Weakest possible Imperial Japan

[Aloha]

So I did this with Italy a few weeks ago and wanted to have a try with another Axis Power.

Basically, what would be some of the worst mistakes that Japan could make throughout the war? Mostly talking about the Second Sino-Japanese War, but you can discuss Pacific War too.

Extra points for making Japan really bad. Like, Italy-level bad.

 

[WaterproofPotatoes]

- Have the "Spirit" faction triumph over the "Control" faction (such as Hideki Tojo and Hajime Sugiyama) and have a violent overthrow of the Japanese government and have an even more militaristic state, with more emphasis on Bushido than military technology.

- Start a "preventive war" with the USA and Britain earlier

- Have even worse logistics. Make sure every unit with Type 38 Arisakas gets the ammunition for the Type 99 and vice versa

- Have the leadership decide that the more competent commanders such as Shunroku Hata, Tomoyuki Yamashita, Toshizo Nishio and Tadamichi Kuribayashi demonstrate "insufficient Yamato Spirit" and replace them with officers like Isamu Cho and Seishiro Itagaki

-Alternatively, make it so that every time an IJA soldier lifts his foot, Emperor Hirohito has to sign off approval

-Someone decides Khalkin Gol demands a rematch, or an outright invasion of the Soviet Union

-Outright civil war between the IJN and IJA

 

[Jukra]

So I did this with Italy a few weeks ago and wanted to have a try with another Axis Power.

Basically, what would be some of the worst mistakes that Japan could make throughout the war? Mostly talking about the Second Sino-Japanese War, but you can discuss Pacific War too.

Extra points for making Japan really bad. Like, Italy-level bad.

Start with Russo-Japanese war going as a total loss for Japan. Although, on the other hand, this might be a factor which could save Japan from the disastrous route it took in OTL.

Civil war in Japan in 1920's, with a strongly anti-communist Japanese leadership going to war against USSR?

 

[Osakadave]

Either the Shikan Gakko or Ni Ni Roku coup succeeds. The Kodoha takes control, with Araki as PM.

In 1936, rather than attacking the Republic of China, Japan strikes north. The Soviets have yet to purge the Red Army of the deep operations theory commanders. The Soviets smash the attack and take Manchuria.

Desperate to defend Manchuria and Korea, Japan seeks to flank the Soviets through the Republic of China. They thus waste any sympathy or aid they might have gotten from anti-Soviet countries.

They end up losing Manchuria and Korea, and get kicked out of China.