On a Knife's Edge, a Post Weltkrieg 2 Kaiserreich Japan Game

[Eliar]

[x] Plan : Threading the Needle

 

[Jakarta]

Since this is a proverbial tie. I guess I'll cast the Tiebreaker vote then...

[X] Plan: Not going peacefully

I won't lie, I want that Particle Accelerator to be built.

 

[Jakarta]

A masterstroke, public confidence seemed to rebound after you intended to resign and start snap elections (You rolled a 20)
It is quite unexpected that the public would react resoundingly to your resignation and intent for a snap election this year. It seemed that the sudden shakeup in the Rikken Minseito energized the party and sympathetic donors and a rejuvenated party system would emerge from the rubble of your resignation. Perhaps it takes a bold and risky move like yours to take the country by storm, but it seems that it's looking that way. The party elected Yasuhiro Nakasone as the PM candidate for the Snap Elections to replace you, with the Shakai Taishuto very clearly lining up the energetic and youthful-looking Junichiro Koizumi as their candidate. The stage seems to be set for a quite close, but quite energetic Snap Election, a rarity in modern Japanese history.

The passing of the Governmental Transparency law also marked a shift in public perception of the Rikken Minseito (You rolled a 17)
Before your resignation, however, you managed to cram through one of the most intense sessions of the Diet in recent history. Scores of laws were passed to ensure that you would have some legacy that you can point to during your very short tenure as Prime Minister, and whether through thick or thin, through the liberal use of the Diet whip and through various deals within the party and during the session itself. You managed to push the Governmental Transparency Law mostly unedited through the Diet, and through the House of Peers as well, with the Emperor signing shortly thereafter. With your party's finances secured, and the public perception shifting in your favor. You turn your attention towards other matters.

The terrorism bill sailed past through the House of Commons and House of Peers (You rolled a 16)
Such as the coming terrorism bill. And that didn't warrant much discussion or consideration. Everyone in the Diet is in broad agreement that Terrorism has no place within Japan, and less so in Japanese politics, with the bill sailing through both Houses and the Emperor signing his second Major Bill in a month.

Construction of the moonbase is set to continue with the addition of the yearlong living facilities, as well as plans for the Takamagahara Space Stations will be laid out, with construction for Takamagahara 1 set to begin in 1981 (You rolled a 20)
While the moonbase is nowhere near complete, with its construction set to finish in 1982. The addition of yearslong living facilities necessitated the expansion of the Moon mission bringing supplies and cargo towards the moon base as well. This is going to be a massive effort, bringing so much materiel from Earth, from robots to Astronaut workers to ensure that the Moon would be somewhat habitable if only by a chosen few, and the addition of even more relaxation facilities, better and comfier beds, as well as a much-expanded gymnasium to ensure Muscle and Bone Density doesn't fall apart is generally seen as an increase in workload, not impossible to build, but will lengthen the construction time for the Moonbase.

The addition of the Space Station is also adding some headaches within JAXA, while the Takamagahara Space Station, as it will be called, is definitely in the books, the rapid prioritization of that project is definitely causing a slight shortage in talent within the agency, with flyers and calls for new engineers, project managers, and various other clerical positions needing to be filled for a project with such a short timeframe.

Production for the now-named Type 79 LMG and the RPG-27 is well underway, with shipments to Japan set to arrive later this year (You rolled a 20)
The Ultimax 100 and RPG-27 ultimately passed any and all tests the Army had for them and were slated to enter into military service immediately. While there is some controversy regarding the foreign nature of the weapons. The Japanese Military, and also you, proceeded to wring about a solid National Security argument towards the Diet Defense Committee and the various voices arguing against adopting Non-Japanese weaponry quickly died down. A solid victory to say the least, as the first shipments of the LMGs and RPGs arrived in Yokohama in a couple of months, with the initial reaction of the Japanese troops being an understandable skepticism, followed by a measured satisfaction once they got to know the performance of these two weapons.

New Projects
Fusion research fund is off to a blazing start (You rolled a 12)
While we expect this project to last a good 5-6 decades. The fact that we started the project right now is a good sign that things are looking up for us. We know that Fusion is incredibly hard, and we know that there will be various challenges technical, political, social, and environmental that we need to overturn or alternatively go around. But the fact that all the brightest people in Nuclear Science are expressing interest in participating in such a project is definitely a step in the right direction. We definitely need their talents if we want to make sure Japan is the first country to ever get a working, energy-positive Fusion power plant.

The Koreans seemed to be highly interested in the corridor, much to our surprise (You rolled an 11)
While we know that the Koreans are somewhat interested in building such a corridor, we didn't expect that they are straight-up ecstatic at the prospect of the tunnel and bridge project. With talks of a combined rail and road tunnel being in consideration. While of course, these are the early stages of such discussions, we do know that the Koreans are planning to build a High-Speed Rail network that will criss-cross the country the same way our own Shinkansen does, and a Korean High-Speed train running from Busan and stopping in Fukuoka is something that we ought to consider if we want to secure more cooperation from them regarding this project.

Digging for the Mount Paektu Particle Research Facility set to begin in 1980, with it's completion date set to 1990 (You rolled a 17)
It is unexpected how the three other countries that are mulling on this project got off their proverbial feet and welcomed our participation. They know that they need Japanese money, and the moment we proposed such a thing at the latest round of the GIDC board meeting, the East Russians, Koreans, and Chinese are all ears and immediately signed an MoU shortly after. Digging for the Particle Accelerator is set to begin in 1980, with the first operational tests for the Accelerator beginning in 1991, with full operation and scientific testing of the Accelerator set in 1993. Admittedly a very aggressive timeline, but it is a timeline that we can beat assuming the stars align and the project managers of this Research Facility is on their A-Game.

OOC: I will be frank... I did not load the D20 roller or anything like that. I rolled the dice twice and picked the higher option. I swear, god must be Japanese in this universe or something. Such perfect results on everything is frankly unexpected even for me. Don't worry though, the year is not over, we still have Snap elections to cover and potentially other crises if there are things I can think of in my head.

 

[Jakarta]

The stage is set, and the election date is set for October 1978. There's not much time to organize and register the candidates, less so to campaign. But the Japanese populace are nonetheless presented with two quite compelling options.

