What’s the best the Japanese could have done, post 1900? I’m thinking a very badly timed attack on the Soviets could have led to losing some/all of Manchuria, killing the Army’s prestige and appearing them to at least keep Korea and Taiwan, if they retrench and concentrate on goals that are achievable as opposed to insane. Not that I’m sure even Korea is actually possible mind. Taiwan clearly is though. They’d be as foreign to the “real” Japanese as the Welsh are to the English by now.