HOI2 and Victoria

[seireikhaan]

You can't accept Dutch envoys btw. Not sure if you did that or not.

Actually, I'm pretty sure you can. I know I did it and ended up with meiji as well.

Not sure if it had anything to do with the fact that I let the country rebel on me, converting Japan into a liberal democracy in the 1850's.

[naut]

Actually, I'm pretty sure you can. I know I did it and ended up with meiji as well.

Not sure if it had anything to do with the fact that I let the country rebel on me, converting Japan into a liberal democracy in the 1850's.

* Accept the offer to become a Dutch satellite in 1842, get all the free techs, disband all your armies, and set all taxes to 100%. This has the effect of turning your entire country to liberals. Look as the entirety of Japan turns to black, and wait until the revolution fires. Let your populace rebel and overthrow your government, thereby breaking your vassalage. While this will delay 'civilized' status until 1870, as opposed to 1860, you do get a lot of key techs much much much earlier and can use them to build your economy and colonial claims. This ultimately leads to a much stronger Japan by 1880, as opposed to staying isolated until 1860.

Congratulations, you are now a liberal independent (though unciviliced) democrazy. Put taxes low and beat back the reactionary revolts by building new military units super-fast. After that, just put mil spending to high, build the needed 5 mil score worth of native divisions, and wait for your reforms to bring you enough prestige. You'll be civilized in no time, and it's not even 1850... After that, annex korea, and use them as your cannon fodder when taking territory from the chinese.

The downside is you'll have high militancy and that will take some time to get rid of.

The other, other Japanese tactic.