• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Name: 武田太郎 | Takeda Taro
Born: 1 September, 1799
Specialty: Military
Position: Prefect of Yamanashi, General in the Imperial Army

Bio: Taro is the older brother of Takeda Saburo, the infamously treacherous Shogunate general. Since their youth, the two had despised each other; Saburo was unhappy that his older brother received better schooling in administration and combat, while Taro felt he had to take the blame for many of his younger brother's faults. When Taro's father passed away and he became Daimyo of the family territories, he struck swifty against his brother, fearing that he might tarnish the family name. With an army at his back, Taro banished Saburo from the territory and took his holdings.

Nevertheless, many years later Taro would be severely and unjustly punished for his brother's actions; Saburo had found a new home and a place at the head of a rebelling army. In the beginning of the Boshin War, Taro was one of the few neutral Daimyos in strictly Shogunate territory and towards the end he actively collaborated with Imperial forces to drive out Saburo's forces. However, where fellow Imperialist Daimyos were lauded with titles and gifts, Takeda Taro received nothing at all, being relegated to a mere Prefect of his territory. The stain on his family's honour was painfully obvious, even in this reborn Nippon.

Since then, Taro has tried to salvage the situation best he could. Slightly helped in this matter by his brother's honourable death (probably the sole reason why the entire Takeda family wasn't executed to begin with), he has gained the rank of General in the Imperial Army and garnered some support to regain his title as Count of Kai. A staunch militarist and decent administrator, Takeda Taro's political views are moderate by most standards.
 
The capture of Isa was the greatest triumph of Matsui Ichiro's life. All of his training and studies had led up to this moment. He would use the city as a base to liberate Nippon from European influence. The people of Nippon would rebel against their slave masters and join his armies. The samurai would return.

Except none of this happened. The samurai and traditionalist daimyos who joined the army cheered as Isa surrendered. But the people of Nippon did not rally. Little help was forthcoming. Apparently Nippon had been subjugated in such a short time and the people were already listless slaves.

So Ichiro did what he was best at: escape. He repeated his famous maneuver outside of Kyoto during the early stages of the Boshin War and escaped from the slavemasters' grasp. After a small victory at Kumamoto Ichiro's hope began to rise again. Perhaps all was not lost.

But the nanban lovers were prepared. They had recruited a huge army of slaves with nanban technology. Outnumbered, the traditionalist army made of Koreans and disaffected samurai and daimyos with outdated technology stood no chance. The Nipponese in Matsui's army put up a bold fight and fought to the death while the Koreans soon lost heart and fled. Only true sons of Nippon are worthy to fight on a battlefield, Ichiro reflected ruefully as the bodies began to pile up around him and he stabbed another imperialist.

Soon the traditionalists had been whittled down to their last reserves. The fight was becoming pointless and even the most hardened samurai were laying down their arms or driving into the enemy lines in final, suicidal charges. With all hope lost and Nippon now firmly in the hand of the slavers, there was nothing left for Matsui Ichiro to do but commit seppuku. So he unsehathed his brother's sword and ripped open his stomach in the middle of the battlefield in front of both armies. It was a futile gesture but perhaps one that would inspire later generations of traditionalists who would grow weary of nanban slavery.

The Matsui clan was now extinguished, as was traditional Nippon. A bold new era awaited the ancient nation.



f4f6be94a253d657a8bea2aa93d2c1a3.jpg


The Death of Matsui Ichiro
 
Last edited:
  • 2
  • 1
Reactions:
It is ridiculous that Matsui Ichiro claimed that Nippon has an army of slaves when his army had Koreans! Koreans are inferior beings created by Amaterasu to be used as slaves!
Soon the traditionalists were down to their last reserves. The fight was becoming pointless
If only there had been people warning of the danger and pointlessness of war for the last thirty years.

Think with your head, and not your sword.

- Baron Mori Takachika
 
With all due respect Baron the Joseon are a civilized people who, while not yet embracing modernism as Nippon has, have been a beacon of Confucian civility for centuries. It would go against all traditional and Eastern morals to enslave fellow Asians. And I need not remind you that Joseon remains a vassal state of our close ally, the Middle Kingdom, who were instrumental in our defeat of the British in the Anglo War.

