The Precepts of the Righteous Nation Philosophy

Day 586, 00:41 • Published in Japan Japan • by Reiji Mitsurugi


We here at the Taishou (that is, me, Reiji Mitsurugi) came of age during the Kokawayoshi Administration, just days before the Swedes invaded Germany. Thus, my earliest experiences in the so-called “real world” were colored by the war. As Japan fought to defend Germany, a country a world away with little to nothing in common with our archipelago here on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, I was struck by the nobility of my nation. We Japanese sacrificed men and resources for the German people for no other reason than because it was the right thing to do. We were honor-bound to come to the aid of the Germans. Likewise, during the same period, the merger with the Republic of Korea was completed, uniting the Korean people as a protectorate of Japan. It would be disingenuous to say that Japan has gained nothing from the merger with Korea, but the idea is similar to the German Atrocity.

With this background in mind, it is only reasonable that my arrival in the Diet of Japan will bring with it these ideas of ethics, nobility and righteousness. One of the Six Main Points of the Mitsurugi candidacy in Gangwon-do was the idea of the Righteous Nation. As I begin my congressional term, I would like to share with you, the people and soldiers of Japan, the precepts of the Righteous Nation Philosophy.



Under this idea, Japan assumes the identity of the Righteous Nation (倫理帝国 in our noble language). The Righteous Nation is then bound by the following five edicts:

– The Righteous Nation is not a conqueror.
While by no means a pacifist, the Righteous Nation exists only within its own borders. The spread of righteousness happens through diplomacy, cultural exports and trade, never through strength of arms. The Righteous Nation is proud of its culture, its language and its people. It has no need to absorb others.

– The Righteous Nation is a guardian.
When one nation seeks to annex another through force of arms or otherwise infringe on the sovereign rights of an independent state, the Righteous Nation has a duty to stand as that nation's guardian. A key aspect of righteousness is the resistance of wickedness at every turn. Whether through diplomacy, economic embargo or strength of arms, the Righteous Nation will stand against a wicked nation.

– The Righteous Nation maintains a strong military.
The defense of righteousness requires a great standing army. The ultimate goal of the Righteous Nation is to have a military so mighty, it need never be used. The strength of the Righteous Nation's military is such that its very existence is a deterrent to the forces of wickedness.

– The Righteous Nation maintains a proud culture.
The formation of national righteousness requires national unity. True national unity comes from a unity of culture. When the people of the Righteous Nation see one another as brothers, they will acknowledge the righteousness of their existence and join together in national unity. A national culture of music, poetry, prose and other arts are critical to the Righteous Nation.

– The Righteous Nation respects foreign culture.
The Righteous Nation is never self-righteous. As the Righteous Nation, it adheres fully to the Righteous Nation Philosophy, but recognizes that there is no One True Way of governance or action. Foreigners and their way of life is to be respected, regardless of how it corresponds to the Righteous Nation Philosophy. The only culture that is truly abhorrent is the culture of wickedness. The only culture against which the Righteous Nation will always stand is the culture of wickedness.


These Five Great Edicts form the core of the Righteous Nation Philosophy. There is always room for development, as in any philosophy of governance. Therefore, I leave this idea open for discussion with my fellow Japanese philosophers, as well as my colleagues in the government.