Can Japan move through usa waters when not at war with usa?

There are three things that affect strategy. You and your opponents/teammates, the setup, and the dice.
Because there is no affect of dice G1 for instance, the only factors are you and the setup. This comes down to the fact that the setup offers some moves and you pick the best one.

I have not played Japan very often but I am not one to hit the US right off.  I like to secure China and the DEI first.  Cripple or take India and pressure the ANZAC’s is next while harrassing the US with landings in Alaska and the Philipeans.  Alaska doesn’t really mean that much but most US palyers will not want Japanese forces in North America.  Once Japan’s IPC level is up and I can build more capitol ships and planes, that is when I move to really hit the US fleet.  An Aggressive US player will make this stratagy much harder to pull off though.  the game I am currently playing, the Japan player did hit the Hawaiian fleet on round one and took it on round two.  The US player has been so focused on the Japan player that the Italians have taken Brazil and the Germans have landed in the West Indies and convoy raided the east coast of the US.  Britain has had no help and is barely hanging on.  The round 1 DOW can work if you have the right kind of player in position.  To give the US player credit, he has begun to make some better playes and is pushing back but he is having to regain alot of lost ground which really help the axis players be more aggressive.

Yes. They would all become Allied friendly.

You say “Let China be” but remember they can capture Hong Kong and Shanghai. Thus even if Japan was to take Calcutta, its work would then have to take Sydney and Honolulu, with its navy. You think America is going to sit by and let you do it, in Global? Ha ha.

@Zallomallo:

Yes, an act of war by Japan on UK or ANZAC(and maybe France?) puts them at war with the US.

It does not put them at war.  It allows them to declare war.  There is a rather large distinction, as Japan can end the turn in seazones with US ships (or attack seazones with both US and UK/Anzac ships, ignoring the US ships) that are still friendly to them until the US declares war on the combat move of its next turn.

Japan declaring war on France has no impact whatsoever.  Japan can declare war on france and as long as they don’t attack FIC, they’ll continue to collect their National Objective.  Even if they do attack FIC, japan only loses their objective.  It does not permit the US to declare war.

Speaking of the US, once the US starts getting its bonus income for being at war, it’s nearly impossible for Japan to fend off the assault (assuming US dedicates all of its IPCs to the Pacific theater). Would it be a good idea for Japan to do a quick, preemptive strike on the US homeland, Pearl Harbor style?

I’m thinking no, but if it’s worked for you I’d like to hear how you did it…

This would only apply to the global game. But after a side wins(for the people really really into this game and with tons of time in their gaming group) has anyone thought about taking it to the next step? Maybe a fight between the allied powers(Russia vs USA and the UK) or if the axis powers win its even better as it would be Japan vs Germany and Italy to see who can control the world? Now for the allied version you would have to set up some sort of  house rules as Russia more then likely won’t have a fleet(unless Germany and Italy are taken and then Russia builds a fleet to help with Japan). You could give both sides all the advanced tech and let them fight it out. I think it would be a fun war as both sides have massive incomes and more then likely the UK and the USA would have part of Germany…or at least have freed France and stationed units there.

@Final:

I usually do this in conjunction with Italy/Germany fleet coming from Gibraltar that feigns a sea lion.  Forces the allies to just sit on their capital while denying their NO’s. Then the Axis fleet can move into the pacific to Hawaii to attack ANZAC. Such a strategy usually gears the Axis up for cheesy Pacific win unless the U.S. player completely reads the Axis intent from round one.

Definately seems like you got to catch the allies off guard.

Gotta turtle HK and Shanghai.