Rikken Minseito/ 立憲民政党

中曽根 康弘

We have Yasuhiro Nakasone on one hand. A veteran of the Japanese military, with clear credentials of service in both the Military and the Government. The person was in charge of the Japanese forces in Borneo during the invasion of the Dutch East Indies, playing a part in the formation of Insulindia. The person is clearly right-wing, having a streak of nationalist talking points, although his sentiments were more subdued after the '61 coup. His platform revolves around more focus on the cultivation of small businesses, massively expanding the military budget, and the rapid growth of the Japanese economy, especially from coordination with governmental ministries such as MITI.

Shakai Taishuto/ 社会大衆党

小泉 純一郎

On the other hand, we have a young, boisterous, and promising lawmaker from the Shakai Taishuto. affectionately known as Koizumi-San. The exploits of the Prime Ministership of Tetsu Katayama and Michi Nishiura inspired Junichiro Koizumi, then only a high schooler, to pursue politics. Elected from his district in Kanagawa in 1972. He became one of the most charismatic and energetic lawmakers in the House of Commons. His speeches becoming one of the most important assets for the Shakai Taishuto. He proposes an economy that grows from the 'bottom-up', promising to make Japan in the top 10 countries with one of the highest per capita GDP and Average incomes in the world. How he would do that was to further invest in high-tech research and development, expand the welfare state, and massive infrastructure projects not only in the home islands, but also in the more tropical, outlying regions of Japan.


Who will the voters choose? The Shakai Taishuto is energized in the aftermath of the Nakajima scandal, but the abrupt resignation of Prime Minister Tanaka and the subsequent reforms he passed in the last months of his Prime Ministership is definitely a good sign for voters to continue with the Rikken Minseito. Still, voters are quite skeptical that such a short amount of time is enough for the Rikken Minseito to reform itself, and they are definitely the underdogs to win this election.

[ ] Write In (if the majority chooses Rikken Minseito, need to roll 14 or higher for them to win the election)​

 

[christopher_sni]

[X] Shakai Taishuto/ 社会大衆党

 

[Ryser]

[X] Shakai Taishuto

 

[Alka]

[X] Riken Minseito

 

[Jakarta]

The victory speech by Junichiro Koizumi was short and sweet, appropriate considering the circumstances of the snap election. There was a massive emphasis on unity and restoring the dignity of the Japanese government in the wake of the Nakajima scandal, talks about forming an ethics committee, and potentially even talks about abolishing the major conglomerates entirely are being floated about. But perhaps, the most surprising development on the night of Koizumi's victory speech at the Shakai Taishuto Party HQ at that night was when a reporter asked a question concerning the death penalty in Japan.

Koizumi stated that he is pursuing 'all options' regarding abolishing the death penalty. Something that perked up the general public on the issue. While the Japanese public's opinion on the issue is still all over the place regarding the matter. The fact that he is even suggesting that abolishing the death penalty is even a matter of consideration is something that has sparked debate within the public.

Something that the public has to discuss especially in the coming years of his new government.


Pictured: Junichiro Koizumi at the Shakai Taishuto Headquarters answering questions to reporters.

 

[Jakarta]

​

The Union of Britain is a country located in Western Europe, an island nation with no land boundaries with any other country, but having a close history with mainland Europe. Participating in numerous wars against the various European powers of it's time, and even forging a powerful Empire of it's own in the 19th and early 20th century.

However, their defeat in the 1st Weltkrieg would set the stage for an unraveling of their Empire, with the British Revolution in 1925 and the subsequent formation of the Union of Britain afterwards. The election of Sylvia Pankhurst in 1936 and the rapid advance of Franco-British forces through the Ardennes during the first phase of the 2nd Weltkrieg would also ensure that the Third Internationale, as it was called back then. Would be the defining force in European Politics.

Although the conflict did not end with the defeat of the German Empire. With the Weltkrieg evolving into a fight between the Moscow Accord and the Entente Cordiale on one side, and the Co-Prosperity Sphere and Third Internationale on the other. The end of the war in 1945 would see the creation of a world order that would completely rewrite the status quo. With Japan ascendant, and the Syndicalist Powers having no major competition in their home continent, the stage is set for an era of competition between Syndicalism and Democracy.

Britain would experience a period of unprecedented economic growth afterward. Now called 'the golden decades'. The GDP of the British Economy would grow significantly, with standards of living in practically all metrics rising significantly. With the European, Latin American, African, and Canadian economies open for trade, and the relatively more egalitarian economic order in the Syndicalist West. The Union of Britain would prosper, and prosper it did, with all indicators showing that this era of prosperity and growth would not end anytime soon.

This has, consequently, led to a significant ballooning of the military budget. Always a matter of significant concern with the British public due to the perception of it being 'wasteful funding'. Nonetheless, the British military industry has evolved into one of the largest within the Syndietern, even beating the French in some key aspects of the industry. Shipbuilding is a clear example of this, the Bomber force and large aircraft industry another aspect where British Military Industry shines, all of this clearly a result of focused and targeted investment by London. And, consequently, has led Britain to develop an unusual, and unique military compared to their neighbors.

While the British military at large is a bit smaller than the French, currently the premier military force within the Syndietern. Some aspects within the British Military are a fair bit more specialized and tailor-made compared to the more generalist military of the French, with some notable examples shown below.

Tanks

Pictured: The Chieftain Mk.15 being shown in a French Museum.

Perhaps one of the more unusual British innovations lies in their tanks. While most European powers tend to adopt the French doctrine of Tank Warfare, utilizing heavily armored, well-protected tanks to punch a hole through the enemy. The British experience during the 2nd Weltkrieg showed that Lighter, more nimbler vehicles would be useful in assaulting positions and keeping the enemy off guard.

This has led to a doctrine of fast, rapid-moving tracked and wheeled vehicles in the British military. From the light and agile Scorpion Light Tank, to the currently in service Chieftain Mk.15 Tank, which has comparatively lighter armour than their mainland European contemporaries, but they made up for their light armour with one of the most powerful engines ever fitted into an MBT.

Air Defence

Pictured: Marksman Air Defense system being tested, set to gradually replace the Falcon AA Gun system in the coming years.

