Bikini Atoll

Bikini Atoll is an atoll that is part of the Micronesian country the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Historically, humans have inhabited the atoll for at least 2,000 years. It was a German colony from 1885 until taken by Japan in 1914, and became a Japanese mandate in 1920. By and large Japan left the Marshall Islands to their own devices until the outbreak of World War II. The Marshall Islands, Bikini included, became a United States possession until 1986.

Bikini Atoll is probably most famous for two things. Trivially, the atoll gave its name to the popular bathing suit. More importantly, the U.S. conducted early post-war nuclear testing at Bikini between 1946 and 1958.

Bikini Atoll in Worldwar
Under the terms of the Peace of Cairo, Japan retained possession of Bikini Atoll. In 1965, decades after the first explosive-metal bombs were used, Japan was able to successfully detonate their first device at Bikini and demand diplomatic relations with the Race. As the Race had only recently removed Germany as a threat, Japan's ascenion was not welcome news.