I recently played a game as the axis against someone I knew who liked to use the U.S. to invade Algeria in Round 1.  I usually will use the German sub in SZ 8 on Round 1 to destroy the lone British transport in SZ 1.  However, knowing my opponent to launch operation torch on Round 1, I decided to move my German sub from SZ 8 to SZ 10 and attack the U.S. cruiser and two transports.  I won the battle and thought I was just lucky, but I later calculated the odds of winning using TripleA and found it to be almost even at 49% attacker and 51% defender.

The question: Is it worth the risk to lose a German sub on R1 to destroy the U.S. capacity to land in Africa? 
Things to consider:
UK having two transports on R1 to invade Norway
Possibility of using German Mediterranean fleet to attack British cruiser in SZ 13 on R1 instead of Egypt, so as to take Brazil on R2.

How do you reinforce Norway on R1 against imminent British invasion?

I see that the U.S. does not even have to worry about the Pacific and can focus totally on Germany.  This makes Germany fight against three powers and Japan fighting against the U.K. and Russia, with neither of them dedicating new IPCs towards Japan.  If there is a chance for Japan to invade America, then the U.S. would have to spend more IPCs in the Pacific.

I know that historically Japan never had the chance to attack the U.S. mainland, but I think that is because of some decisive naval losses (Solomon Islands, Midway) and strategy that did not involve the U.S. (going for Australia, not finishing up Pearl Harbor).  If Japan really wanted to attack the U.S. mainland in late 1941 or early 1942, they probably could have done so.  It may have meant that they couldn’t attack other British and U.S. territories (South East Asia, Philipines), but it would have meant they could have landed in for sure Hawaii and maybe California.

Is there a way in AA 1942 for Japan to go all out U.S. invasion early in the game and not get slaughtered?  Or is the only method that is sound for Japan to invade Asia?

A long time ago, if I remember correctly, Axis and Allies only had an East and West U.S.  Mexico bordered both territories and then Panama bordered the south border of Mexico.  The U.S. mainland was not directly connected to Panama.  Therefore, U.S. forces had to first go through Mexico to get to Panama.

In AA 1942 (I don’t know about other games) the U.S. is split into three sections:  West U.S., Central U.S., and East U.S.  Mexico borders the West U.S and Panama borders Central U.S.

I’m not sure why they created it this way.  I think that if they wanted to give Japan a chance to get a toe-hold in the Western Hemisphere they would not have had Panama connect to the U.S.  Only Mexico should border both the West U.S. and Central U.S.  Thus when Japan takes Panama, the East U.S. could not tank blitz it, but only the West U.S.  This could buy time for Japan to move its Navy across Oceans.

Has anyone ever tried to make a serious run at the U.S. with Japan?  If so, how did you do it?

I do not think that Germany should spend its energy on taking Brazil.  Germany must be occupied with Russia and the U.K.  Also, Germany can disrupt the U.S. and its convoy system just as easily from W. Europe and N. Africa as it can from Brazil.  However, I do think that Japan can take Brazil with its initial fleet and thus not divert funds from Russia and also put pressure on the U.S. convoy line.  I will go into a detailed plan for this in a post that I will write in a week or two.

I think that the overall strategy is the same for each game, it being to put pressure on Russia.  However, there are multiple avenues in which to do this.  Japan must decide how to get to Moscow.  It can go by land or sea. 
Land Options:
North Asia thru Siberia
Middle Asia thru China
South Asia thru India

Sea Options:
Pipeline from Japan to main land
Amphibious assault India
Take Suez Canal and up to Caucus

There are also the decisions about I.C. and air support.
Build I.Cs on mainland options
Kwangtung
Manchuria
F.I.C.
India (after captured from U.K.)

Air support options.
Bombers to strategic bomb Russia
Bombers to strategic bomb U.K.
Fighters to defend Germany
Fighters and Bombers to fly to Europe and then disrupt U.K. and U.S. convoys

Then there is also the decision about not going after Russia.  Other options (not the best) could be:
Go after West U.S. early and tie up materials
Go After Alaska
Go After Africa

So, I think that Japan has the same overall objective each time, but the execution can be very different.

Where and when should Industrial complexes be bought and placed?

The common move in our games is for Japan to build one in Kwangtung.  Maybe for the British to build one in India.  Sometimes Japan will build a second one in either Manchuria or French Indo-China.  Other than those examples, I do not see Industrial complexes being built.

Should Germany ever build one?  Possibilities of W. Europe, Norway, Anglo-Egypt after it falls.
Should U.K. build one in South Africa, Australia, in Norway after it falls?
Should U.S. ever build one in Asia?
Is there advantages to building them sooner or waiting?

Thanks for the advice.