How an invasion could divide Japan and constrain Britain

How might the postwar world change if the Allies had to invade Japan?

Japan could be divided like Germany, tying British forces to an occupation that balanced Soviet power and making Britain's 1956 Suez intervention harder to attempt.

An invaded Japan would likely be divided into occupation zones in a manner resembling Germany. Britain would likely remain committed to an Asian force intended partly to offset the Soviet presence. That enduring deployment would consume ships, personnel, and political attention. The added burden would make Britain's independent 1956 Suez operation much harder to mount, while changing enough other decisions that precise outcomes remain uncertain.