Japanese Advantages
POLITICAL ADVANTAGES
Quit India Movement - The Quit India Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi’s call for immediate independence. The British swiftly responded with mass detentions. Over 100,000 arrests were made nationwide, mass fines were levied, and demonstrators were subjected to public flogging.
Once per game, at the beginning of the British player’s turn, the Japanese may declare its support for the Quit India movement. The British player may not build any units on India this turn. This may not be used if the United Kingdom has already promised independence for India (see the Cripps Mission national advantage).
Indian National Army - The Indian National Army was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II.The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance. Initially composed of Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan in her Malayan campaign and at Singapore, it later drew large numbers of volunteers from Indian expatriate population in Malaya and Burma.
Whenever Japan captures a British controlled territory and destroys a British unit in the process, you may place down a free infantry unit on the territory. Place down two additional free infantry if you destroyed a British tank or fighter while capturing the territory.
East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere - The term “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” is remembered largely as a front for the Japanese control of occupied countries during World War II, in which puppet governments manipulated local populations and economies for the benefit of Imperial Japan.
Immediately Collect a number of ipcs equal to the ipc value of any colonial territory that you seize from the allies (British territories in mainland Asia, Hawaii, the Philippines, and the Dutch East Indies). This is in addition to the ipcs you will collect at the end of the turn for occupying the territory. Furthermore, you may mobilize new units on each of these colonial possessions worth at least 2 ipcs as though you had a minor industrial complex on it.
AIR POWER ADVANTAGES
Skilled Pilots - The Japanese pilot training program was very selective and rigorous, producing a high-quality and long-serving pilot corps, who ruled the air in the Pacific during early stages of World War II.
At sea, or during sea battles, tactical Bombers can selects their naval target for the first round of battle.
Kamikaze - The Kamikaze were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible.
During your purchase units phase, you may buy additional Kamikaze attacks at the cost of 2 ipcs per Kamikaze plane. You may never have more than 6 Kamikaze’s at a time.
Mitsubishi A6M Zero - When it was introduced early in World War II, the Zero was the best carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range. In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a “dogfighter”, gaining the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by 1942, a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms.
Japanese fighters defending a Seazone hit at a 5 or less during the first round of Combat.
NAVAL ADVANTAGES
Tokyo Express – The Tokyo Express was the name given by Allied forces to the use of Imperial Japanese Navy ships at night to deliver personnel, supplies, and equipment to Japanese forces operating in and around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands during the Pacific campaign of World War II.
One infantry each turn can move from any naval or air base to another naval or air base without need of transports. Do this after purchasing new units, but before mapping out your combat moves.
Additionally, destroyers may transport 1 infantry apiece.
Combined Fleet - The Combined Fleet was the main ocean-going component of the Imperial Japanese Navy, analogous to the German High Seas Fleet. With the start of the Pacific War with the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Combined Fleet’s Kido Butai, the Combined Fleet was almost synonymous with the Imperial Japanese Navy, as it comprised the battleships, aircraft carriers, aircraft, and the components that made up the main fighting strength of the IJN.
The defense values for your Aircraft carriers, Destroyers, Cruisers, and Battleships are increased by one as long as one of each of these vessels is present in the seazone being attacked. The defense value for units may not go above 5, even if you have Yamato Class Battleships.
Yamato Class Battleships - The Yamato-class battleships were the largest, heaviest, and most heavily-armed battleships ever constructed.
Japanese Battleships cost an additional 4 ipcs to build but defend, attack, and bombard at a 5.
LAND ADVANTAGES
Island Defenders -When the time came to defend against American amphibious invasions, the Japanese prepared their positions well and fought tenaciously. Japanese soldiers hid in fortified caves armed with hidden machine guns and explosives; American forces often lost many men before clearing the Japanese out from each cave or other hiding place.
All infantry defending on Pacific islands (Japan and Australia/New Zealand do not count) get to roll two dice in combat and pick the best result from the dice. If the dice hit both times it is not counted as two hits except for the first round of combat.
Long Live the Emperor - During World War II, Tennōheika banzai!, literally “Ten thousand years to the Emperor” became a Japanese battle cry during charges. “Banzai charge” was a term applied during World War II by the Allied forces to human wave attacks mounted by infantry forces of the Imperial Japanese Army. These attacks were usually launched as a suicide attack to avoid surrender and dishonor or as a final attempt at maximizing the odds of success in the face of usually numerically superior Allied forces.
When you begin an attack with only infantry, all those infantry attack on a 2. This also applies to any amphibious assault in which your attacking land units consist of only infantry. Air support and amphibious bombardments don’t negate this, but the presence of artillery or armor will. Additionally, infantry on mainland japan hit on a 3 or less when defending.
Ha-Go Light Tank - The Type 95 light tank was a light tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army in combat operations of the Second World War. Although it was very slow for a light tank, it proved sufficient against opposing infantry in campaigns in Manchuria and China, as the Chinese National Revolutionary Army had very few tanks or anti-tank weapons to oppose them.
Whenever you are attacking only Chinese land units, your tanks hit at a 4 or less. If British, Anzac, or American ground forces are present, your tanks don’t receive this bonus.