As a victor in WW2, Japan, like America, Brazil and Iran, was elevated to superpower status. In order to consolidate their position in South East Asia, Emperor Hirohito suggested that the East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere (Hitler is an American---Version 1) be set up. China was the first to join, since they saw it as repaying a debt for Japan helping them defeat communist insurgents. Eventually, most of South East Asia and Oceania would be under this bloc. During the Cold war, the Japanese and Americans got their first man on Mars by Emperor Akhito's birthday on December 23, 2007.