For anyone who cares, his complaint at the end of the chapter is historically accurate.
Imperial Japan crushed Imperial Russia in the Russo-Japanese War.
This led to the Russian Revolution of 1905 and helped pave the way for the eventual Soviet takeover of Russia.
American President Theodore Roosevelt helped to negotiate the peace treaty between the two nations and despite Japan's victory, they received little economic benefit from the war. Riots broke out in major cities.
Martial law was declared for roughly 5 years in Japan.