Join the new world

I began working on this newspaper when I first applied for a tour of duty with the Japanese Imperial Army with the idea of producing a military bulletin that would serve to amuse, inform and provide a voice for the troops (whose ranks I had hoped to join). Well, who would have thought that our Minister of Defense and his advisers would ever accept that application? Certainly not me. But here I am, and as such, this paper means that much more to me.

But who am I? I am Reiji Mitsurugi, a native-born Child of the Rising Sun. I am a businessman, with my family's holding company, the Mitsurugi Group, operating Kokumotsu Grains, a collection of high-yield cereal farms on the Korean Peninsula. My true passion, though, is the military. For so long I had thought I was doomed to be an armchair general, singing the praises of my great nation and its army from the fattening comfort of my parlor. I'm proud to say, though, that I've donned my uniform and participated in several operations under the newly formed Japanese Imperial Expeditionaries.

Another thing I would say about myself is that I am honest. As are most of my countrymen, instilled by our proud culture with a sense of nobility and integrity. With that in mind, I am compelled to inform my (brave new) readers that this is a military broadsheet, and as such it carries a decidedly nationalist and militarist slant. Those looking for a scathing criticism of Japanese policy or a dovish pacifist rant will find themselves disappointed.

With that disclaimer out of the way, let me continue telling the story of this infant newspaper. It will be printed largely in English, the vernacular language of working Japanese and therefore the vernacular language of our soldiers. In the future, if I have an audience, I may publish a special officers' bulletin in our nobler, lesser-known native tongue, Japanese. I am also capable of publishing in Chinese, French, Dutch and German, which means I may produce the occasional blurb for the foreigners if the occasion is right.

While we're on the topic of language, I must briefly bow my head in shame and say that I don't speak a word of the Korean tongue. I would like very much to publish a bulletin for the Korean Corps of our Imperial Army, so if any enterprising bilingual peninsulars are reading and find themselves with some extra time, please contact me.

Setting aside that embarrassment, I must congratulate my country's leadership on a number of matters. First, of course, is the annexation of the Republic of Korea under the Rising Sun. There has been somewhat of a commotion over that particular matter in the last week, since the merger was completed. But it is evident to me, as a man who makes frequent trips to the peninsula to check on my business, that the Korean people as a single entity are quite happy with the way things are going. Now safe in the embrace of Japan, its eminent leaders and its invincible Imperial Army, the Korean people are prospering. The economy is growing at an unprecedented rate, as my (and certainly others doing business in the peninsula) profit margins are widening faster than I can raise salaries to narrow them. Once the Koreans are confident that Japan has brought them to a place of self-sufficiency and security, they will be independent once again, and Kokumotsu Grains will no doubt be sold to a bold peninsular business leader (perhaps even one of my current employees working the fields!). Until then, the Jasko Confederation (a freshly-coined term that refers to JApan and S. KOrea) will be a bulwark of prosperity, strength and democracy in East Asia.

So many words and only one congratulation done so far! I'll have to work on my brevity in later editions. The next words of thanks to my government go to the congress, our Diet of Japan. Already the elections seem so long ago, but they are very fresh on the calendar. The congratulations go to all newly elected and incumbent congressmen. Some delinquency has been reported from more sparsely-populated districts and the Korean colonies, but the overwhelming majority of our elected representatives deserve their positions and will serve us well. I am hopeful that this leadership will see our economic and military growth and prosperity continue into the future.

And on the topic of congress, I would like to publish a very special thanks to my personal friend, the honorable Senator Kita of Tohoku, whose efforts to prevent corruption in the legislature must not go unnoticed. Senator, you have my thanks, and no doubt the thanks of all the soldiers of the Imperial Army whose very lives rely on competent, noble leadership from the congress.

Last, I must thank our great and noble head of state, Kokawayoshi Makoto. The president was recently re-elected by a tremendous margin and with overwhelming support from the major parties of Japan. The outpouring of support for President Kokawayoshi is a testament to the president's superior leadership ability and charismatic nature, not to mention an eye for strategy and a truly kind heart. The president's response to what will soon be known as the German Atrocity was everything it should have been.

Which brings me to the final note for this article, which is the aforementioned atrocity. I have spent a considerable amount of time in Germany over the last week, fighting for the German people as most of the Imperial Army has. Unfortunately, our strength and honor could not hold back the unholy tide of Swedish aggression. But now, the Swedes have finally done the unthinkable and annexed Germany in a combined military operation and political takeover. While on leave, I have seen the ships carrying German refugees to the Japanese shores in every harbor from Hakodate to Kagoshima. With whatever authority I have to say so, I swear to the German people that they will have their homeland back.

「団結は力なり」