Home is where the heart is...

Day 598, 06:01 • Published in Japan Japan • by Laurana Psion

As you may be aware, the Japanese Diet (or Congress if you prefer) has long been debating the issue of funding the Japanese Imperial Army (JIA). What was once a proposal to provide funding to our mobile forces, the Japanese Imperial Expeditionaries (JIE), has now been expanded to cover our domestically bound forces, the Japanese Imperial Guard (JIG), thus providing funding for the JIA in its entirety. I for one can tell you that there were many sighs of relief and outright celebration in the main JIA Barracks, when it was announced that the Diet had, in a preliminary vote, unanimously approved of the new scheme of funding. With this new legislation in place, we can at last truly claim to have an official standing army.

As it stands, 25 Gold has been allocated to the JIA for a trial period of one month (with the added intention of building up an additional reserve fund for use in emergencies). At the end of this time of review, the Diet intends to gauge the adequacy of the current level of funding before determining the JIA’s future budget. Although this sum of money has been long awaited and is now most happily received by our armed forces, there are still many who are dissatisfied with these hard-won results. The very sum of 25 Gold has been labelled as “pathetic” when contrasted to the fact that even a young entrepreneur owning only a raw materials company is capable of raising a similar amount on his own.

Indeed, one can’t help but wonder if this funding is simply too little too late. Before the approval of funding, there had already been one incident in which a member of the JIA had resigned. The reasons that were cited in his letter of resignation were linked very closely to the problematic and lengthy deliberations congress has had over the creation of an appropriate military budget. The views expressed indicated that paying one’s own expenses while training and fighting as part of the national army was “foolish”. By leaving the army, he would have more control over how, where and when to do his military training; whilst in the army, he gained no tangible benefits and yet was bound by the regulations of the JIA.

One would think that with the Diet’s approval of the first (albeit provisional) military budget, the growing discontent within the army would have been finally stemmed. This however was not to be so. Just two days following this milestone in Japan’s history, four more members of the JIA tendered their resignation. All of whom cited similar reasons to those from the first official resignation. However, upon further prodding and investigation there was yet another layer behind these apparent reasons.

It would seem that a shared sentiment is a lack of faith in Japan’s administration and course in eRepublik history.

“I’m a little disappointed in the Japanese community”
“There’s nothing new and there never will be, sad to say but its true”
“You can have a month’s long political debate without it leading to anything at all”
“I just didn't feel myself at home in a country that doesn't want to develop... I'm sorry if I gave the picture that in my opinion no one cares; there are some but too few who care”

Given these underlying reasons, it may not be too surprising that these individuals have also chosen to renounce their Japanese citizenship in addition to their military status; an act that I must say is far more disheartening to me than that of resigning from the JIA alone.

Two public faces of the JIA had the following to say in response to these recent events. Congressman Reiji Mitsurugi, who has previously done much to highlight the importance of funding, was brief, observing that “the Diet's hesitation to fund the army is leading to a terrible epidemic of desertion that is eroding our national security”. On the other hand Secretary of Defence Geno Garon had a far sharper point to make.

“Tell me if you see any pattern or feature that the people who quit share. They are ALL from the Council of Zen, a group of Finnish politicians who imposed [upon themselves] a self-exile from Finland to try and turn Japan into their own political haven... They never became Japanese, they never tried to be... They are not what I call citizens; they are what I call a PTO group.”

In response to the these statements, I must say that they are essentially true. Although it is true that they have tendered their resignations according to JIA regulations, one cannot help but feel that what they have done is nothing more than a legalised desertion; especially when they choose to also renounce their citizenship at the same time. It has been observed that the 25 Gold is a humble beginning but a beginning nonetheless and that a true citizen would stand by the country through thick and thin.

It is said that “home is where the heart is”, and quite obviously, the hearts of those who have resigned (both rank and abode) do not belong here in Japan, as they themselves were aware.

“I've also spent a fair amount of time [training] abroad and haven't considered myself as a citizen of eJapan for some time already”
“I just didn't feel myself at home”
"I believe I won't return to Japan. I mean, why would I? Don't get me wrong, there are some very cool persons there (Origineel, Inferno, Sophie and Minamoto to mention few) but I believe "my place" is elsewhere."

But then, where do their hearts lie? Were they at heart citizens of another country all this time while they were here? One person gave a solemn though mournfully eloquent reply:

“I'm sorry for my actions but this decision had to be taken since I found myself in a dead end. My future is at the moment a complete mystery for me, I really cannot say anything [as to] what I'm going to or not going to do. I don't know. I'll probably stay training in Hungary although I'm not going to read their media or find their forum. I haven't planned [all] this... I might wander around the eWorld a bit after reaching FM.”.

Another gave a short but simple and succinct reply (perhaps an artefact of his military career): “I didn't expect Japan to be 'another Finland' but still I was a bit surprised about the way things were done there. No hard feelings though, it was quite an experience overall”.

They may not have felt truly at home here, but neither did they feel at home elsewhere. It would be wrong to go so far as to accuse them of having been here under false pretences when Japan may have been more of a home to them than anywhere else. If they now feel they do not belong and wish to leave, then by all means let them. I say this without any hint of malice and hope to believe that most, if not all of us, are of the same feeling; despite her small size, Japan does not seek to retain people here against their will, and neither needs nor benefits from having such reluctant citizens being present.

All the same, we should bear them no ill will if they have shown none towards us. There is no use crying over spilt milk. Let us not dwell on these recent actions of theirs no matter how much we disapprove of them and instead remember what they have done for us. Indeed, one of these men who will be leaving us has played a crucial role in helping to draft the very charter and regulations that validates and governs the JIA. If not for this effort, the JIA would not be the entity it is today.

In resigning, they have wished those of us here farewell and good luck and I do the same to them.

[As a mark of respect and to maintain their anonymity, I have chosen out of my own free will not to disclose who specifically said what even though they have by and large given me permission to directly quote them.]

Home is where the heart is... but is Japan where our hearts are? Many current residents did not choose to start out in Japan and instead found themselves on these fair isles in search of greener pastures. Perhaps the true crux of the problems outlined above lies not within the bureaucracy of the Diet or even in the concerns of governmental funding, but in the fact that people do not come here for the right reasons. As seen above, loyalty and dedication may be enticed or lured by the prospect of financial or otherwise material gain, but such rare and true service ultimately cannot be bought and retained.

Steadfast devotion can only be brought about by a deep bond to the local community. It is a strongly united and friendly community that we of Japan should be proud of, and it is this that should be advertised. It is neither the military nor the politicians that make a country; and certainly not the arms or funds available. What makes a country are the generous hearts and the noble minds of it's people, and it is ultimately on the active presence of this very human element that this nation will stand or fall.

I understand that some of us may have ties to more than one country for whatever reason and that is fine by me. Those of us who are not native to Japan will no doubt always remember the time spent in their first place of abode, the nation where they would have first grown accustomed to e-life and made personal connections with the local community. However, after being in Japan for some time, some part of ourselves should at least feel that we belong here and if this isn’t so, then I hate to say it, but both ourselves and Japan are better off in the long run without our presence here.

Where do our hearts lie?

Where does yours?

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Hoping that this wall o' text has not rendered you blind,
Laurana "Psi"
10/07/2009
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