Another aspect of British defence policy that is quite unique is their air defenses, with Britain putting in an outsized importance of Integrated Air Defense systems over their air force at a comparative level. There is a pretty thick network of Missiles, AA Guns, Long Range radars and Beyond the horizon radars throughout the British Isles. Perhaps it is a reaction to the German air campaign over Britain during the 2nd Weltkrieg, where tactical bombers flying from the Netherlands harassed British forces, and bombed civilians in East Anglia and the Eastern parts of England. But it remains a fact that Britain is a nearly impenetrable mesh of Air Defenses from the outside.

This is quite an oddity, with the only other countries putting such heavy importance in their air defenses being Sweden and Switzerland in Europe. With Switzerland having the excuse of not having a large enough economy to afford a significant Air Force, and Sweden having to deal with the threat of Finland coming in from all directions, and not having the manpower necessary to have a sizeable Air Force to man all the bases.

Bomber Force

Pictured: The British TSR-2 Supersonic Bomber in test flights, set to enter service in 1980.

Quite interestingly, while the British Air Force is comparatively smaller than their mainland European counterparts, their bomber force, especially their Strategic bomber force, is quite sizeable indeed. With Victors, Vulcans, and TSR-2s making up a significant portion of the Republican Air Force.

In conjunction with that. There is also a pretty significant Aerial tanker fleet that the Union of Britain possesses, one that we possibly deduce is supposed to provide a significant support force for the rest of the European Air Forces in case their own tanker fleet is inadequate. Still, this large bomber and tanker force suggests that the Union of Britain aims to hit hard and fast, but not necessarily stay in aerial combat for extended periods of time, mostly send their bombers to bomb infrastructure, military communications centers, and static targets, while some of them could possibly stay around and provide CAS should things develop in the Syndicalist forces' favor.

Fleet Air Arm

Pictured: Ongoing trials for the latest Swedish-British naval fighter Aircraft, commonly known as the Gripen.

While the British Air Force does have a comparatively smaller footprint to the rest of their European counterparts, the Republican Navy on the other hand, has an outsized role and footprint within the British military. The Union of Britain has plans to significantly expand their navy and has laid out a roadmap to develop a comprehensive roadmap to do so. While it involves significant expansions in their Frigates, Destroyers and Cruiser fleets. Carriers are also in consideration as fleet tests of the latest Naval Fighters for the Union has been undergoing since the year 1977.

The British Fleet air arm itself is not a force to be underestimated. Their carriers, in addition to the various helicopters and support aircraft, having 3 mainline Aircraft in service within them right now, the multirole and very capable Panavia Tornado, the Aging, but still fearsome SAAB 37 Viggen, and of course, the Kestrel VTOL jet that could do Ground support missions and naval warfare. The British military is planning to replace the Viggen with the newer, and more technologically advanced Gripen, and also add the currently in development Rafale into their combat aircraft mix as well. Creating a Hi-Medium-Low mix for their Fleet Air Arm, certainly something we ought to consider the next time we draw up our warplans for Naval Operations against the Syndicalists.

VLS Cells

Pictured: An experimental 'Mushroom Farm' Single Cell VLS system at a British military expose in London.

And perhaps one of the more unique weapons that is being developed within the British military, is their 'Vertical Launching System'. Set to enter service in 1980, but is currently being hotly debated as there are two types of systems being debated within the British Military. This VLS System, should things go smoothly, will make most current missile launcher systems obsolete, as it will have the advantage of being able to launch multiple missiles nearly simultaneously. A clear advantage over having launchers and reloading missiles into said launchers.

This is something that needs to be taken of note, while we have engineers currently designing a VLS System that will enter service sometime in the 1980s, the Europeans are ahead of us when it comes to such an advanced missile system, we are just not sure if the currently shown 'Mushroom Farm' designs or the alternatively proposed 'Carousel' VLS System will be adopted.

 

[Jakarta]

January

• Construction of the jointly built Type 001 Battlecruiser has begun (named the Qingdao class by China, the Tamil Nadu class by India, and the Aleksandr Kolchak class by East Russia) in the shipyards of Cochin, Qingdao, and Vladivostok respectively. Due to the soft ban of Aircraft Carriers, These cruisers will be the primary means of China and East Russia's power projection strategies. They will have a combined Nuclear and Diesel propulsion, and 6 will be built in India, 6 in China, and 3 in East Russia.
• Consequently. Construction of the Supercarriers for the Royal Navy of Japan has also begun. The shipyards in Yokosuka, Kure, and Maizuru have started the simultaneous construction of 3 carriers, named the Zuiryuu, Tenryuu, and Unryuu respectively.
• A Skyjet 400 Flight crashes off the coast of Mumbai, killing 213
• The great blizzard of 1978 strikes the Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes, killing 70
• A 6.7 Richter Scale earthquake hits the Izu Peninsula, killing 25 and wounding 211

February

• The Budd Company, in cooperation with UAC. Would unveil the next generation Turbotrain Mk.2. They are set to begin operations throughout the Union States in 1980.
• The various European Aviation companies will begin negotiations to create a single multinational company. While talks are still ongoing, the name 'Airbus' would be mentioned multiple times during these talks.
• Alleged Australian White Supremacists put bombs in rubbish bins near the Sydney Granvia hotel. Killing 3 and injuring 11 people.
• The first global positioning satellite, made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, was launched from Tanegashima Space Port, Japan.

March

• French entertainer Claude Francois dies by electrocution in his house in Paris.
• The oil tanker Amoco Cadiz runs aground near Britanny.
• Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka signals his intention to resign by the end of the year. He also orders that immediate snap elections be carried out by October. With whoever wins the election takes the Kantei, the house of the Japanese Prime Minister.
• The Supreme Court case Stump V Sparkman, ended in a ruling for the victim, pretty much abolishing forced sterilizations in the United States.

April

• Air New Zealand is formed after the merging of various New Zealander local carriers.
• Dick Smith, businessman and creator of Dick Smith Foods, tows a fake iceberg into Sydney.
• The hit TV Show Osaka airs in TBS, marking the dawn of Primetime Television in Japanese entertainment.
• The Japanese government passes an extended Governmental Transparency law. With both the Shakai Taishuto and significant portions of the RIkken Minseito voting for the law.
• The Philippine College of Commerce is converted to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

May

• The Battle of Plumtree. Where Botswanan and South African commandos raided a military camp in Zimbabwe near the village of Plumtree. Ended in the Democratic forces' victory.
• Norway opens a gas field in the Polar Sea.
• The first Timezone is opened in Perth, Western Australia.
• Mavis Hutchinson became the first woman to run through the Union State. Her trek lasts 53 days.

