ever else it likes in large quantities. The scale of mining operations in Karafuto and Kamochatoka also increase too, and more metals enter the Nipponese market, fuelling the creation of industrial machines and steel frame buildings.


 * 1806: Satsuma Corporation buys out a rival fishing fleet in Kagoshima, and gives Satsuma Corp. the largest fishing fleet in Kagoshima. The Nishio sugar company expand their sugar refinery in Tadanao city, and buy a steam powered ship from a Chinese ship-builders to quickly ship the refined sugar from Satotochi to the Nipponese home islands. The Nipponese Plantation Company also does trade with Neue Brandenburg plantation owners to get coffee and cocoa seeds, which the Nipponese Plantation Company uses to set up coffee and cocoa plantations. Nippon offer Neue Brandenburg a formal trade deal too. All this economic activity in Satotochi causes the colony to expand by 1250 sq km.


 * 1807: Nippon's colony of Satotochi expands by 1250 sq km, but other Nipponese clans wish to partake in the colonial activities like the Nishio clan, Shimazu clan, and the Yamauchi clan. However seeing how limited land on Luzon island is becoming, the other Nipponese clans decide to set up a new colony. The Inaba clan lead this colonial expansion by forming the colony of Atarashii Nippon (New Japan) around OTL Rabaul, Papa New Guinea. The Inaba clan's current head, Inaba Masanobu founds Port Rabau is founded as the capital of Atarashii Nippon, and the Inaba clan form the Rarapon Corporation which takes ownership of the main fishing fleet in Port Rabau, and the plantations around Port Rabau. The initial size of Atarashii Nippon being 100 sq km.


 * 1808: Nipppon accepts Neue Brandenburg's offer of military alliance, and the Nipponese traders in Neue Brandenburg become more active too. Nippon expands her colonies as well, Satotochi by 550 sq km, and Atarashii Nippon 1000 sq km.


 * 1809: Nippon expands her colonies as well, Satotochi by 550 sq km, and Atarashii Nippon 1000 sq km. The Shogun also announces the start of the construction of the Edo Imperial Naval Shipyard, where the latest steamships of the Imperial Nipponese Navy shall be constructed in the future. Nippon also agree to a Neue Brandenburg proposal, that in return for favourable trade arrangements in goods available in the Amazon, Nippon shall help in developing the Neue Brandenburg military.


 * 1810: Nippon expands her colonies, Satotochi by 550 sq km, and Atarashii Nippon 1000 sq km. Construction of the Edo Imperial Naval Shipyard continues.


 * 1811: Nippon expands her colonies, Satotochi by 1650 sq km (multiplied by 3 from 550 sq km), and Atarashii Nippon 1000 sq km. Construction of the Edo Imperial Naval Shipyard continues. Nippon also offer to support Finland in her invasion of the Maluku Islands but asks if Nippon can take Misool island in the Maluku Island nation in return for Nippon aiding Finland in as many wars as she needs to conquer the Maluku Island nation.


 * 1812: Nippon ask Finland if she accepts Nippon's deal from last year or not. Finland gladly accepts Nippon's deal and will give Nippon the Misool island, and as an added bonus will also give Nippon the Morotai and Obi islands as well. Finland also says that the war against the nation on the Maluku Islands shall begin in 1817, unless something else happens. Nippon then thanked Finland for offering Morotai island, but asks if Nippon could have Seram Laut instead of Obi island, to which Finland agreed to giving Nippon Seram Laut instead of Obi Island. Otherwise Nippon expanded her colonies, Satotochi by 1650 sq km (multiplied by 3 from 550 sq km), and Atarashii Nippon 1000 sq km. Elsewhere the Edo Imperial Naval Shipyard is completed, and the shipyard begins to spawn new steam-powered ships for the Nipponese navy.


 * 1813: Nippon expands Satotochi by 600 sq km and Atarashii Nippon 600 sq km. Also as new steam powered ships are built in the Edo Imperial Ship yard the military might of Nippon increases, and the navy becomes ever larger and stronger. Takato Arsenal also opens up a large weapons factory in Edo to build naval canons for the new steam powered ships of the Imperial Nipponese Navy, and the coastal defences of the Imperial Nipponese Coastguard.


 * 1814: Nippon expands Satotochi by 600 sq km and Atarashii Nippon 600 sq km. Also as new steam powered ships are built in the Edo Imperial Ship yard the military might of Nippon increases, and the navy becomes ever larger and stronger. The Osaka Imperial Ship yard is also built, a lot smaller than Edo's but still capable of producing a fair few ships.


 * 1815: Nippon expands Satotochi by 600 sq km and Atarashii Nippon 600 sq km, and the military continues to be upgraded and improved too. Also seeing how more people are going to live in the cities of Nippon, the Shogun thinks it would be a good idea to connect the large cities with railway links; and the Edo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka line begins to be constructed.


