In the 1980's during the Japanese Economic Miracle, some thought that Japan would become the second world superpower, and some hopefuls even thought that Japan would surpass the US in terms of economy. While that might be a stretch, I have a challenge. Prevent the 1991 Japanese Economic Crash and have the Japanese Economy keep growing, thus tremendously increasing Japan's influence and making them the firm #2 most powerful country in the world after the United States.