June

• First ground tests for sections of the Takamagahara Space Station begins in the Ryukyu islands.
• Argentina defeats the Netherlands 1-3 in the 1978 SIFL (Socialist International Football League) Cup.
• The 6.2 Magnitude Thessaloniki Earthquake in Northern Greece devastates the region, 50 people were killed.

July

• The Amazon Cooperation treaty was signed between the representatives of Amazonia, Brazil, the West Indies Federation, the Peru-Bolivian Confederation, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador.
• Some 217 tourists die in a tanker-truck explosion near Costa Daurada, Iberia.
• Nauru becomes the only prefecture in Japan where, due to the good management of the local SWF, and the natural wealth of the mining, people living there make more money via the dividends from their local Sovereign Wealth Fund than they pay in Taxes.

August

• The Maple Leaf 1 becomes the only balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean, from Halifax, Canada, to Miserey, France.
• Japan and China signs a treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, where both countries agree to renounce military action from each other in perpetuity.
• The Lune 7 Mission, after multiple Lune missions in the last couple of years. the Commune of France manages to land a man on the moon.

September

• In Okinawa. The first ever CP-2 Aircraft was handed to the first air squadrons. The CP-2 would work to eventually replace the CP-1, due to the project development being under budget, and the production of the aircraft being much cheaper than anticipated. Foreign clients such as Insulindia, Siam, Australia, Persia, and Ghana have expressed interest in purchasing the Aircraft.
• The declaration of Gwangju is signed and released. Known as the core document on Primary Health Practices and Equity in Healthcare.
• Giuseppe Verdi's opera, Otello, makes its first appearance at The New National Theatre in Tokyo. It was the first Opera to be broadcasted on Japanese TV nationwide.
• PSA Airlines Flight 182, a Skyjet 200 aircraft, crashes in San Diego, California.

October

• Japanese snap elections. The Shakai Taishuto wins a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives of the National Diet. Beating the incumbent Rikken Minseito in what is already considered a rollercoaster couple of years in Japanese politics.
• The A-25 attacker aircraft is introduced into the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy of Japan. Meant to be a heavy attacker aircraft with a variant for electronic warfare. Production is set to have 10 aircraft be made every month.
• The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, one of the largest LGBT events in the world, is hosted for the first time.

November

• The Irish Republic's second ever Television Channel, RTE 2, goes on Air for the first time.
• At this period, if calculated by the total number of capital managed. Both MITI and JICA would become the 35th largest economy in the world.
• Two British commercial divers died of Hypothermia after their diving bells plunged to the seabed at a depth of over 100 meters.

December

• Dianne Feinstein becomes the first woman mayor of San Francisco. She will remain in office until 1988.
• The Lufthansa heist, two men rob a Lufthansa cargo facility in Berlin, Germany.
• The Mystery of Mamo is released in Cinemas throughout the CPS.
• Chicago Serial murderer John Wayne Gacy was convicted of 33 counts of murder.

 

[Jakarta]

Hello Prime Minister! Welcome to the Kantei, we hope the furniture is to your liking. While we have chefs prepare you lunch, we have some immediate concerns that need addressing. Forgive us for the sudden workload Mr Koizumi. There are still fires that need to be put out immediately.

Monarch Points: 3

Current Crises. This has to be addressed:

The Accession of Botswana and South Africa into the Co-Prosperity Sphere
This has been a long time coming. While we do have an interest in maintaining our current security arrangement with South Africa and Botswana. After a years-long debate, public discussions, and referendums. The South African and Botswanan government has formally requested accession as full members of the Co-Prosperity Sphere. And practically every country that matters has agreed that they should be full members, ultimately, however. Japan still has a lot of weight on these accession talks, and it is ultimately up to us whether we should accept them as full members or not.

[ ] Write In (Need a 5 to pass)

The BrahMos and Astra Missile Program
While the joint tank program we have with India and Korea is finally about to enter service. The Indians have also approached us with an interesting set of other proposals. See, the Indians, along with the Chinese and East Russians, are currently making a Battlecruiser that would give them the ability to reliably power projects beyond their borders. These Battlecruisers however needed a missile with a similar oomph fit for their size.

At the same time, the Indians are also in the process of developing an Advanced, radar-guided, beyond-visual-range missile. Designed to be put in their fighter planes and be able to engage targets hundreds of kilometers away. While they have gotten the participation of the East Russians and Chinese in building these weapons, they have also approached us for our technical support. Promising that the cost savings from developing these missiles would be worth it compared to us having to go at it alone.

The Navy and the Air Force are indeed developing a next-generation Anti-Ship Missile and BVR missile, set to replace our current inventory in the late 80s and early 90s. And they argue that participating in such a project could jeopardize the timeline for our weapons rollout just like it did with our Tanks, but... our French and British rivals have also cooperated in several military projects, and the results of said cooperation are plain to see. With the Tornado Multirole Aircraft, and the upcoming Typhoon and Rafale fighters set to enter service much earlier than expected.

It is a high-risk high-reward program, and, ultimately, we can pick and choose. We can back the development of the Brahmos AShM while forgoing participating in the Astra missile program, or vice versa. It is your choice, however, Mr Prime Minister.

[ ] Write In (Need a 5 to pass)

Formally ban Asbestos, Leaded Gasoline, and other toxic substances.
Okay, before anyone freaks out. We have significantly increased our fuel safety standards, toxic material standards, and other such environmental standards since the 1960s, so it is vanishingly rare to find any gas station that uses Leaded Gasoline anymore, but there are still some Gas Stations that use leaded gasoline, as there are housing that uses Asbestos and toxic substances that is deleterious to the Human Body. This law is set to formally block the production, distribution, and sale of all of these toxic substances unless there is a clear need for their use of (I.E certain industrial processes, medical processes, science experiments, etc). And also create a task force to take out these toxic substances from buildings all across Japan. Public support on this law is clear, and we only need to introduce the law and there is a high chance of it passing. But we can always tweak the law to make it more stringent or less stringent Mr Prime Minister, and that I will leave to you

[ ] Write In (Need a 5 to pass)

Monarch Point Opportunity:
The Emperor decided to summon you to his palace once more. This time under much more discreet circumstances, arriving late at night, your motorcade arrived at the Imperial Palace with no fanfare at all. The Imperial Household Agency staff quickly scurried you into the meeting room, where you see the Emperor still dressed formally. And the reason for such discreet arrangements are quickly revealed.

