Japan

大日本帝国
Dainippon Teicocu
Empire of Japan

Languages
Official Imperial	Japanese, Corean
Official Local	Lùquiùan, Ainu
Major Religions	Xintò (Shinto), Buddhism, Zesucutò, Christianity
Capital	京都 Quiòto
Government Type	Constitutional federal monarchy
Emperor	His Majesty the Emperor (Xigehito)
Regent	Maco, Princess Masaxi
Prime Minister	安倍晋三 Abe Xinzo
Establishment	February 11, 660 BC (according to legend)
Currency	Lò = 16 Xu = 400 Fun
Supranational Organizations	League of Nations, East Asian Federation, Austronesian League
Major Subdivisions	3 kingdoms (Yamato, Corea, Lùquiù), and 1 republic (Ezo)

A note on language: Romanization *there* uses different conventions than *here*. In addition, the language itself is a little different. Corean is also romanized differently. All names have a Japanese and Corean form, except for those applying specifically to one or the other.

The Japanese today use a calendar known as the 明治暦 (Meidjirequi/Mieñjiriek) or "Meidji Calendar".

Government

Japan is divided into four top-level constituents. There are three kingdoms, Yamato, Corea (these two are in personal union with the Empire itself), and Lùquiù. There's also one republic, Ezo. Japan also includes the Condominium of Meidji-dò. The Micronesian Confederation is a loose confederation connected to the Empire through the Emperor.

See Japanese Government and Japanese Politics for more information on government and Subdivisions of Japan for information on levels below the top level.

History of Japan

Main article: History of Japan

The nation that opened up Japan *there* was Montrei, and they did it more peacefully than America did *here*. Instead of sending a warship to Edo, they offered metals that Japan was short on, and mining deals in recently discovered mines near their eastern border.

Japanese Expansion

As *here*, Japan and China fought the Sino-Chinese War in 1894-1895. *There*, Japan's winnings included Lùquiù (up to that point a Chinese vassal) and Taiwan. Between 1895 and 1920, Lùquiù was governed similarly to Corea, i.e., a nominally independent nation, but heavily dominated by Japan.

In the First Russo-Japanese War (Meidji 36-38, 1903-1905), Japan gained Alyaska, Fort Ross (now part of Meidji-dò, Nittatò, and much of the Russian Far East, most of which was subsequently lost in the Second Russo-Japanese War (Taixò 5-6, 1910-1911)

In Taixò 7 (1912), Japan and the Kingdoms of Lùquiù and Corea formed the East Asian Federation.

The Growth of China and Loss of Territories

China grew in power, as Japan watched with awe and concern. Japanese politics during this era were dominated by the so-called China Question, the question of whether to ally with or to oppose China. Initially, the pro-Chinese faction came out on top, but later the anti-China faction dominated. This reversal lead China to invade Japan and set up a puppet government under Emperor Xòwa.

Xowa Era and Great Oriental War

Chinese troops backed up their puppet emperor. In Xòwa 15 (1939), the Great Oriental War began. Japan initially aided China, but then fell into their own civil war. During this period, the Republic of Ezo was born.

At the end of the war, Emperor Xòwa abdicated in favor of his son, beginning the Saisei Era.

Saisei Era

On Saisei 3, Sañgaçu 19 (April 24, 1954), a new constitution, based on the Meidji Constitution, was adopted. This weakened the emperor's power somewhat, but not much. Kanawiki was made a sovereign nation with the Emperor of Japan as symbolic High King, while Alyaska became a soviet republic, without even a symbolic connection with the emperor, and Meidji-dò was made a condominium between the Emperor of Japan and Alta California. However, the imperial government did not recognize the legitimacy of the Republic of Ezo. Ezo came to be increasingly dominated by the pro-SNORist Republican Party, and soon its high democratic ideals were mere symbols.

In Saisei 5 (1956), Japan sent troops to Corea, their former ally, recently liberated from China, in order to restore order. The provisional government of Corea had fallen apart. The Japanese soon instituted their own provisional government. Several years later, on Saisei 9, Nigaçu 8 (March 11, 1960), a new Constitution of Corea was finally adopted, which re-established the Kingdom of Corea, but with the Emperor of Japan on its throne, establishing a personal union between the two nations.

This new personal union fit rather awkwardly with the established government of Japan, and this fact, combined with certain weakensses of the Second Contitution, led to calls for a new constitutional convention, which was called in Gogaçu (June) of Saisei 12 (1963). The new constitution went into effect Saisei 13 Gogaçu 4 (June 7, 1964).

Japan Under the New Constitution

The new constitution curtailed the emperor's authority. He still holds considerable power, as well as prestige, but also has a number of limitations.

In Saisei 16 (1967), Lùquiù signed a treaty with Japan providing for closer economic ties between the two nations. Lùquiù became a part of the Empire a few years later, in Saisei 18 (1970). Lùquiù has Okinawan as a co-official language, along with Japanese and Corean.

Ezo remained de facto outside the Empire, as a SNORist satellite. The Rational-Progressive Party was overthrown in Saisei 40 (1991) and replaced by a new Provisional Revolutionary Council of Ezo. On Saisei 41 Gogaçu 8 (June 12, 1992), a referendum, having been approved by the Ezo Parliament, was held to determine Ezo's future status. A sizeable majority chose integration as a republic within the Empire. An amendment was passed to the Japanese Constitution redefining "Hoccaidò" as "Ezo Quiòwacocu" (Republic of Ezo), and definining its relationship. A new constitution for Ezo was also put into effect.

