Song of Steam Redux (Back By Popular Demand, Open, OOC)

[Sanabel]

Tripoliwank is accepted!

[Togeria]

I will post now.

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

My final application for Japan!

GENERAL
Formal Nation Name: The Oda-Ashikaga Shogunate of Japan
Colloquial Nation Name: Japan
Territory(Map Preferred): http://i.imgur.com/JT5ociV.png Trade ports in Taiwan and Northern/Central Philippines - Limited trade ports in Hawaii and the Alaskan island chain
Flag/Symbolism: Behold!
Demonym: Japanese
Capital: Kyoto

GOVERNMENTAL
Government Type: Semi-feudal hereditary military dictatorship
Government Ideology: Lead Asia into the future - Be the Italians of the East - Imperialism
Brief Government Explanation: The government is a federal government as feudal Japan has never really faded away. Daimyo's still dot mainland Japan and act as the provinces of this increasingly western state. Daimyos have limited power being able to conduct trade, rule their people, and provide services. Above the Daimyos lies the Shogun. The Shogun, being the military leader they usually are, hold complete authority over the government often being aided by advisers. He controls the military wholely and manages all foreign matters. Often times, to appease the Imperial family, surrenders domestic affairs such as economic and industrial plans to the Emperor. This allows for there to be a balance without a power struggle. The Emperor is purely ceremonial but as stated before, can be granted certain powers and effectively rules the country. Korea and Manchuria (referred to often as Greater Japan) are governed by Fuku Shogun which are appointed to lead the government. Korea is fairly independent and manages most of its affairs similar to Scotland and England but Greater Japan is not. It is more heavily governed as a junta.
Head of State: Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Head of Government: Shogun Oda-Ashikaga Shoko
Foreign Policy: Japan sees it self as a powerhouse in Asia. It is seeking to control Asia not just politically and militarily but economically and technologically. China is by far its greatest rival and threat. The rising power is seen as a threat to Japanese idealism and will be stopped at nothing to destroy China. It realizes that it must remain advanced to defeat the easily superior nation and continue its internal strife. To its North, the rise of new powers is threatening but seen as silliness as Japan continues to dominate the region. Southwards, only the colonialism of Europe is seen as intrusive but Japan is happy to let them be as they leech technology. Besides these powers, Japan overlooks everyone else while hoping to expand it self. With trade ports and knowledge of the islands south known as Taiwan to the East to Hawaiʻi to even islands dotting the North, it continues to dominate Asia, the Pacific, and it hopes to continue through industry.
Domestic Policy: It seeks industralization the greatest. It is the most advanced in Asia so far but must continue. Its position places it at the perfect point to exploit resources but first it must draw not only Europeons but their trade. Italy is regarded as the epitamy of what Japan wishes to achieve seeking dominance in more than one way. Political strife is low but what is one the rise is a continuing power struggle between the Daimyos and the central government as they each wish to give themselves more power though the Shogun knows Nationalism must unify Japan before it does it to China creating a truly powerful opponent.
State Religion: Shinto & Buddhism

SOCIAL
Population: 41,000,000 (Estimated using Japanese statistics, less warfare due to Reunification, Korean population statistics, and what I could find about Manchuria)
Colonial Population: None as Greater Japan is fully intertwined into the federal government.
Ethnic Groups: Korean, Japanese, Siberian/Mongol people (Buryats), Manchurians, and Han (really just lumped together if they are Chinese)
Primary Culture: Japanese intertwined heavily with Korean
Other Cultures: Manchurian, Siberian, and Mongol

