Japan becoming a superpower is as inevitable as the sun coming up (lets bar some very nice kjf play for the sake of this discussion, since an indian IC is pretty obvious during kjf play). The problem is that even if japan is twice as powerful as one ally, they are only as powerful as two. If germany is out of the picture, they cannot stand up to three, and that is where the game is won, in my opinion. Japan, without any allied intervention, cannot be at russia’s doorstep in absolute minimal force until round 3. However, through good play both on the east by russia, and on the west by the other allies, russia should be able to delay a japanese push into their IC’d territories until something like round 7, if not indefinitely. Of course, if the axis are playing well, this doesn’t happen and germany and japan are at russia’s doorstep at say, round 5, and this inevitably leads to russia’s defeat. As long as the allies can prevent germany from getting to russia in force, russia should be able to prevent japan showing up in enough force to take moscow for quite awhile.
I think most people overestimate japan. There is no denying that in most games japan is or will become very powerful, it is more a question of timing. Japan as uber-powerful as they are before or after germany is gone is not important, or rather, does not have to be important. As long as russia can keep japan at bay long enough for germany to fall the game is over. In a successful allied version of KGF (which obviously does not always work), I divide the game into three sections.
- Germany’s eastward progression is halted due to russian agression, and mounting pressure from allied fleet landings in the north and potential threats in the west. This usually should commence around, I’d say round 3/4 I think.
- Russia can now ignore germany for the most part and turn around to face japan. This coincides roughly with around the time japan is near important russian territories, and is not taking into account minor skirmishes around china, india, and yakut/burytia. Until japan can turn its dominant economics into units on the front line, russia can remain at parity and then some with japan, keeping them at bay and from standing in novo or persia in force. Meanwhile allied pressure continues against germany, assisted from russia if possible.
- Germany falls. Russia if it cannot continue assaulting japan turtles up and holds out until allied troops can arrive in force. If this fails, russia falls, but if germany has fallen one or two rounds before, it doesn’t matter.
That’s how I try and deal with it, anyhow. Your mileage (and mine) may vary.