- Admiral Raizo
 
Player Actions Needed: Vote on the Japanese Identification Act and the Judicial and Penal Code. Privy Council, please vote on accepting the Marquis of Okayama (Somberg) into the privy council.

Sample Ballot:

Japanese Identification Act: Yes/No/Abstain
Judicial and Penal Code: Yes/No/Abstain

[Specialty]
[Political Bonus (If Applicable)]
[Economic Bonus (If Applicable)]
[Regular Bonus (If Applicable)]

((For PC members))
Seat the Marquis of Okayama: Yes/No/Abstain

[Nobility Rank]

Political Bonuses:
Somberg: +3
LordTempest: +2

Economic Bonuses:
Liefwarrior: +3

If your name does not appear in either category, ignore the Economic/Political Bonus part. Voting ends Thursday at 9:00 PM EST. A playthrough shall follow after the vote is closed.
 
Last edited:
Japanese Identification Act: Abstain
Judicial and Penal Code: Yes

[Politican]
[Imperial Victor: +1 VP]

While I agree with the sentiment of the Japanese Identification Act to preserve Japanese culture and identity, I feel that it places unnecessary restrictions on foreign merchants who may be residing in Nippon for business purposes. We cannot afford to isolate ourselves from the world again.

As for Korea, we cannot let this slight go unpunished. They harboured a traitor, one who with the aid of professional Korean soldiers rampaged through my home island. While perhaps war might be too far, they should at least compensate us for the damage and suffering inflicted upon the people of Kyushu and punish those responsible within their own nation.

- Count Ito Katashi of Miyazaki
 
Name: Masahiro Tanaka (Tanaka Masahiro in the Japanese way)
Birthdate: August 4, 1838
Class: Military
Bio: Masahiro Tanaka is the son of an obscure farmer named Hideo Tanaka. He joined the Imperial Army in the Boshin War and served without distinction under Lord Date. Tanaka is a prickly man who dislikes almost everything and everyone in Nippon.
 
Last edited:
Japanese Identification Act: Yes
Judicial and Penal Code: Yes

[Politician]

I do not see the problem with making sure that we properly create an immigration structure. The Japanese Identification Act makes sure that foreigners and immigrants will be properly identified. No harm there.

((PC))
Seat the Marquis of Okayama: No

The Prime Minster should not be on our council as this would be a serious conflict of interest. I must say that I do not remember anyone even nominating Lord Oshiro.

((Did anyone on the PC nominate the Prime Minister for some odd and perhaps politically-motivated reason? I don't remember this, but I might have just missed it.))
 
Japanese Identification Act: No
Judicial and Penal Code: Yes

[Economic]
[Imperial Victor: +1 VP]
The Japanese Identification Act will practically ban Nanban Traders, as there is no way that can pass the Language wing the Culture wing. However a modified version that allows for creation of "Trading Districts" in major trade cities were Nanban do not need an Certificate of Allowance, for them to stay and trade (the Districts would inculed the local harbor).

-Kishiwada Yukio
 
Spring, 1864

"Ichiro is currently raiding villages and towns throughout Kunamoto. Hosokawa Mitsuhide has asked us to relieve his people of the Samurai threat. The only problem is we have no idea where the Samurai are. Captain Algren you are assigned to a scouting group to find Matsui" said the envoy.

"They aren't ready" thought Algren marching through the forest. He received his orders 2 weeks ago when he was told that Matsui Ichiro was in Kunamoto. His troops sludged through the fog in the morning. All of a sudden, he saw movement on a ridge. Not thinking of it, he pressed on. Then, an arrow whisked by his head. Arrows were flying all over the place. They were under attack.