The Emperor plans to retire from office, and also ascend his son to the throne, sometime in the late 1980s in fact. So about a decade or so from today. And he wants you to pass a law right now that allows such an abdication to the throne to happen. While Hirohito himself doesn't expect massive public pushback should he retire in his later years, he wants legal certainty on the issue and is nearly commanding you to pass the law right now. It is ultimately up to you, but he is offering you a blank cheque on his Imperial support for any major legislation should you encounter any issues during your term.

[ ] Write In (Need a 12 to pass)

Action Points
[X] Occupied with MBT Project (Will be done in 1980)
[X] Occupied with Naval Bomber program (Will be done in 1980)
[X] Occupied with Renewable R&D Funding (Will be done in 1988)
[X] Occupied with Pearl River Delta paperwork and construction (Will be done in 1982)
[X] Occupied with the Fusion research fund (Will be done in 1990)
[X] Occupied with Construction for the Mount Paektu Research Facility (Will be done in 1990)
[X] Occupied with planning for the Fukuoka-Busan connector (Will be done in 1992)

Spoiler

Nuclear Civilian Ships initiative.
This is an interesting proposal. And could have massive ramifications in our effort to potentially 'greenise' our economy in the future. Our Civilian fleet of Cargo Ships, Ferries, and Cruise ships currently operate on Bunker Fuel. An incredibly dirty source of energy that has long-term health ramifications if we continue pumping their emissions into the Atmosphere. The proposal essentially entails creating a proof of concept cargo ship, put it on a tour across the world, and potentially mandating that all shipping companies based in Japan ought to have a fleet of 100% nuclear-powered civilian ships sometime in the future.

The Navy will help design a safe and secure nuclear reactor that is fit for Civilian use, as will the Universities and Zaibatsus too. But the largest component of this law entails the increased safety standards for Nuclear Engineers stationed in the ships, as well as coordinating with other CPS nations to allow such a potentially massive fleet of Civilian Nuclear vessels to enter their port and do regular business as an oil-powered ship would do.

Create the Japan Defense Cooperation Agency.
There is a growing problem within the Japanese military industry, especially with the most recent projects. We have some members of the House of Commons silently demanding that, perhaps, some factories ought to be located in their Prefecture rather than located in the most optimal location. While this is an acceptable 'drag' for now, there is an increased risk that such trends could lead to longer lead times for our weapons development, and stifle future military development.

Creating this Agency, called JADCA for short, should give us the ability to streamline military production matters. JADCA's responsibility entails creating a comprehensive defense strategy every five years, with the start point being the conception of the agency, and presenting it as a bill for both houses to vote yes/ no on. Such a defense strategy would include how many equipments would be purchased, and where they would be produced as well. Essentially reducing the Parliament's ability to a yes/ no vote, completely sidelining the lawmaker's ability to create personal 'recommendations' of where Mitsubishi/ Kawasaki/ Sumitomo should place their next tank factory in. However, the parliament would still have the ability to decide on the military's budget and also have hearings with the JADCA director/ employees if there are visible issues with the defense strategy being proposed.

GIDC Project: The Caucasus Chains
With the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty, our caucasus members are proposing a series of road and rail networks that can criss-cross the caucasus mountains, perhaps bringing travel times down to a matter of hours in some areas. This project does have a military angle to it, allowing the rapid deployment of Middle Eastern CPS members into Russia, and Vice Versa should the big war happen. But it also serves a purpose of further linking the Caucasus countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia into the wider CPS economic network, boosting their economies as a result.

Shall we do it?

End the Death penalty
There has been a lot of societal movement regarding the matter of the death penalty. With an increasing number of Japanese citizens wanting the ultimate punishment to be completely abolished. This is a serious proposal and opinions on the diet and in the public are divided on the issue, but the support for such a move is slowly growing in Japan, and perhaps, considering the merits of ending the death penalty is something that we should start right now. There are potential cases where a person could be wrongfully convicted after all, with new evidence and prejudices clouding the judgment of the courts. So a discussion with the people advocating for such a move is the least we can do. With full on abolishment being considered after all arguments are heard in full.

Reevaluate the Iron Triangle
A political concept popularized by the German Elite during the era of the Kaiserreich. It generally states that Big Business Conglomerates, the Bureaucracy, and the Government all have an overriding interest in reinforcing their power structures at the expense of everyone not inside of it. The practice of this concept was refined to a T during the glory days of the Kaiserreich, but was shattered when French tanks broke through the Siegfried line and outflanked the Germans in Alsace-Lorraine.

And we don't wanna end up like the Germans now do we?

This will be a gigantic effort, and will take years, if not decades, you're not even sure if you wanna go forward with this. But should you want it, passing a series of labour reforms, strengthening workers rights, create antitrust legislation (will be a first in Japan), and make Japan more Democratic is a surefire way to prevent the self-reinforcing power structures in the Triangle from going too far.

The Seikan Tunnel Project
This is a pretty straightforward infrastructure project, the Seikan tunnel will effectively connect the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido together, and will ensure a faster travel time from the capital of Tokyo to the northern cities of Hakodate and Sapporo. And while preliminary work has been done with local prefectural-level governments, the timeline for such a project will be completed effectively in the 2020s if left to their own devices, we will fund this project with Central Government money, and hopefully boost the timeline to the 1980s at the earliest. There are also plans to connect this tunnel with the planned Tohoku Shinkansen, effectively creating a Shinkansen line and a tunnel connecting Honshu and Hokkaido in one move.

