Japan starts with WC (and I can think of no reason to take them other than they have WC). Best way to defend against an early archer rush is with archers of our own. We'll already have spears to take the high ground, so anyone who tries to attack us will be foolish.
It may be best to do IW after WC, not sure. Finding the iron and hooking it up early could be key, but setting up our cores and having ourselves protected from early rushes is absolutely necessary, imho.
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