LAST EDITED ON Mar-24-07 AT 07:34 PM (EDT)
 
Adding my two cents - the Meiji Ishin, was in fact, a bit of a revolt of modernists against the traditionalists. Japan had co-opted firearms and cannonery against the wishes of the Shogun as early as 1820 - in fact the last revolts against the Meiji Ishin were a swords vs. fire arms battle. Guess who won.

Also in about 1872 or so, a great diplomatic mission from Japan sent the smartest and best educated Japanese <read: connected and literate> to Europe and Americas to learn the secrets of modernity. I believe it include both samurai and merchant classes. This is what allows Japan in 1880 to begin the world's fastest modernization develop and to produce technical minds capable of innovating. That's a feat, I believe, unparalleled by any other culture/national in human history.

So, assuming that the political parallels stay the same in this AU, a 1890 launching would be just right for some smart kid who spent all his youth traveling about Europe, learning lingua franca, and studying the art and science of mechanics to turn into the first, great Japanese pilot of his generation.

cheers,
t.

who, as always, is glad to see an AU that women are emancipated (somehow?) about 50 years early in both the US and UK. I admit, being about 70 years early in Russia is a bit of a surprise. Hell, we still have problems in the US with women in combat. Sheesh.

edit: finger slippage - never type with your off pinky while eating cookies, drinking tea, and chatting in foreign languages

Trigger Argee
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"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - HST