Any way Japan could have won WW2?

The German army was very well-equipped and versatile compared to most armies at the time. This was first into public knowledge when Germany sent volunteers to the Spanish Civil War, where they achieved brilliant success. While yes, Soviet volunteers would be more numerous, a few German panzers would really benefit the Chinese struggle against Japan, in case Germany is more sympathetic to China.

You're not wrong, but you're missing my point: I'm not asking what difference would the German aid make to China- possibly, as you say, quite a lot- I'm asking what difference German aid would make to Western perceptions of China.
There was a contention that continued German aid to the nationalists would push the West on to Japan's side- I was pointing out that the Chinese were already being supplied by a nation the west considered to be an Axis ally, and not only did it not change Western opinions about China, the UK and US continued to provide their own support.
 
You're not wrong, but you're missing my point: I'm not asking what difference would the German aid make to China- possibly, as you say, quite a lot- I'm asking what difference German aid would make to Western perceptions of China.
There was a contention that continued German aid to the nationalists would push the West on to Japan's side- I was pointing out that the Chinese were already being supplied by a nation the west considered to be an Axis ally, and not only did it not change Western opinions about China, the UK and US continued to provide their own support.
Very true.
 
Actually bother industrializing and educating Korea. The peninsula was a treasure trove of industrial resources, so utilizing it instead of spending more than a decade trying to make it into an agricultural supply base would give great dividends.
Was this known at the time?

It would have saved the Japanese a fortune in foreign currency. Not to mention the reduced transportation costs also saving foreign currency. Plus the sea routes to Korea were much easier to protect in the event of a war with a great naval power (or two).
 
Was this known at the time?
Yes. It took Ugaki as General Governor in the 1930s to start the industrialization, and by the end of 1945 Korea was the main producer of strategic resources such as liquidated coal, lubricating oil, ball bearings, etc etc.

So yes, two decades earlier industrialization which utilizes the massive hydro potential that kept North Korea ahead of South Korea for decades would have definitely helped, but in "domestic" production and making maximum use of Manchurian resources.
 
Yes. It took Ugaki as General Governor in the 1930s to start the industrialization, and by the end of 1945 Korea was the main producer of strategic resources such as liquidated coal, lubricating oil, ball bearings, etc etc.

So yes, two decades earlier industrialization which utilizes the massive hydro potential that kept North Korea ahead of South Korea for decades would have definitely helped, but in "domestic" production and making maximum use of Manchurian resources.
What about iron ore? If there was any, how much was there and what was the iron content?

IOTL Japan the best quality iron ore came from Malaya. The loss of all the ore ships meant they had to use inferior ores from Manchuria, China proper, the Home Islands and IIRC a small quantity from Korea. This severely reduced the quantity of steel the Japanese were able to produce after 1943.
 
Actually bother industrializing and educating Korea. The peninsula was a treasure trove of industrial resources, so utilizing it instead of spending more than a decade trying to make it into an agricultural supply base would give great dividends.

They did this. Korea boomed under Japan, especially in the 1930s.

Edit: ironically for this thread,
Ninja'd.
 
Which they could have done two decades earlier. Instead, Terauchi pushed for an agricultural supply base..... which came back as the Rice Riots that forced him to resign when he was PM.

Historical irony.

Did Japan have the capital to industrialize Korea in the 1910s? It was a net debtor prior to WW1, and still pretty poor.
 
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