Gacudai Era

On Saisei 53 Gogaçu 2 (June 6, 2004), the former emperor abdicated in favor of his granddaughter, beginning the Gacudai era. This created a succession crisis in Kanawiki, as Kanawiki law did not provide for abdication or female succession. The position of high king was merged with that of viceroy at the beginning of 2005.

On Gacudai Gannen, Jùitxigaçu 4 (December 7, 2004), Amendment IV to the Constitution was ratified, renouncing Japan's claims to Kanawiki and reorganizing Japan, reorganizing the seven regions into a new kingdom of Yamato (大和), formerly a semi-official name but not a legal constituent.

On August 28, 2006, while in Lyons-sur-Mizouri, Louisianne, Empress Gacudai was assassinated along with First President Jean-François Young, allegedly by remnants of the People's Party of Japan in co-ordination with local Louisiannian crime syndicates. She was succeeded by her infant son, the present emperor.

Summary of modern Emperors *here* and *there*

• Here*

121. 孝明 Kōmei 1846-1867

122. 明治 Meiji 1867-1912 (Meiji era 1868-1912)

123. 大正 Taishō 1912-1926

124. 昭和 Shōwa 1926-1989

125. 今上陛下 Kinjō Heika (The Reigning Emperor) 1989- (Era name is 平成 Heisei)

• There*

121. 孝明 Còmei/Hyomieñ 1846-1867

122. 明治 Meidji/Mieñji 1867-1906 (Meidji era 1868-1906)

123. 大正 Taixò/Thaijeñ 1906-1922

124. 後明治 Go-Meidji/Humieñji 1922-1925 (abdicated)

125. 昭和 Xòwa/Sohua 1925-1952 (abdicated)

126. 再生 Saisei/Chaisaiñ (resigned the throne voluntarily) 1952-2004 (=*Here*'s current Emperor)

127. 学代 Gacudai/Hakten 2004-2006 (assassinated)

128. 今上陛下 Quindjò Heica/Kymsañ Pieiha The Reigning Emperor 2006- (No equivalent *here*)

The Pretender

(would-be 126.) 真和 Xiñwa/Chinhua 1942-1951

Geography of Japan

The Kingdom of Yamato consists of three major islands (Honxù, Xicocu, and Quiùxù) along with numerous smaller islands. The Republic of Ezo consists of the island of Ezo, the island chain of Txixima (the Kurile Islands), the island of Carafuto (Sakhalin), and shares, as a Condominium, the territory known as Outer Manchuria. The Kingdom of Lùquiù consists of a chain of islands from Quiùxù down to Taiwan. The Kingom of Corea consist of the Corean Peninsula.

In addition to Japan itself, the associated Micronesian Confederation includes a wide swath of the Pacific. Japan also holds the colony of Admiral Yamamoto Land in New Guinea.

Japan has few land borders, as much of her territory is made up of islands. She borders Russia and Beihanguo. The Condominium of Meidji-dò is entirely surrounded by Montrei. In addition, Lùquiù comes within a few miles of Fujian, Taiwan and Hainan.

Maps: Japan proper (Excludes Carafuto, Soccaitxi and most of Txixima) Corea (obsolete romanization on that map) The Empire

Culture

Corea has a special role in the Japanese Empire. Corean has been given co-official status in the imperial government, and Japanese school children are expected to learn Corean by the time they enter high school, beginning in fourth grade. Conversely, Corean school children are likewise expected to learn Japanese, beginning at the same age. Corea, Ezo, and Lùquiù are permitted to coin money, to the same standard as Japan.

Japan was never as westernized *there* as *here*. For example, the Gregorian calendar was never adopted, there are fewer loan words, Xintò/Buddhism remain strong, Western-style clothing and food are less popular, and the culture itself is more traditional in many ways.

Languages

The Empire itself is officially bilingual, with both Japanese and Corean being the official languges. Ezo has Ainu as a co-official language, while Lùquiù has Okinawan as co-official language.

Religion

Japan has several major religions. In Japan proper, Xintò and Buddhism are the traditionally dominant religions. Zesucutò, a hybrid of Christianity and Xintò, also has a number of followers. Christianity itself has few followers in Japan proper, though in Corea, there is a fairly large number of Christians (primarily Catholics), along with Buddhists and followers of traditional beliefs. Due to the connection between the previous Republic of Ezo and the Russian Empire, Russian Orthodox Christianity is fairly common in Ezo.

Anthem

The anthem is actually composed of two anthems, the Japanese/Yamatoan and the Corean. The Japanese anthem is performed first, and the Corean one next, both in their respective languages. Both incidentally were composed by a Bohemian composer named Františ Ekärt who later lived in Corea. The dual anthem is usually played in the federal level, otherwise, in local level, they may be sung in their respective areas. There are proposals to add the Ezo and Liuquiu anthems to the Imperial Anthem or create a new anthem altogether but none has yet been taken seriously.

Economy

Currency

See Japanese currency.

System of Weights and Measures

Japan uses its native system of weights and measures domestically, as well as the usual SI units for international trade.