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Most (if not indeed all) of us residents of eJapan, have been recently aware of Yoshiteru Ashikaga and his declaration of the Ashikaga Shogunate on the official eJapanese forums (nipponblog.net/index), sparking almost as much controversy as when Hizumi declared himself emperor. As the Speaker of Congress eloquently put it as "a return to the Middle Ages of feudalism", in which also during this time period is the proposed ratification of the eJapanese constitution, also proposed originally by Speaker of Congress Reiji. However, there have been harsh critiques about the opposition to this Shogunate, claiming that "it could enject a little fun into the game. However, is there a fine line between fun and illegal? Good and oppressive? And in Might v.s. Merit?

Now although I myself am a Native eSK'an, there is a deep sense of trust between our community and that of our 'older brother' eJapan, as shown by the kindness and hospitality that has been shown to us. As such, we continually depend on the elected eJapan politicians to continue to guide not only eJapan, but eSK as well towards our future. However, it is in situations such as these that someone might want to stand up and state their opinon on hereditary, or non-elected officials in a state thate is continually watching out for our interests.

In regards to the most recent emperor discussion, and debates as to how to prevent another HIZUMI episode, the general consensus was to pick someone who was well trusted and knew many in the community, primarily to serve a cerimonial role that involved little or no politics at all. This should apply to future discussions and future debates, as most assuredly eJapan does not again want someone randomly declaring themselves to a sacred title. Now, I am in support of some sort of cerimonial figurehead in eJapan, however, it should be more than just any random person, and like any politician, should be a position of merit, and of popular agreement.

Now, examining the Ashikaga Shogunate, we can immediately see that our Shogun holds a hollow title that sits on stilts made of toothpicks, in that their is no base of merit for them to stand on. Now, what does this imply? Simply that the Shogun has not even worked at all for the title that he supposedly holds, not one time in congress, or once being a cabinet member, president, or even being an ambassador to let people know of the potential he could hold to weild the name 'Shogun'. No, only a few days old and repeating the same mistake HiZUMI made, not off to a good start, and already is trying to assert authority. Now, what holds this person to have the title they have? A flimsy declaration drawn up at the last minute that holds no weight and no evidence of accomplishing anything. If the people of eJapan know what it best, they would, like with anyone else they elect to congress and to president, look and judge how much this person contributed to eJapan in the past, based off of merit.

After merit comes popular agreement, a measure of equal if not greater importance. Now, this Shogunate had caught much of the population off guard, with no warning to its foundation, no vote to create its existence, and no general collaboration as to who it was going to be lead by. In fact, the great irony of this entire fiasco is that the eJapanese Constitution is being voted on right now, and the Shogun has only recently expressed his dislike for it. With this in mind, there is also the factor that no-place in the constitution does it make room for a shogunate, in effect making the entire organization illegal anyway on September 1, or Day 651. The Shogun, implying his dislike for a constitution that was drafted by the people of eJapan, yet holding a title that none expressed creating and few holding him in high regard for it? A terrible hypocracy.

Granted, adding this system would be of much fun, but the way it was implemented, and the unmeritoriousness of its current head, leaves much to be desired, even to the point of either total revisal or dropping the program entirely.

If eJapan is to ever have an unelected position, it should hold 2 basic qualities:
1. The consenus of the people it derives its trust and power from
2. A person who holds the skill, knowledge, and wisdom to fill the positon they are holding, and a long history of communication between themselves and the eJapan population.

So say no to the Ashikaga Shogunate, appoint a person of real merit and popularism to a title such as honorabe as this.