I had just about given up on seeing or giving an EOG.  
 
Thanks to Hugh for hosting the game...  GMing is always a challenge.
 
This was my 2nd time playing Oceania.  Previously, I had played New Zealand and it went pretty much the same way with the exception that Japan was prevented from winning the game by a successful organizing of a stop the leader movement in time.
 
This game I was lulled by sweet nothings spoken by Japan which allowed him to grow up to my borders with minimal effort on his part the first year.  I had hoped to move in tandem with him eastwards instead of getting to play monkey in the middle between Japan and Australia.  The lack of anybody contesting Japan other than Indonesia in the early years of the game along with the collapse of USA  made Japan's supremacy inevitable.
 
Jonny's offer of survival was sufficient for me to turn, though the alternative of conceding and being spared the effort of playing a janissary position was tempting.  Jon allowed me some freedom of movement and I contributed ideas, but I disagree that my forces were decisive.  Japan would've won anyway w/o a united opposition to him, though it would've been a bit slower.
 
I suggest two changes in order to strengthen Indonesia and weaken Japan.  Sam should be made an Indonesia Home SC while Tim is dropped.  This would make Indonesia an edge power along with every other power.  Japan should have Mau as a Home SC with the corresponding loss of Manila.  This would move Japan out of the excessively strong corner position and make it more vulnerable. I'd also suggest moving the border between NTS and WNZ so that CHC borders both.  This could weaken the peace between Australia and New Zeland that always prevails.  This would help both France and New Zealand. These adjustments and perhaps others could bring more balance to this map. Thanks for the game and hope to meet you again. Cheers, Mark