 * 1816: Nippon thanks Neue Brandenburg for the food aid they have sent to Nippon, Nippon steps up food production in Atarashii Nippon to make up for the loss of food production in Satotochi & Nippon itself, causing the colony to expand by 800 sq km. More food is imported from aboard by merchants in order to make up for the loss of Nipponese food production. The Nipponese military continues to be upgraded and improved too, and the Edo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka railway continues to be constructed as well.


 * 1817: Nippon expands Satotochi by 600 sq km and Atarashii Nippon 600 sq km, and the military continues to be upgraded and improved too. The Edo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka railway continues to be constructed, with the Kyoto-Osaka line being completed. It is inaugurated by Emperor Kōkaku who uses his newly built Imperial Train to go from Kyoto to Osaka, where he then launches the Osaka Imperial Ship Yard built, the INN Kōkaku which is the largest, strongest and newest steam frigate to enter the Imperial Nipponese Navy, named in the honour of the Emperor. Emperor Kōkaku travels on the INN Kōkaku in her purpose built luxury living quarters on a naval tour to visit the Nipponese colonies of Satotochi and Atarashii Nippon. Nipponese diplomats also remind Burma of Nippon's offer of an military alliance & trade deal; and Burma agrees to Nippon's offer. Nippon also offers Naples a military alliance & would like to help Naples take over Pahang, but Nippon asks if she can have Lingga islands. Naples agrees and a military alliance is formed with Naples, and Nippon is promised the Lingga Islands.


 * 1818: Nippon completes the Edo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka railway, and Shogun Tokugawa Ienari takes the first train from Edo to Kyoto, in order to go visit Emperor Kōkaku to discuss Nipponese foreign policy. This includes the sending of Nipponese troops to participate in the Second Neapolitan-Pahang War and Finland's invasion of the Maluku Islands. The Imperial Nipponese Navy lands in the Lingga Islands, and quickly takes the territory thanks to naval support/bombardment. The INN then preform coastal raids of Pahang territory to help Naples. In the Maluku Islands conflict, Nippon seize Morotai island, and the INN defeat Ternate's navy in a naval battle near Obi island. The invasion of Misool begins, and the INN also send in ships to support Finland's navy. The Shogun concludes that the Nipponese military needs to be greatly expanded so that Nippon can deal with these multiple conflicts much easier, and the Shogun expands the military a lot by amending the Imperial Armed Forces Act of 1764, so that each Daimyo has to provide an army of at least 2,000 men to the Imperial Army in times of war; and the soldiers of these armies where an equal mix of full time professional soldiers, and part time reservist troops. Chamoru also sends troops to support the main Finnish army too, and send supplies to Naples as well. Atarashii Nippon expands by 800 sq km too.


 * 1819: Nippon consolidate their recently acquired territory via the Second Neapolitan-Pahang War, by forming a colony comprising the Lingga islands into the colony of Ringga. A naval base, and a port begin to be constructed on the north of Lingga island, in the capital Port Ringaa which is founded this year after expanding a native town. The colony of Ringga is to be used primarily as a stopping point for Nipponese ships travelling to the west. The Nipponese armies and naval ships either then set up permanently in the Lingga islands or return home to Nippon. Elsewhere in the war against Turnate, Nipponese forces take Misool island and Nipponese forces moved to take Seram Laut, and once Seram Laut was under full Nipponese control; some of the Nipponese forces went to support Finland's navy & army in seizing the rest of Turnate. Colonization in Atarashii Nippon continues with the colony expanding by 1250 sq km this year. The Nipponese military continues to be expanded and improved, in order to support Nippon's colonization efforts as well.


 * 1820: Nippon continues to help Finland in her invasion of Ternate, and colonization in Atarashii Nippon continues with the colony expanding by 1000 sq km, and Satotochi expands by 750 sq km too. Elsewhere the Mizuno clan, Daimyo of Naga prefecture, manage to acquire full plantation rights in the Lingga islands, and Mizuno Tadakuni (head of the Mizuno clan & Daimyo of Naga) decides to form the Tadagani Corporation in order to set up plantations growing sugar, cocoa, coffee, fruits, etc. They employ the local people to work in the plantations mostly, and create a sort of class system in Ringga colony, by establishing a ruling Nipponese class, and a working native class. Nippon continues to expand and grow her military too.


 * 1821: Nippon continues to help Finland in her invasion of Ternate, and colonization in Atarashii Nippon Nippon continues with the colony expanding by 1000 sq km, and Satotochi expands by 750 sq km too. Nippon continues to expand, upgrade and improve her military as well; especially seeing how spread out it is. Furthermore the naval base and a port facilities in Port Ringaa are completed and the Ringga Grand Fleet is set up to protect Nippon's colony, but the Ringga Grand Fleet's main purpose is for a sizeable strong naval force which is always ready to be sent to the west if need be to fight wars for Nippon and her allies, while not putting the Nippon home nation at a defensive risk. The Ringga Grand Fleet however do have problems with pirates around Java and Brunei, seeing how their are large areas in civil disarray there. Trusting her ally Persia to deal with the Brunei civil disarray, Nippon decides to intervene in Java and sends the Ringga Grand fleet to support a Pro-Nipponese coup in Sunda, which at the moment is in civil disarray. The Nipponese puppet state of Sunda is born, and ends the vast majority of the pirate problems around Java. The puppet government is ruled by local Javanese but overseen by Matsudaira Sadanobu who was a former close adivsor to the Shogun. Nippon also sends some representatives to the Rotterdam Conference, but Nippon has a very clear goal about how her Pacific Empire will grow.


