Great Japan Empire

The Empire of Japan lasted from 1868 to 1989 as a monarchy. It was ruled by Mutsuhito, Yoshihito, and Hirohito. Today in this timeline it is ruled by Akihito.

Early history (300 BCE-1868)
Japan has been inhabited since about 38,000 BCE, with the first artifacts known to have been found being 30,000 years old. Humans are believed to have migrated there from the area where Beijing, China stands now. The Kofun period was mostly clans of warrior Japanese that lived in the western Japanese archipelago. Japan sent tributes to Imperial China, and in this time is where relationships between Japan and Korea began. As the Asuka period began, Japan slowly evolved into a clearly defined state. Early Koreans introduced Buddhism to Japan in the mid-Asuka period. The Nara period of Japanese history is viewed as the Golden Age of Japan by many Japanese, being the time where Japanese culture blossomed. Japan became a loose federation as this period began when the capital was moved from Asuka to Nara. It was moved again to present day Kyoto, and stayed there until 1868, with the beginning of the Empire of Japan.

Modern history

Russia steals the American atom bombs and uses them on Germany in 1945, with Germany and Italy surrendering. The Empire of Japan is intact, and Hirohito rules until the day he dies. Imperial Japan slowly builds up a stockpile of nuclear and chemical weaponry. World War II ends in a stalemate between America and Japan, Italy and Germany having already surrendered. The Chinese Civil War never happens, seeing as Formosa is a territory of Japan. The war goes on for a few more years until both countries realize that neither can be defeated. The war ends in 1951 with the Treaty of San Francisco, but each country lets the other keep their controlled land. Japan is a total monarchy, with the Emperor having complete dictatorship over Japan. After the Treaty, Japan takes over much of its occupied territory. A different way of the Korean War happens, with Korea and Manchuria declaring independence from Japan in 1955. Japan tries to fight the countries, but fails. Korea-Manchukuo is declared an independent state, but is soon taken by China, sparking the Sino-Manchukuo War. The Japanese keep French Indochina and much of Indonesia. Wake Island and other territorries owned by the USA are given back. HIrohito dies in 1989 as he does in OTL, and is succeeded by Akihito. Akihito rebuilds the Empire not as a war machine, but as a vessel for technology. A Constitution is put into place, and Japan is converted to a parliamentary democracy. The Empire of Japan functions much as it does today in OTL, as the technological center of the world.

Point of divergence
The Russians stealing the atom bomb saved Japan