IOTL, the British were thinking about letting Japan help in the Mesopotamian and Persian fronts, but didn't do it fearing Japanese influence in the region post war.
Where did you hear of or read this?
And if it was considered, were British fears of Japanese influence, or Japanese lack of interest the bigger obstacle to Japanese participation?
What consequences would Japanese involvement in the Middle East have had during and after WW1?
Possibly no Kut disaster if intervention was early and strong enough. Possibly faster overall progress on other anti-Turkish fronts.
Probably still unlikely to make Gallipolli work. Also, not going to result in a Japanese-administered "mandate of Iraq."
Postwar- more Japanese interest in Islam and more Japanese Muslims. The Japanese Muslims would be some soldiers from the JEF (Japanese Expeditionary Force) who decide to convert. A smallish Japanese emigrant community in Baghdad. More interest in Japanese Mideast and Indian Ocean trade. Probably more interest in Japan among Middle Easterners, and more Middle Eastern students and exiles going to school or living in Japan than OTL. Earlier presence of Korean laborers in the Persian Gulf.
At its maximum, the Japanese learn more useful lessons in desert survival and fighting and logistics that might be of use in the Gobi desert or any later 20th century campaigns Japan engages in.
Interesting idea.
