WI - Japanese Expeditionary Force in WW1

What if Japan had contributed more to World War 1 instead of simply seizing German possessions in the Pacific and Southeast Asia? What if a Japanese Expeditionary Force had been sent to the Western Front or any other theatre across the globe such as the Middle East or East Africa?
 
The first thing that needs to be answered is what has to change in Japan politically for the people in power to approve or even offer to send Japanese troops to Europe, the Mid-East, or wherever.
Also, sending Japanese troops to another theatre means that the IJN will be deploying ships there as well. And how does that affect things?
 
The first thing that needs to be answered is what has to change in Japan politically for the people in power to approve or even offer to send Japanese troops to Europe, the Mid-East, or wherever.
Also, sending Japanese troops to another theatre means that the IJN will be deploying ships there as well. And how does that affect things?
The IJN deployed ships to the Med and Africa OTL for escort and ASW duty, so no real change from that
 

Driftless

Donor
The tricky part is what would the Japanese want for providing this level of help?

If the "J.E.F." goes to the Middle East - the Japanese might expect more petroleum access from the British. The DEI is much closer to home, but the Japanese had little leverage with the Dutch. Helping the British gives the Japanese a quid pro quo expectation
 
If the "J.E.F." goes to the Middle East - the Japanese might expect more petroleum access from the British. The DEI is much closer to home, but the Japanese had little leverage with the Dutch. Helping the British gives the Japanese a quid pro quo expectation
Like a share in some of the oilfield?
 

BlondieBC

Banned
The tricky part is what would the Japanese want for providing this level of help?

Easy to answer. British and French support for an expanded exclusive economic zone in China. My guess is for the UK/France to support the Yellow River basin plus Manchuria is for Japan only. And probably Russia support too.

A Japanese Corp or two could have been bought for the right price.
 
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