ECONOMIC
Economic Description: Major institutions hold money which they keep allowing for others to buy and sell goods with paper & coins representative of the actual commodities they hold. This representative money (who'd have guess) is a modern creation and holds a strong value. Its economy is booming as new industries form as technology develops and trade grows. With the lands of Greater Japan at their disposal, migration and job opportunities are vast. Japan's mainland and Korea are growing business districts with larger urban areas as Manchuria grows into the manufacturing, mining, and farming hearth of Japan. Migration grows, the economy booms, and people become richer all through this golden age of Japan.
Industrialization Level: 4/10
Economic Ideology: Free market though the Shogun often exhibits strong control especially towards hostile neighbors and welcomes colonial powers.
Main Trading Partners: China, Hawaiian natives, Taiwan, European colonies, and the people of Siberia
Colonial Economic Policy(If Applicable): Trade with the homeland! Develop a sphere of influence over the northern Pacific Sea

MILITARY
Military Description(Tactics, training, etc.): Japan holds great experience in all sorts of military conflicts. On land, the army is experienced in not only defeating larger armies such as the Manchu but also the smallest tactical forces of Japan Proper. Rebellions are easy to put down and coastal invasions are easy having experienced it in the conquest of Korea and Manchuria. The major problem lies in the size disadvantage and ill-preparedness to fight in tropical regions or even the cold north. The Imperial Navy though is by far the best in the area. It outnumbers the navy of the Chinese 3 to 1 and is technologically superior. The Navy is spread out on the borders will little in the Sea of Japan as it that body of water is impentrable if the borders are protected. Modernization first is arriving in the Navy with new ships including iron ones and steam driven making it a fierce power. Little can rival the Japanese navy which is skilled not just in landings and naval warfare but more recently in fierce bombarding.
Army(Include active duty, reserves, etc.): 500,000 Active Men - 310,000 Reserve - 810,000 Total
Navy(Include number of marines and ships, etc.): 170,000 Sailors
60 Western style frigates - 25 steam-powered warships - 55 Red seal ships (used for transports) - 15 screw-driven steam corvettes - 25 Steam-driven schooners - 15 - Modern warships (powered by both sails and steam)
Elite Units: 25,000 - known as the Emperor's army and are around 1/2 of the men still posted in the Mainland. They act as the force to stop rebellions and the final defense of an army managed to make landfall.

HISTORY
Brief History of Nation:
1336 - The Ashikaga clan takes over the shogunate of Japan and begins a long and brutal campaign to control from Kyoto to Tokyo using the military of the family to take over.
1345 - Central Japan is finally united and is easily the powerhouse of Japan. This period brings peace but the first ideas of a nation in Japan begins to foster.
1400 - Massive war campaigns end as Southern Japan is conquered with guidance from the Emperor and Shogun. In order to keep the peace, the daimyos are allowed to continue to govern. The Imperial Navy is created though a clear exemption is made of Northern Japan still controlled by feudal lords.
1420 - In order to secure his Japan as the only Japan, the Shogun begins to allow expeditions to Asian ports spreading the word of the country. Along these trips is where ports in Northern Taiwan, Alaska, Hawai'i, and the Philippines are founded.
1425 - Major navy ships are created as trade vessels to maintain the routes across the Japanese sphere of influence in tact and safe, first contact with the people in Papua and Indonesia
1470 - Japan finally is able to raise a sufficiently large army and navy to prepare an attack on Korea. The Korean people are initally opposed but as the wealth of Japan rises, a few begin to support. The war begins but is a horrible failure as Japan loses nearly every man unable to perfect their strategy. Gains are made in the North though it remains divided.
1500 - Japan begins a second war supported by a coalition with the Northern diamyos. Together, united mostly because of the Emperor's cunning, the army is unstoppable making headway in Korea and continuing a brutal campaign.
1507 - The war ends with a Japanese victory though tensions are uneasy creating hostility and with the uniting war over, the coalition falls apart. Japan continues growing its trade and navy as well as a new population boom.
1540 - Oda Nobunaga ascended to power as a general and being brilliant in strategy declares he will not eat nor marry until he unites Japan. His conquest begins with a great victory taking Niigata in one fell swoop.
1555 - The conquest of the North ends in a huge battle in Sapporo where all the remaining forces of the North are defeated. Japan is unified as well as early contact with Europeans occurs. Oda is rewarded heavily with the only daughter of the then Shogun as the heirs to the Shogunate take the Oda family name. Trade blossoms in the south and the north undergoes heavy reconstructions.
1600 - With the Korean and Japanese cultures blended heavily due to the past emperors and shoguns, the nation is more united than ever. Industrialization begins to occur as spies, scientists, and most importantly the Moroccans aid the Japanese. This leads to massive period of economic boom and another population increase. In order to fuel such industry, war plans are drawn up and later in that year, war begins with the Manchu's in the north.
1606 - A rather quick war is won giving Japan control of Eastern Manchuria and all of the coastline on the Sea of Japan. Industry moves to Korea as Central Japan is fully industrialized and the center of economic activity.
1640 - Korea is now industrialized heavily in Seoul as companies begin to move to Manchuria to start there. Resources are plentiful as the navy is extremely modern compared to its neighbor.
1666 & onward - Major reforms in the government occur as people receive rights as well as the feudal diamyos. The army is enlarged as more northern land is taken and colonialism begins to rev up as the navy is expanded set on taking Asia by storm. Economic booms are growing as well as the population. Relations with Europeans are at an all-time high as Japan is surely seen as leading the future.
Date of Nation's PoD: 1336

