my first move when i play japan is as follows. build one factory to be placed on kytain, (spelling) and three infantry in japan. combat move. hit Asia with EVERYTHING YOU GOT. leave the US fleet in Hawaii alone (come back for it later). non-combat move, move all you can to japan. this keeps your more powerful fleet intact to be used at another time. end result. you still have a more powerful fleet than the US, you have a factory in Asia, all your aircraft are safe. at this point it only takes building eight bucks per turn (one sub) to hold off the US. factory in Asia, powerful fleet, territories falling. it's all good.
I've often taken the Hawaiian island turn 1, the transport loaded and the carrier fighter both make the land battle with the carrier, sub, both battleships and the fighter&bomber in Japan attacking the US carrier, fighter and sub. It's 9 out of 10 success it seems. Turn 2 Australia generally falls with a fully loaded transport from Hawaii, both battleships and carrier fighters. Next turn India, or new Zealand, or Australia if it failed the first time, sometimes it will. I hit china with 1 fighter and 6 infantry. The Philippines fighter must be saved for non combat, the fleet will often need it in Hawaii replacing a loss for fleet defense.
my first move when i play japan is as follows. build one factory to be placed on kytain, (spelling) and three infantry in japan. combat move. hit Asia with EVERYTHING YOU GOT. leave the US fleet in Hawaii alone (come back for it later). non-combat move, move all you can to japan. this keeps your more powerful fleet intact to be used at another time. end result. you still have a more powerful fleet than the US, you have a factory in Asia, all your aircraft are safe. at this point it only takes building eight bucks per turn (one sub) to hold off the US. factory in Asia, powerful fleet, territories falling. it's all good.
I've often taken the Hawaiian island turn 1, the transport loaded and the carrier fighter both make the land battle with the carrier, sub, both battleships and the fighter&bomber in Japan attacking the US carrier, fighter and sub. It's 9 out of 10 success it seems. Turn 2 Australia generally falls with a fully loaded transport from Hawaii, both battleships and carrier fighters. Next turn India, or new Zealand, or Australia if it failed the first time, sometimes it will. I hit china with 1 fighter and 6 infantry. The Philippines fighter must be saved for non combat, the fleet will often need it in Hawaii replacing a loss for fleet defense.
you're missing Japan's fighters in Indo-China and Manchuria
To support your comrades in Europe it's essential to weaken the russian bear and, when possible, decrease the UK's income first.