GIDC Project: Trans Russia-China-Korea Pipeline
This is a GIDC project that is very special and backed by a LOT of commercial interests in Japan, Korea, China and East Russia. The project is straightforward enough, create a series of pipelines that will transfer gas and oil from the Ural oilfields into the ports of Northern China, Northern Korea, and the Russian Far East, and then it could be used for export into Japan proper, or used to power up the domestic economies of Korea, China, or East Russia. All three countries are all in for this project, since the economic benefits are incredibly massive, and the economies of China and Korea, in particular, need a lot of energy to grow and develop. The thing is, should we get our share of the pie as well? While we are busy in the process of diversifying our energy sources, this is not necessarily a project that we can just ignore, considering it involves all three of our closest neighbors.

Kyushu, Tohoku, Hokkaido, and Taiwan Shinkansen
Under current plans. The state owned JNR would slowly expand it's service into Kyushu and Tohoku by the mid 1980s, and potentially build a Hokuriku and Hokkaido Shinkansen by the end of the Millenium. It is certianly a workable plan, but there are growing voices in Japan that argues that such a protracted developmental path could lead to 'economic drag', and proposed significantly more funding so that not only the Kyushu, Tohoku, and Hokkaido Shinkansen be opened by the late 80s, but a newly built Taiwan Shinkansen would also be opened as well.

This is quite the ambitious proposal, and would need a lot of compromise in other areas, but the Shinkansen is one area the Japanese populace far and wide generally love, and expanding the network rapidly, even at the cost of short term funds, is worth it politically speaking. Shall we implement this plan Prime Minister?

National Shipbuilding Support law
There has been a lot of talk concerning our shipbuilding capabilities in recent years. While we remain as the world's No.1 Shipbuilding nation for both Civilian and Military ships. There are now growing concerns that the economic growth of China, Korea, Insulindia, the Philippines, and India could slowly erode our institutional knowledge within the industry, and also potentially endanger our military shipbuilding capability if we need a surge of new ships to be built ASAP. The National Shipbuilding Support law would not only subsidize Shipyards that are becoming uncompetitive, with certain preset conditions that they invest in new equipment and training for their workers to make them competitive again, but more radical solutions, such as ensuring the finances of military shipyards, guaranteed employment for any worker working in a military shipyard, and other benefits such as better mortgage conditions and rent relief for the workers within these military shipyards, should be able to maintain our shipbuilding capability in the near future. It is up to you, however, to support the passage of the simpler, or the more comprehensive law should you choose to put it into a vote.

White Collar Union promotion law
As Japan slowly advances to become richer and richer, the nature of work itself has been changing. Gone are the days where the average Japanese has to get a factory job where they could literally lose life and limb just to get a decent life. A University education at a decent University is more than enough to get you a comfortable job shuffling papers at some company office in Tokyo or Osaka. But this type of work is slowly becoming the majority in the Japanese economy, and with these working conditions, the impetus to form a union is significantly lessened, as the working conditions are much more lenient and comparatively less dangerous than working in a factory. The Union Density rate in Japan has been slowly decreasing from 1975 onwards, not to an alarming degree, but to a degree that warrants attention. A national effort to promote unions in these White Collar spaces must become a priority, especially if we are under a Socialist government, to maintain the primacy of unions in the workplace and to safeguard the rights of the worker no matter what space they occupy!

 

[Alka]

Can we pick both or none at all for the missile project?

 

[Jakarta]

Can we pick both or none at all for the missile project?

Absolutely!

 

[christopher_sni]

[X] Plan: The Heisei Era

-[X] Japan shall welcome the admission of Botswana and South Africa in the CPS as an example for other nations of Southern Africa
-[X] We shall support both the development of the BrahMos and Astra missile programs
-[X] We shall support an aggressive effort to ban the future production and distribution of Leaded Gasoline, Asbestos and toxic substances outside of clear uses. We shall give a period of ten years for industries, businesses and residences to clean up and remove such substances and provide subsidies or tax breaks for low income communities, individuals and NGOs.
-[X] The National Diet shall propose, review and debate the The Law for Special Exception of the Imperial House Law concerning Abdication, etc. of Emperor (Japanese: 天皇の退位等に関する皇室典範特例法),[1] or in short Emperor Abdication Law. Which will cover several provisions such as:
Section 1 (Preamble) provides the background information of the Emperor, which includes his health issues and the necessity of abdication.

Section 2 (Abdication of Emperor and Succession by Crown Prince) stipulates that the abdication of the Emperor and succession by his eldest son, which will happen on "enforcement date".

Section 3 (Emperor Emeritus) and Section 4 (Empress Emeritus) stipulate, respectively, the title of Emperor and Empress after abdication.

Section 5 (Crown Prince after succession to the throne) confers the title of crown prince to the Emperor's brother.[4]

The annexes of the law provides further details in connection with the abdication, including the enforcement and expiry date of the law, application of laws related to Emperor and Empress Emeritus and the finance of the Imperial Family, taxation, exemption of public consultation, amendment to the Imperial Household, Public Holiday Law and Imperial Household Agency Law.

References:

Emperor Abdication Law - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Alka]

[X] Plan: The Heisei Era

 

[Ryser]

[X] Plan: The Heisei Era

 

[Jakarta]

Ever since the Meiji Restoration. The Navy of Japan, from the Imperial Japanese Navy to the now Royal Navy of Japan. Has always had ships that can be commonly regarded as workhorses, these ships are simple to build, mass produced, and is generally the face of the Japanese Navy to the unaware public. After the end of the 2nd Weltkrieg, however, with the advent of advanced missile technology, the Navy of Japan has taken a long and hard look on it's ship inventory, and decided that a more generalist approach to ships is becoming necessary. A particular emphasis was put in Destroyers and Cruisers. With Destroyers becoming the Navy's primary offensive arm outside of Aircraft Carriers, and Cruisers playing more of an Air Defense role, to protect carrier battlegroups from aerial or naval missile attacks.

The underwater arm of the Navy is not ignored either, there is an increased effort to design and build nuclear attack submarines starting in the early 1970s, with older Diesel-Electric submarines being phased out. Some near disasters in the 1960s also forced the Navy to implement some of the strictest Submarine standards in the world, with no major incidents occuring after the implementation of said standards.

Some notable examples of combat ships and submarines currently active within the Royal Navy of Japan are shown below.

