Third Kurahashi-Japan War

The Third Kurahashi-Japan War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Shogunate Faction of Kurahashi Shogunate and the Empire of Japan from 14 January to 5 April l938. It began with the Shimbashi Incident in 8 January 1938. The conflict escalated afterward until fall of Ichihara April 1938.

The war was the result of the aggression of Shogun Kurahashi Kiyomasa as an action of rejection toward the formal invitation of Kurahashi Shogunate to have a military alliance with Empire of Japan. Region of Nakama itself regarded as the very strategic position in western pacific while having abundant raw material resources, food and high number of labor and manpower.

Fall of Kurahashi Shogunate allowed Imperial Japanese to pressurize the divided faction of Nakama to work under instead of equally under Japan which allowed to expand their military and naval supremacy in western pacific. This also enabled them to attack pearl harbor in 1941 which ultimately started the World War II.

Background
Since 1908, Nakama and Japan has reconciled the relation between both country after the series of previous conflicts and confrontation between both country since mid 19th century. During World War 1, both country fought in allies and have various diplomatic missions between country since then. In 1923 Both country leader, Emperor Masahito (Shinka) from Nakama and Emperor Yoshihito (Taishō) from Japan signed a pact in order to initiate alliance between both country after the demise of Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

However since the rise of Shogun Kurahashi Kiyomasa in 1932 as the leader of government, relation of both country going sour. Under Kiyomasa reactionary point of view, he initiate the independent Nakama outside the influence of foreign power including Japan. Despite Emperor Takahito (Emperor Kuroi) attempt to keep the relation of both nation in good state and possibly secure the alliance, Nakama-Japan relation begun to deteriorating since then.

In April 1937, a coup attempted to overthrow Kurahashi Kiyomasa as the government leader and installed Prime Minister system on Nakama, similar like in Japan. The coup failed and resulting the decree from Kurahashi Kiyomasa in order to form the policy to allow the purging of opposing side in the government while Emperor Kuroi sees the decree as outlaw and should never been taken into action. Relation between both of the head of Nakama strained furthermore resulting on the government divide in that year. By December 1937, Nakama government divided into 2 faction, the reactionary pro Kiyomasa and the conservationist pro Kuroi.

Shimbashi Incident
In 3 January 1938 Japan invites Nakama into the military alliance and share of the military facilities of both countries. Both faction in the government reacted contrast where Emperor Kuroi who looking for more diplomatic action more likely to agree toward the invitation while Kiyomasa faction completely rejected the invitation. In 5 January 1938, representative of Kuroi Faction in government assassinated by unknown assailant while going to Tokyo inside Nakama Border. Later in advance of the possible military alliance, Emperor Kuroi Faction of Nakama government and Japan has a bilateral meeting at Shinbashi in 13 January 1938.

The meeting come into chaos where Japanese ambassador of Nakama killed outside the meeting building which basically the second incident happened within a month. Empire of Japan decide to hold the meeting while publicly denounce Kurahashi Kiyomasa government.. While this happened Kiyomasa faction alongside with the loyalist in the army and navy harshly declared war on Japan.