A much fitter Japanese military for WW2

So, its discussed a lot in relation to Germany and Italy about how they could have prepared better for war but what could be done about Japan?
One of the biggest blocks seems to the rivalries between the various branches of the military (particularly IJN/IJA) and the lack of cooperation. Could anything be done to improve this in the 30s?
In addition, is there any way Japan's tech (small arms etc) or tactics could be improved to create a stronger ability to resist the inevitable u.s push across the Pacific?
Obviously, Japan loses no matter what but how much longer and harder could it be for the allies to achieve their victory?
 
All of the militaries of WWII (and the present) had inter-service rivalries and duplications that hampered things. Of course, it was nit always "duplication" that caused the problem - the difficulties with maritime air with the RN/RAF up until just before WWII leaving the RN with hopelessly obsolete and outclassed aircraft and a coastal command that was underfunded, under resourced, and under trained and in Germany with the Luftwaffe never adequately supporting the Kriegsmarine and preventing any naval air arm and the infighting between the Heer and the Waffen SS.

Japan was particularly crippled because of these sorts of issues because they were so resource limited. Better army-navy cooperation and at the same time giving one service or the other control of a given mission would free up resources and work better - again assuming proper cooperation/coordination. The next step would be to recognize certain doctrinal failings. Anything that was considered "defensive" such as convoys/ASW, homeland air defense, etc was "non-Bushido" and therefore ignored with disastrous consequences. Many of the equipment issues, such as the fragility of Japanese aircraft, were due to conscious decisions to optimize things like range/speed/maneuverability at the expense of armor, self sealing tanks etc. Make a Zero as rugged as a Hellcat and you lose range, become less maneuverable, etc. Making machine guns belt fed instead of strip fed is an improvement for the army, but really not a big deal.

With doctrinal changes more than specific equipment changes Japan can do better, but the limiting factor is Japanese industry and the educated population base (engineers etc). Not sure how much difference this would make, certainly they are screwed from the get-go. Oh, BTW, how about aircrew actually wearing/using parachutes...
 
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