Hatsuyuki Class Destroyer


The Hatsuyuki Class destroyer is Japan's premier ASW destroyer, with a short range Anti-Air missile launcher in the back, and an ASROC launcher in the front, with 2 CIWS batteries and 8 Anti-Ship missile launchers for surface attack or defense. The Hatsuyuki Class destroyers are very capable warships that nonetheless need support from either other types of Anti-Air destroyers or cruisers to ensure their safety. Equipped with cutting edge passive and active sonar equipment. Hatsuyuki Class destroyers are currently the most numerous Destroyer class in service of the Japanese Navy. Although the upcoming Takanami class destroyer is set to whittle the ratio of the Hatsuyukis quite a bit. The 76mm naval gun in the Hatsuyukis also could provide a role in shore bombardment should the situation warrant it.

Takanami Class Destroyer


The Takanami class has been in service within the Royal Navy of Japan since 1975. While the Hatsuyuki class serves a more Anti-Submarine role, the Takanami class is generally a marked improvement over the Hatsuyukis. Having access to 16 Anti-Ship missiles in total from 4 tube missile launchers, having 4 missiles stored each launcher in the center and aft of the ship, possessing a much more powerful radar suite that can track more targets and illuminate said targets more effectively, while having the same ASW suite as the Hatsuyukis with roughly the same Sonar and Helicopter hangars, while also having two twin-arm multipurpose missile launchers in the bow, and in the center of the destroyer, twin-arm launchers that can launch the MPM-1ER missile, ASROC torpedos, and even more Anti-Ship missiles if the magazines at the bottom of the ship is given Anti Ship missiles beforehand. This is generally the primary strike arm of the Royal Navy of Japan. With 3 CIWS batteries (1 in the bow, and 2 in the aft), and a 127mm main gun, even in close range the Takanami class could lay waste to a surprising number of enemy ships given the right opportunity.

Tokyo Class Cruiser


A venerable 1960s design ship currently in service. The Tokyo Class Cruiser was primarily built as Air-Defense cruisers, leveraging it's powerful radar system to detect multiple targets at once, it's twin-arm missile launcher was also cutting edge by the time of it's launch. Able to reload after firing two missiles in 4 seconds. This design is currently being complemented with the Okinoshima class Nuclear cruiser, although runninng budgetary costs with the Okinoshima class has forced the Admiralty to solely focus construction of the Tokyo Class for the current moment. A powerful ship with some of the most powerful radar arrays in the Japanese Naval arsenal. Tokyo class cruisers are certainly not a ship that you should be underestimating with. With 4 quad pack missile launchers (totalling 16 Anti-ship missiles in total), 1 twin-arm multipurpose missile launcher, 1 127mm Cannon, 2 CIWS batteries in the back, and 1 hangar for a helicopter.

Okinoshima Class cruiser


Generally seen as an upgrade to the Tokyo class. The Okinoshima class was supposed to be the end all be all for the Imperial Japanese Navy, running with nuclear turbines. The ship has effectively infinite range, able to keep up with Aircraft Carriers without the need for refueling, possessed the same powerful radar as the Tokyo class, but with two twin-arm launchers for added redundancy, as well as a 127mm cannon and 8 anti-ship missiles in 2 quad pack launchers. The problem, however, lies in the ship's advantage itself. As the nuclear reactor proved too costly to run, and production stopped at only 4 Okinoshimas, while the rest of the cruiser fleet will be compiled of Tokyo classes exclusively. While generally more powerful than the Tokyos, it's small numbers are generally seen as a disadvantage, and they are generally paired together with 2 flotillas of 2 to have as maximum an impact as possible.

I-800 Class Submarine


While the Royal Japanese navy said that they wouldn't use the I designation anymore, they quickly found out that there is increased difficulty naming their Submarines with unique names, and quickly folded back into the I and Ro designation for the time being. The latest Submarine that would be given the I designation, however, could not be anymore deadlier. With the ship just entering service in 1975, the I-800 class is widely regarded as the most silent and deadly submarine ever put to service. With the admiralty confident not even the French, British, and Americans having any similar design that can compete with the I-800s. Production of the Submarine is also set to be ramped up in the 1980s, with 5 of the I-800s currently in service, it is widely expected that, should things not change. Some 50-60 Submarines will enter service by 1989, prowling the oceans, gathering intelligence, and being a deadly nuisance to the Syndicalists should the Kalterkrieg turn hot.

 

[Rufus Shinra]

Duck from the High Castle:

This is a transitional era in terms of naval warfare, which historically was defined by the needs and specifications of the Atlantic Ocean, expected to be the main naval battleground in WW3. Among the characteristics there was the closer proximity to shores, tough storms and the presence of land-based aviation as a constant for all sides. Such a situation turned the aircraft carrier from its Pacific War offensive role to a more defensive role, akin to the WW2 Battle of the Atlantic, with the carrier group having to be a mobile area denial zone against each side's main hitters: bombers and submarines.

Ship-based missile armament was also a bit awkward at the time, with survivability expected to be quite low against enemy missiles and thus the AShM loadout of most ships was reduced as it was not expected from them to survive really that long when in range to use them in the first place. Cue a focus on detecting and destroying bombers before they got to fire and having submarines hunt the surface ships while friendly surface ships provided them support by destroying ASW aircraft whenever possible.

Everything changed when the Fire nat... when missiles started becoming good enough to seriously defend against saturation strikes - introduction of Standard Missile and Aegis battle management system on Ticonderoga cruisers - and VLS started becoming a standard, but the latter is something for the Eighties and mainly the Nineties.

*****

In this setting, however, the demands of geography appear to be different. The Pacific is a major theater but beyond this, from my understanding, the various blocks are very distant from one another and navies less likely to go for a full clash. In the Pacific itself, the carrier rules supreme for obvious reasons, but outside this, the situation feels like it favours a raider/corsair type of naval doctrine as the contested areas will be massive and often too far from home bases for them to interfere much. Nuclear cruisers and submarines could be quite useful as independent units harassing trade and facilities and we might see further development of VTOL planes carried alongside helicopters for local air recon and strike capability.