"SECOND COMPANY, LEFT SIDE FIRING LINE, READY TO FIRE!!!" Shouted Algren. His troops lined up in a firing line, rifles primed and ready. Then, out of the fog, cavalry units came sprinting out. Algren saw this, and it petrified him. It petrified his men. Some of his soldiers panicked and fled, others held their ground. The Warriors moved with such speed and elegance. Algren could not even say fire fast enough before the troops slammed into his line. His troops fell one by one due to the skill of the army. Soon, his horse was stabbed underneath him. He was all alone. The cavalry circles him. He took out his sword and swung it around to try and get them away. But the samurai just watched him. Algren became tired, and fell to his knees...

---------------------

Fall of 1865:

For the past few months, Algren would have been considered a hostage. He did not think. At first, he was dragged to Matsui Ichiro, whom stories have told that his family once ordered the death of thousands of Europeans on a whim. Algren thought himself dead. That was not the case. In a rare case of mercy, Algren was sparred. He was dragged along with Matsui Ichiro to a village in Kunamoto.

There, he was not really constrained. He was not considered a threat to the Samurai while unarmed and unable to escape. Algren though was upset constantly being summoned by Matsui.

"What do you want from me!?!" Asked Algren one time.

"What do you want for yourself?" Replied Matsui.

As the months went along, Algren studies the way of Bushido. He was taught how to use a Katanna, and was taught the belief of honor. As a fighter, Algren was able to communicate with the Samurai. He learned quickly. Eventually he surpassed his teachers. He also became close to Matsui. Matsui always tried to get Algren to understand his position. Algren thought that it was a noble goal. He even saved Matsui from a ninja attack, which threatened many innocent lives. He and Matsui became friends. That friendship would be put to the test in Winter of 1866.

-------------------

Winter of 1866:

"What happened to the soldiers at Thermoploye?" Asked Ichiro.

"Dead to the last man" replied Algren.

Matsui Ichiro smiled. The Samurai revolt was surrounded by enemy troops, imperials led by Yamamoto Hirakuni. It was even said Date Munenari had brought new weapons to the Japanese. It was the time of battle.

The Samurai ordered the bowmen to attack the approaching Imperials. Then came the swordsman who charged right into the soldiers. The battle was fierce, but the Imperials were pushed back.

The Samurai and Algren then mounted horse and began to charge the new line of Imperials to try and break out. The Imperials fired upon them. Artillery pounded the cavalry, but they made it through the first line. That is when Date Munenari unleashed his new weapon, Gatling Guns. Crude machine guns invented a few years prior. The guns tore apart the Cavalry, and left Matsui and Algren in a field of dead soldiers, Matsui gravely wounded. In one final show of strength, in front of his soldiers, Algren helped Matsui unsheathed his sword, and helped him cut open his belly. The Dragon of Kobe died in Algren's arms.
 
  • 2
  • 1
Reactions:

Japanese Identification Act: No
Judicial and Penal Code: Yes

[Military]
[No Bonus]
 
Japanese Identification Act: Yes
Judicial and Penal Code: Yes

[Political]

[Masters of the Shogunate, +3 VP]


8GTZBZS.png
While the Japanese Identification Act is, at times, a tad vague, it is an important initiative that we would do well to support, as it is fundamentally not its attitudes or objectives which are flawed, but the document itself, which perhaps should have undergone a few tweaks or a second opinion. Regardless, I shall put my full support behind this proposal in the hopes that it will firmly cement the need we have in this nation for the preservation of the Japanese culture. True Japanese hearts should not favor foreign entities to their own kin, for, in times of war and suffering, one may count on none other than their own people... The Japanese people.
.
佐竹良実
 
In light of escalating tensions between the Japanese and Korean governments over the Matsui incident, the Foreign Secretary wishes to announce that he is departing to Washington in order to enter high level talks with the President of the United States and his Secretary of State in order to press Japan's case for reparations. He wishes to stress firmly to all Japanese that as both Japan and Korea possess defence treaties with the United States, any unilateral military action taken against Korea by Japan without the express approval of the Americans would almost certainly bring the United States into a war on Korea's side. Caution and forbearance must be stressed.

-- Hosokawa-dono
 
Japanese Identification Act: Yes
Judicial and Penal Code: Yes

[Political]
[Lord of Peace]