666(DO NOT REMOVE)

Seems good. Accepted, if nobody else has qualms about it.

[Togeria]

Hey Akai, I wanted if you would know or could guess to how fast a Chinese Junk ship could go?

[Reatra]

Hey Akai, I wanted if you would know or could guess to how fast a Chinese Junk ship could go?

Supposedly, the famous Treasure fleet went 2,000 miles in 40 days, which is including its stopping at ports and such.

So maybe 250 miles a day, max?

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

Hey Akai, I wanted if you would know or could guess to how fast a Chinese Junk ship could go?

Supposedly, the famous Treasure fleet went 2,000 miles in 40 days, which is including its stopping at ports and such.

So maybe 250 miles a day, max?

That's about 9-10 knots per hour.

[Togeria]

Hey Akai, I wanted if you would know or could guess to how fast a Chinese Junk ship could go?

Supposedly, the famous Treasure fleet went 2,000 miles in 40 days, which is including its stopping at ports and such.

So maybe 250 miles a day, max?

This helps a lot, thank you. Because I looked at google at the distance between Shanghai and Mexico which is 12,315km converting that to miles is 7652m. So using that I divided 250 by 7652 and got 30 days, I think that's too fast, or I possibly did my math wrong.

[Reatra]

Supposedly, the famous Treasure fleet went 2,000 miles in 40 days, which is including its stopping at ports and such.

So maybe 250 miles a day, max?

That's about 9-10 knots per hour.

Modern sail boats go around 20 knots per hour, so for a 1600s junk that makes sense.

[Reatra]

Supposedly, the famous Treasure fleet went 2,000 miles in 40 days, which is including its stopping at ports and such.

So maybe 250 miles a day, max?

This helps a lot, thank you. Because I looked at google at the distance between Shanghai and Mexico which is 12,315km converting that to miles is 7652m. So using that I divided 250 by 7652 and got 30 days, I think that's too fast, or I possibly did my math wrong.

If it's a sailboat, definitely too fast.

The winds actually flow east to west in the Central Pacific, so you'd have a hell of a hard time making the journey in anything less than four or six months.

But from Mexico to China? I'd say two months, which is faster than IRL Mexico to Manila galleons in the 1600s.

[Togeria]

Yeah so it'd take 5 months for my ships to make it to Mexica.

[The Holy Dominion of Inesea]

That's about 9-10 knots per hour.

Modern sail boats go around 20 knots per hour, so for a 1600s junk that makes sense.

The fastest sailing passage from NYC to San Fran between 1854 and 1989 was set by the clipper Flying Cloud. The ship pulled 11-13 knots at the fastest point of the journey and averaged 7.5 knots for the whole thing. This was on a clipper ship and set a record that lasted from before the Civil War until the fall of the Soviet Union. The clipper is a ship built for speed and could carry jack for cargo. So I doubt a Chinese Junk could pull 9-10 knots.

