If I attack China or India turn 1, then Russia will push in from Buryatia along with his tanks. If I attack Buryatia with full force the first turn, then pearl harbor goes unmolested because I’ll be using the battleship/transport and fighter/bomber from Japan
You should pretty much always go for pearl, and definitely always go for pearl if if think KJF is coming! The US fleet is going to be your biggest worry, not the India foctory and Eastern flux of Reds.
You mentioned that you consider attacking Buryatia on J1, why? I will only consider advancing that front if Russia retreats. In fact, I would go so far as to say that you actually want Russia to advance into Manchuria. This way you can bombard them and attack with all your airforce without landing them out of optimal position.
Here is what you should do:
Build 3 transports and 2 inf. Hit Pearl and China so the Allies can’t counter on either of these fronts. Unload 2 inf with your only transoprt into Manchuria. These 2 inf are the only units you should leave in Manchuria. Hopefully this will make Russia decide to send everything into Manchuria. On J2, your counter-attack potential is incredible! You can counter with all remaining troops from China, Kwangtung even, 2 BB bombardments, 4 fully loaded transports and any airforce you wish to include. You should take this back no problem and have no threat of a Russian counter on R3.
Japan’s goals for the next few turns should only consist of the following (anything more increases the risk of a total Japanese collapse):
- Try to hold the Asian coastal territories (your starting territories) but you should also invite attacks by the Allies that you can easily counter on your next turn (just like you did with Manchuria on J1). Moving further mainland is too risky and should only be done when a good opportunity presents inself (but it probably won’t).
-Always have 3-4 transports and always try to keep them fully loaded. Unload as many units as you can each turn into mainland Asia. If US fleet is strong however, then stick to 3 fully loaded transports being unloaded each turn. The remaining IPCs should go into strengthening your navy.
- To counter the US fleet, buy subs. You have plenty of capital ships already. Even if you lose one early, 3 is still plenty. Subs are the best attack/defense for the money.
The 1 thing that I can say that I find helps people the most when they feel overwelmed as Japan in KJF is that you have to have some give on some of your fronts. No one can maintain every front so don’t try. Relieve some of the pressure the Allies are forcing on you by deliberately releasing the pressure on one front that you can afford to lose (at least until you probably counter there on your next turn). Once again, a good example by what I mean by this is Manchuria on J1. By deliberately weakening the Manchurian front you are directly and indirectly strengthening all your other fronts. Hope this helps. Let me know if it does or you still have questions. KJF is generally not as good as KGF for a reason.