 * 1822: Nippon continues to help Finland in her invasion of Ternate, and colonization in Atarashii Nippon continues with the colony expanding by 1000 sq km, and Satotochi expands by 750 sq km too. Nippon continues to expand, upgrade and improve her military as well Seeing how so many new businesses are being started in Nippon, and how Nipponese society is becoming more business orientated, the Shogun decides to set up the Edo Stock Exchange (ESE), where Nipponese investors can buy shares in Nipponese companies, government bonds, shares in government projects like railway lines, and many other financial assets.


 * 1823: Emperor Kōkaku steps down from his role as Emperor, in favour of his son, who is crowned Emperor Ninkō. Former Emperor Kōkaku is bestowed upon the honourable title of Abdicated Emperor (Daijō-ten'nō) after some argument with the Shogun. Elsewhere troops return home after the war against Turnate finishes, and Nippon's newly gained territories in the area are incorporated into the colony of Papua. Otherwise the Nipponese military continues to be upgraded and expanded in order to solidfy control over the new colony of Papua, which sees military bases being built on each of the islands. Also the Nipponese colonies expand too, with Atarashii Nippon expanding by 1000 sq km, and Satotochi expands by 750 sq km.


 * 1824: Nippon continues to expand her military and upgrade the navy with new steam ships. Railways now span all over Honshu island and Shikoku island, and have nearly compassed all of Kyushu, and have begun to take root in Hokkaido. Also the Nipponese colonies expand too, with Atarashii Nippon expanding by 1000 sq km, and Satotochi expands by 1650 sq km.


 * 1825: Nippon continues to expand her military, making the Nipponese military (especially the navy) is one of the most advanced in the world after many years of military spending; it is however not as large as some nations but it makes up what it lacks in size in technical ability, training and equipment. Railways now span all over Kyushu, and about a quarter of Hokkaido. Railway lines are also built in Kamochatoka and Karafuto in order to aid in the transportation of timber, ore, metal, etc. Also the Nipponese colonies expand too, with Atarashii Nippon expanding by 1000 sq km by moving onto OTL New Ireland, and Satotochi expands by 1650 sq km. Furthermore seeing how France is in dynastic union with Russia, Nippon offers Russia a military alliance due to Nippon's good relations with France and to put an end to the previously sour Russo-Nippon relations.


 * 1826: Nippon continues to expand her military, and Takato Arsenal open a new large scale armaments factory in Edo to help fuel this military expansion. Also the Nipponese colonies expand too, with Atarashii Nippon expanding by 1000 sq km, Satotochi expands by 600 sq km (200*3), and Papua expands 900 (300*3) sq km into Waigeo Island too. Negotiations also begin with Sweden to swap Sweden's claims to the New Bismarck archipelago and the islands off the southeastern tip of OTL Papua New Guinea, in return for getting the island of Dejima in Nagasaki as a trade post. However Nippon points out to Sweden that France is currently in control of and offers a trading post in  instead.


 * 1827: Nippon builds military bases in each one of her colonies, puppet states, and vassals, as part of Nippon's huge military expansion & build-up in the preparation for the upcoming war. In order to further strengthen her military power, Nippon secretly sends diplomats to her allies Vietnam, Finland, France, China, Korea, Persia, Prussia, Neue Brandenburg, Naples and Burma in order to secure military aid from each of her allies for the war. Nippon tells her allies she has a very clear list of objectives, and if the war goes well enough for Nippon to achieve all her objectives, she would have no problem in letting her allies join in with the division of the enemy's assets. Elsewhere Nippon's colonies expand too, with Atarashii Nippon expanding by 1000 sq km, Satotochi expands by 600 sq km (200*3), and Papua expands 350 sq km into Waigeo Island too; thanks mainly to the building of military bases and to increase the supply of resources available for the war.


 * 1828: Nippon declares war and attacks....


 * 1829: The war continues!


 * 1830: Nippon continues to wage war against....


 * 1831: ...


 * 1832: ...


 * 1833: Nippon's military is at its greatest strength since the glory days of yore when Nippon had her European colonial empire.


 * 1839: Takashi Gunto dies, and the Takato Arsenal goes into joint ownership with a board of directors formed by Takashi Gunto taking over the general running of the Arsenal, and splitting the ownership of the company between them.


 * 1840: Daijō-ten'nō Kōkaku (the former abdicated emperor) dies, and a large funeral procession goes through Kyoto.


 * 1850: (Nippon reaches Stage 3 of industrialization)


 * 1910: (Nippon reaches Stage 4 of industrialization)