[So4P] A New Year, A New Direction

Day 1,507, 11:07 • Published in Japan Japan • by Sophia Forrester

Today I would like to talk about my hopes for a new direction for eJapan in this New Year.



A Close-Knit Community

When I first joined eJapan in 2009, the country was small. There were less than 50 players who were active in the forum and media; the population was a few hundred smaller than it is today. Yet the friendly, close-knit community kept me involved from the start. In my party, in the national forums, and in the in-game media there was a wealth of friendship and interaction that I, along with many other newcomers around that time, found inspiring.

Now we are close to the same size, with many old friends having left or gone silent. Yet even this could be a new beginning. It gives us another chance to build that close-knit, friendly community, as long as we are willing to work to bridge the gaps.



Bridging the Divides

Call them cliques, factions, or what have you, there have been many divides in eJapan's history. Time after time, two groups with opposite perspectives have had trouble working together. I still believe that diversity of perspectives can be a source of strength. As long as we communicate, acknowledging and respecting one another's perspectives, we will be all the richer for it.

Today some eJapanese are still out of communication with the rest. Security threats are exaggerated and some citizens are isolated. Other, more mainstream citizens speak sincerely of the dangers of PTO, yet these dangers never in the end appear.

If we are to be one community, and not three or five, then we must take the initiative to include all citizens. For example, previous President Kaigefoh and included iNCi in the Cabinet, but under President Fruitcommando they were again isolated. By bringing diverse groups into the community, we can give them a reason to respect the community guidelines. The status quo has not changed this. It is time for a new start.



To step into the new year with a heart full of hope, let's believe in this beginning, and find the path to which the dawn's light leads.