The Japanese Empire was an empire established by Japan and was the prominent power in Asia during the first half of the 20th century. It was the driving force behind the Pacific War during World War II. Rules by the Japanese Emperor, its will was enforced by the Imperial Japanese Army and its flag depicted a blood-red sun. (PROSE: The Shadow of Weng-Chiang)
History
Since the 1630s, Japan remained isolated from the rest of the world under the Tokugawa shogunate policy of Sakoku. By the 19th century, the policy had stunted Japan's growth and development. In the mid-19th century, United States warships entered the harbour in Edo (Tokyo) and demanded a trade agreement. The resulting end of seclusion led to a rapid modernisation of Japan. (AUDIO: The Barbarians and the Samurai)
Subsequently, Japan grew an empire. With little natural resources of its own, Japan began preying on the bountiful lands of China. (PROSE: The Shadow of Weng-Chiang) By 1900, Japan had partitioned some areas of China and sought to partition more. (PROSE: Warring States) The Empire's ultimate aim was to unite Asia under the Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. (PROSE: The Face of the Enemy)
These ambitions precipitated the annexation of the Chinese province of Manchuria in 1931-1932. The province was consolidated into a Japanese puppet state named Manchukuo. Further Japanese expansionism throughout the 1930s led to the outbreak of the first stages of the Pacific War against China in July 1937. (PROSE: The Shadow of Weng-Chiang)
During World War II, the Empire allied itself with Nazi Germany and Italy. (PROSE: Warlords of Utopia) The Japanese attacked the United States Navy based in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, bringing the latter into the war. (PROSE: Only Connect) In February 1942, the Empire attacked the British colonies in Singapore (AUDIO: The Forsaken) and Burma, (PROSE: Just War, The Scales of Injustice) and expanded much of its influence on many islands throughout the Pacific Ocean. (PROSE: Endgame, COMIC: Lunar Lagoon)
Ultimately, the Allies pushed back the Imperial Japanese forces and the US destroyed two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with atomic bombs. (PROSE: Endgame, Atom Bomb Blues, COMIC: Sky Jacks) The Emperor was forced to surrender and Japan was consequently humbled as a nation. (COMIC: The Road to Hell)
A Japanese-American doomsday cult based in the Chapel of the Red Apocalypse sought to destroy one universe with the Manhattan Project in order to change the outcome of World War II across the rest of the multi-verse. The cult leader, Imperial Lee, declared the Japanese Empire would stand victorious across all realities. However, the cult was thwarted by the Seventh Doctor's interference with the Manhattan Project, which protected it from the threat. The Doctor also doubted the cult's plan was truly feasible. (PROSE: Atom Bomb Blues)