"How Does Japan Fit Into Colonial Gaming?" Topic

I've been reading history all day online… but how does Japan figure into "normal" Colonial wargaming? Just imaginary battles against your buddy's French Foreign Legion or Zulus? It seems most of the conflict involving Japan was with China abd Korea, which I do not see much representation of wirh people's AARs or pictures.

Japanese contingent in the Boxer Rebellion.
Or else VSF.

Old Glory has figures for the Japanese contingent of the Boxer Rebellion. On of our group has them, nice figures.

Conquest of Formosa (Taiwan).

As a what-if, Japanese in the Philippines c1900 if the US pulls out.

You could take a look at the Boshin War (1868-1869) or the Satsuma Rebellion (1877) for some colonial era gaming involving the Japanese. Admittedly though, both were fought in Japan rather than as part of imperial expansion overseas.

There are Wikipedia entries for both the conflicts for a bit of background. You may find this page on the Battle of Shiroyama (1877) useful too it discusses uniforms, weapons and units: link

Examples of uniforms can also be found here: link

Wargames Illustrated issue 297 contains a Boshin War article and scenario.

Here is an article on using the Smooth & Rifled rules for the Boshin War: PDF link

For a what-if element of the Boshin War, you could consider using some French troops. France had sent a small military mission, consisting of 17 men, to Japan to help reorganise the army. But what if the numbers of French troops in Japan were increased once war broke out?

Ezza

In addition to the above, for the Boshin War there is a free army list for the Triumph & Tragedy rules, which also contains some background to the war. This can be found in the download section of their website: link

Ezza

The Japanese were in the Philippines since the 1600's, IIRC two clans left Japan when Christianity was outlawed and settled under the Spanish, so you -could- have Samurai vs Moros in the 1600s or later.

Then there -could- be Commodore Perry (ACW 'Marines')vs Samurai.

There were several 'minor' incidents with various adventurers and missionaries being imprisoned or killed, all provide 'what if' material for mid-1800's European troops vs various levels of Westernised Japanese if Gunboat Diplomacy ensued. In reality the Japanese realised they were outmatched and apologised nicely.

The 19th Century Warfare and War-gaming Facebook groups November theme was the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.

Russo-Japanese War?

For the most part, the Japanese were smart enough to stay out of conflicts with European powers and take advantage of China's weakness. But there was that little dust-up with the Russians.

The Japanese Navy leadership became very friendly with the British Navy, as did the Japanese Army with the German Army. The Japanese Navy might have acted to aid the British in conflicts with France, such as in Indo-China, or the Japanese Army might have seconded the Germans in Samoa, in either case with or without the backing of the civilian Japanese government.

An early strike for Greater East Asia against British India would probably be a colony too far…but interesting.

If I may try to "complete" the post of Ezza, see the Bac Nin figures here:
link

Japan did it have its own version of long insurgencies in Formosa/Taiwan and Okinawa and the Ryuku's. There is even a movie on those.

Japan also fought a war with China in 1894

I believe the film refered to by KTravlos is "Warriors of the Rainbow":

link

"Colonial" wars Japan was involved in:
Satsuma Rebellion and Boshin War on Japanese soil (Boshin War was on Hokkaido).

First Sino-Japanese War in 1894-95. Japan gained concession territories in China, as well as the island of Formosa.

Japanese delegation during the Boxer Rebellion.

Russo-Japanese War 1904-05. Kicked the crap out of the Russians, but the Russians were at the ass end of a supply line.

Second Sino-Japanese War 1937-1941, and continuing into WW2. I include this one because Japan was attempting to create a colonial empire, which they saw as being a requirement for being a first-world nation. It's pretty much the last of the Colonial Wars.

Missed the edit window.

Otherwise, Japan is actually a realistic competitor for any offworld colonies in a VSF setting. As I said earlier, Japan saw having a colonial empire as being a critical part of being a first-world nation. They might have had a later start in VSF settings, since they wouldn't have gotten going on offworld colonies until after the Boshin War.

Even with offworld colonies, it's probable that the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War would still have happened, as those were largely fought to prove the military might of Japan.

It's not until the Second Sino-Japanese War that things would become unlikely, as that expansion into Korea and Outer Mongolia was Japan's primary attempt at colonization. Though given how resource-strapped Japan was, it's possible that they still would have pushed for colonies in Korea.