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

Modern sail boats go around 20 knots per hour, so for a 1600s junk that makes sense.

The fastest sailing passage from NYC to San Fran between 1854 and 1989 was set by the clipper Flying Cloud. The ship pulled 11-13 knots at the fastest point of the journey and averaged 7.5 knots for the whole thing. This was on a clipper ship and set a record that lasted from before the Civil War until the fall of the Soviet Union. The clipper is a ship built for speed and could carry jack for cargo. So I doubt a Chinese Junk could pull 9-10 knots.

Viking longships could pull up to 15, and average around 10. This was happening before the year 1000.

[Reatra]

Yeah so it'd take 5 months for my ships to make it to Mexica.

I don't know, might be half a year or more, because the winds are against you.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

Yeah so it'd take 5 months for my ships to make it to Mexica.

I could get there in 1-2 months or less!

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

Yeah so it'd take 5 months for my ships to make it to Mexica.

I could get there in 1-2 months or less!

I challenge you, then.

[Togeria]

Yeah so it'd take 5 months for my ships to make it to Mexica.

I don't know, might be half a year or more, because the winds are against you.

So I'll split it. We're east of the Philippines now and in the Pacific, so I was gonna say 3-4 months to hit Hawaii first, and then sail from there to Mexica.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

I could get there in 1-2 months or less!

I challenge you, then.

Accepted! Probably less since we have steam-powered ships plus a port in Hawai'i

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

I challenge you, then.

Accepted! Probably less since we have steam-powered ships plus a port in Hawai'i

I'm just so lonely over here guys

[Togeria]

Or I might just have Zhu turn back around, wait to get some industry, and then head to Mexica.

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

Or I might just have Zhu turn back around, wait to get some industry, and then head to Mexica.

That'll take a lot longer. Consider this the equivalent of the Cook Expedition

[Togeria]

Or I might just have Zhu turn back around, wait to get some industry, and then head to Mexica.

That'll take a lot longer. Consider this the equivalent of the Cook Expedition

Yes, I feel motivated to touch the New World, just to claim China has done it. That and the challenge of doing this is nice as well.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

That'll take a lot longer. Consider this the equivalent of the Cook Expedition

Yes, I feel motivated to touch the New World, just to claim China has done it. That and the challenge of doing this is nice as well.

I feel motivated to touch the New World as well, just to claim Japan has done it. That and the challenge of conquering California is nice as well.

[The Holy Dominion of Inesea]

The fastest sailing passage from NYC to San Fran between 1854 and 1989 was set by the clipper Flying Cloud. The ship pulled 11-13 knots at the fastest point of the journey and averaged 7.5 knots for the whole thing. This was on a clipper ship and set a record that lasted from before the Civil War until the fall of the Soviet Union. The clipper is a ship built for speed and could carry jack for cargo. So I doubt a Chinese Junk could pull 9-10 knots.

Viking longships could pull up to 15, and average around 10. This was happening before the year 1000.

Viking longships could pull, on average, 5-10 knots. Under the most favorable conditions they could pull 15 knots. Those would be the Skeid and Snekkja style longships. The smaller Karvi's and larger drekkars were much slower. Longships were hybrid vessels, primarily relying on oars. They were also relatively short range, especially compared to transoceanic. The knarr, the ship style used for transatlantic voyages, averaged a mere 3-4 knots under sail and 5 under oars. All of these ships, save the largest drekkars, are smaller than junks. All are far shorter ranged and much, much smaller. More importantly these had limited bulk cargo capacity. The Flying Cloud could pull 20 something knots under favorable conditions. But it's average was 7 or so.

[Segmentia]

Accepted! Probably less since we have steam-powered ships plus a port in Hawai'i

I'm just so lonely over here guys

I can have Venice run into you, if you want.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

I'm just so lonely over here guys

I can have Venice run into you, if you want.

*run into you* One year later.... "Welcome to Venetian Mexico!"