Flag of the Neo-Japanese Empire

This is the flag of the titular empire that is featured in my 'Random World Concept' Map #2 universe. By 2040, Japan had reversed its population decline from 82 million and brought it back to 105 million, but their rigid economy was simply too outdated, small and rigid to keep up with the times allowing growth seen in other nations. Many people thought it was overpopulated due to the fact that only small numbers were employed and the vast majority of citizens were left out in the cold, which were rife with welfare handouts and poverty. A respected Japan Defense Forces colonel named Sugio Mitsushiya was tired of the lack of activity and seeing his country fall apart any more after his limited army's defeat at the hands of the Russians and Chinese during the East Asian Claims Wars from 2029 to 2033. The country was dying and Mitsushiya and his loyal comrades overthrew the Japanese political establishment, slain the old Royal Family, and reformed the country as a absolute monarchy enforced by military and Bushido values. After stabilizing and holding the country back into order, Emperor Sugio's Japan sought to grow like never before and let its power be felt worldwide.

First, Sugio's Board of Daimyo vastly expanded the army, navy and air force and reintroduced conscription, for males and females alike. Though they were eager to accept radical new ideas from the homeland, Japanese spies were sent all over the world to get the best defense technology ideas from the Trumperians, Germans, and of course their old enemies the Russians and Chinese. The bulking-up and building of the army would take over 20 years to complete. They worked tirelessly to score trade deals with world economic and political powers, especially the Imperial States of Trumperia. Then, Sugio and his daimyo introduced legislation further cementing their power across Japan and implemented new, in-depth healthcare and social welfare policies to maintain the population and get the destitute back to work and make the country strong again. Despite Japan's total rebirth, the country was at risk for recession - perfect timing for Japan to get revenge against its enemies.

The mid-2060s to late 2080s were marked by constant war and its territorial expansion across the Pacific. It waged war against The Philippines and took over the islands as their own. In the Second East Asian Claims War, Japan would take part of the Kurile Islands from the Russians and defeat the Chinese with its newfound and state-of-the-art missile and naval capabilities, thus taking over Taiwan. When the Malayan Despotate fought with the Australian Commonwealth from 2071-2073, the Neo-Japanese Empire gave its assistance in which saw the Malayans defeated. As a reward, the Japanese were partitioned a portion of the Indonesian islands and received reparation payments from the Malayans. As a result, the Australians and Japanese joined in a friendly trade alliance, known the Association of Pacific Periphery States (APPS), which boosted each other's wealth and influence considerably.

Not all of its expansion was violent however. The Japanese became friends with Trumperia, and as the latter was too busy with continental problems with its empire, sold Hawaii to the Japanese, which promptly incorporated the region into its own empire. Controversially, a World War II memorial was built alongside that of the Americans during the attack on Pearl Harbour. Yet, the Japanese used their power of persuasion towards native Hawaiians and welcomed the help of enthusiastic Japanese-Trumperians and fellow expats in other countries in promoting a friendlier image worldwide despite it being an aggressive military power. Southeast Asia dealt with many years of instability and fragmentation that threatened to flow over into India, so Japanese and Indian officials met in Mumbai in 2080 to promote investment and security in the region. Many cities, like Bangkok and Hanoi, were restructured in either an Indian or Japanese image, and thus the two powers' spheres of influence grew even further.

With Japanese might displayed loud and clear on the world stage, the Russians and Chinese would not dare to stage an attack to reclaim their lost territory and shame. The Neo-Japanese Empire has been conducting major investment and security deals with nations in Europe, South America and Africa, making it a powerhouse along with the German Confederacy and Trumperia. The Japanese also have a hand in the maintenance of peace and modernization across the Middle East. Now in the 22nd century, Japan's new empire has solidified and become lead Asia back into dominance on the world stage.