Japanese Empire (World)

WORK IN PROGRESS The Japanese Empire is a large superpower and kingdom, known for stretching the distance of East Asia all the way to the North America and the west. It is one of the largest Empires in existence and in history, surpassing that of even the ones located in Europe. It remained in place until the year 1976 when it's last controlled regions gained independence.

Despite it's status as a former Empire, Japan is still a powerful nation and industrial superpower, influencing a large portion of the world's countries.

Foundation
Japan had for thousands of years remained a kingdom archipelago made of four different islands in the East Sea (or Sea of Japan). The Kingdom had a very isolationist policy called "Sakoku", enforced by the local landlords and Government. After European influence in East Asia began to grow in the 1700s the British, French and Dutch sought trade with Japan.

After the Emperor Nakamikado refused to lift the seclusion policies in Japan the Europeans started to distrust them. Eventually, the more prominent empires from Europe became more persistent with Japan, demanding a sphere of influence there.

Convention of Kanagawa
The British & Dutch officials signed a treaty with the Japan, after Emperor finally gave into the demands of the Europeans, knowing that anymore denying of even some influence on their soil would only lead to international disputes. Anglo-Dutch embassies were built made in Tokyo while Japanese embassies showed in London & Amsterdam.