 

[Jakarta]

In this setting, however, the demands of geography appear to be different. The Pacific is a major theater but beyond this, from my understanding, the various blocks are very distant from one another and navies less likely to go for a full clash. In the Pacific itself, the carrier rules supreme for obvious reasons, but outside this, the situation feels like it favours a raider/corsair type of naval doctrine as the contested areas will be massive and often too far from home bases for them to interfere much. Nuclear cruisers and submarines could be quite useful as independent units harassing trade and facilities and we might see further development of VTOL planes carried alongside helicopters for local air recon and strike capability.

Wouldn't nuclear cruisers like the Virginia class be too expensive to operate, however? I mean the US kinda stopped upgrading them with AEGIS once the cold war is over.

But yeah, I expect more independence from Japanese SAGs in the Southern Atlantic/ Indian Ocean, hence why I'm thinking future RJN ships will be carrying 16 AShMs as standard, couldn't rely on carriers too much.

 

[Rufus Shinra]

Wouldn't nuclear cruisers like the Virginia class be too expensive to operate, however? I mean the US kinda stopped upgrrading them with AEGIS once the cold war is over.

But yeah, I expect more independence from Japanese SAGs in the Southern Atlantic/ Indian Ocean, hence why I'm thinking future RJN ships will be carrying 16 AShMs as standard, couldn't rely on carriers too much.

The main theater of operation during the Cold War was the Atlantic, with shorter ranges and shorter mission times, the big deal being covering REFORGER supply ships doing their transatlantic runs, therefore regular refuelling opportunities, speed limited by the transports'. For such operations, nuclear power offers little advantage compared to fossil fuels. On the other hand, if you need to roam the Pacific for weeks to months at a time and possibly have to do so at high speed, nuclear surface ships make more sense, especially for independent SAG. One of the concepts that is making its comeback IRL after being scrapped is the notion of at-sea rearming: the initial runs of Burke DDG had a crane to theoretically allow self-reloading of VLS canisters, but this was abandoned to make more room for additional cells. Now that the focus is more to China, having to cycle back to a secure base to reload magazines appear to be a major issue and the USN is experimenting with at sea reload done with support ships.

You could see such systems being implemented and, if you want to go really crazy like the IJN did IRL during WW2 with their carrier submarines, maybe have some dedicated fleet support nuclear submarines designed to quickly carry ammunition to transfer to nuclear cruisers.

At the same time, VLS might appear less attractive in a setting where mass land-based bomber attacks aren't really a threat.

 

[Jakarta]

It was just a regular day for you, conducting the regular duties as Prime Minister, stamping laws that are pretty much refinements of previous laws, none of your advisors have any concerns regarding any of the laws presented in your table today, and you signed it as if it was nothing. Off to a nice restaurant to talk with your wife about your domestic affairs, it was a nice lunch, and then a litany of journalists swarm you as you exit the restaurant, wife in tow, refusing to ask questions. You finally entered your official residence with your wife. The day ends early as most of your duties are finished, but a litany of star-studded generals, admirals, and air force marshalls rushed to you, bowed their heads to you, and asked you to come to the situation room quickly.

They said there is an opportunity, and you need to come immediately.

And so you did, and what they presented you with in that briefing room is certainly quite interesting.

The Admiral tells you that SOSUS arrays in Midway Atoll detected an event that seems to correspond with an underwater implosion, naval intelligence also detected increased American Naval activity within the North Pacific, with a ton of Naval Patrol Aircraft and ships being deployed, seemingly in extensive search patterns. Our embassy in Washington D.C. has also notified us that, through various backchannels, in no uncertain terms, the Americans are telling us that you do not conduct any naval activity in the North Pacific for the time being. An... unusual request for sure.

The Admiral tells you that there is a high possibility the Americans might've lost one of their Submarines, and we should send one of our Submarines to ascertain the nature of the wreck immediately. Preferably after the Americans have left the area, something the Admiral tells you will be done in the next couple of weeks, as that wreck is sunk in a very, very deep part of the Pacific.

[ ] Write In.

 

[Alka]

Submarine gone missing? in this month? at sea with low temperature? we should make a film about this!

 

[christopher_sni]

It was just a regular day for you, conducting the regular duties as Prime Minister, stamping laws that are pretty much refinements of previous laws, none of your advisors have any concerns regarding any of the laws presented in your table today, and you signed it as if it was nothing. Off to a nice restaurant to talk with your wife about your domestic affairs, it was a nice lunch, and then a litany of journalists swarm you as you exit the restaurant, wife in tow, refusing to ask questions. You finally entered your official residence with your wife. The day ends early as most of your duties are finished, but a litany of star-studded generals, admirals, and air force marshalls rushed to you, bowed their heads to you, and asked you to come to the situation room quickly.

They said there is an opportunity, and you need to come immediately.

And so you did, and what they presented you with in that briefing room is certainly quite interesting.

The Admiral tells you that SOSUS arrays in Midway Atoll detected an event that seems to correspond with an underwater implosion, naval intelligence also detected increased American Naval activity within the North Pacific, with a ton of Naval Patrol Aircraft and ships being deployed, seemingly in extensive search patterns. Our embassy in Washington D.C. has also notified us that, through various backchannels, in no uncertain terms, the Americans are telling us that you do not conduct any naval activity in the North Pacific for the time being. An... unusual request for sure.

The Admiral tells you that there is a high possibility the Americans might've lost one of their Submarines, and we should send one of our Submarines to ascertain the nature of the wreck immediately. Preferably after the Americans have left the area, something the Admiral tells you will be done in the next couple of weeks, as that wreck is sunk in a very, very deep part of the Pacific.

[ ] Write In.

[X[ Move submarines, escorts, naval support vessels and Search and Rescue resources when the Americans have left the area. If they ask we shall say we are conducting Training Exercises or Testing New Equipment. See if we are able to recover the lost vessel. Any dead American Personnel found shall be buried or left with full military honors.

 

[Rufus Shinra]

Duck from the High Castle: If it's the Thresher, it's a sad day for the USN. Their most advanced boat, first in class, that suffered the kind of catastrophic failure which led the US to implement SUBSAFE, AKA 'paranoia pushed up to 11 concerning safety in design, construction and operation, then pushed to 12 and 13 for good measure'.

 

[christopher_sni]

What is the current Social and Political issues or flashpoints in the Union State or the Syndicalists?

Are there any countries not part of any of the major blocks?