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((Private Cabinate))

Ministry of Education-Technology Plan First Draft

1. Complete importation of modern industrial equipment. ((Complete Mechanical Production)).
2. Acquire Breech Loaded Rifles.
3. Modernise Financial Institutions by founding an Osaka Stock exchange.
4. Fund Political thought on the role of the State & Goverment.
5. Draft plans for Iron Steamers.
6. Modernise Mining techniques & equipment.
7. Reform Millatry Doctrine to focus on Strategic Mobility.

This is the first Draft of the Technological Research, What are your opinions?
 
Nishimura Hiroshi presents the budget to the Imperial Diet:
"Honourable Members of the Imperial Diet!
This next Quinquennial Budget, which will be active between the thirteenth and the eighteenth years of reign of His Imperial Majesty, includes some changes from the last one:
First and foremost, we have finished successfully establishing an efficient bureaucratic system in the Empire. The Prefectures allow our administrators to collect taxes efficiently while avoiding corruption. Because of the establishment of efficient bureaucracy is now complete, the administrative budget does not need its additional funding.
The additional money in the treasury will allow us to further decrease tariffs. The policy of decreasing tariffs has proved extremely beneficial for Japan. While other nations struggle with hungry populace, almost every Japanese citizen states that his basic needs fulfilled. Moreover, reduced tariffs help our factories to be more profitable, encouraging capitalists to build more industry.

May this budget bring wealth and prosperity to Japan.

天皇陛下万歳 Long Live the Emperor!"




Budget of the Empire of Japan:
Taxes:
Poor: 65%
Middle: 65%
Rich: 65%​
Expenses:
Stockpile:
Land: 25%
Naval: 30%
Construction: 30%​
Other government expenses:
Education: 60%
Administration: 25%
Social spending: 100%
Military: 50%​
Tariffs: 8%

Contingencies: First contingencies override later ones(for example Cont. I overrides II.).

Contingency I: Major Armed Conflict ((Wars, or large rebellions)) :
In case of the Empire of Japan engaging on, or is about to declare the belligerency in an armed conflict, domestically or internationally, the Land Stockpile would be immediately increased to 100%, and in the case the war requires the active participation of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Naval Stockpile would also be increased to 100%. Such increasing spending would require to levy more taxes and lower expenses:
  1. Increase tariffs by 2% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  2. Increase taxes by 10% on all strata until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  3. Increase tariffs by 5% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  4. Decrease education spending by 10% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  5. Decrease Administrative spending by 10% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  6. Increase tariffs again by 10% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  7. Increase taxes by 10% on all strata until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  8. Decrease education spending by 10% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  9. Decrease Naval stockpile to 0% and immediately order all ships docked. Failing this:
  10. Increase taxes on all strata until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  11. Decrease Land stockpile until balance is achieved, refrain from engaging in battle and immediately convene the Emperor and the cabinet.
When the conflict is over the budget will return to its pre-war status.

Contingency II: Deficit:
A. Standard deficit:
In case the Empire of Japan has taken more than 1000 in debt, changes would be made to the budget to achieve balance:
  1. Increase tariffs by 2% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  2. Increase taxes by 5% on all strata until balance is achieved. Failing this
  3. Increase tariffs by 5% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  4. Increase taxes by 5% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  5. Unless an important construction project is underway, decrease construction by 25% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  6. Decrease education by 10% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  7. Decrease administrative spending by 10% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  8. Decrease military funding by 5% util balance is achieved. Failing this:
  9. Increase tariffs by 10% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  10. Increase taxes by 5% until balance is achieved.
After a steady surplus is achieved, begin reverting the contingency's policies in a reverse order((decrease taxes by 5, decrease tariffs by 10, increase military by 5 etc.)) until the budget is again normal.
B. Major International Debt:
In the case that the steps taken to fix the standard deficit problem have failed, and the Empire of Japan has taken extreme amounts of loans and is fearing bankruptcy, the following drastic steps would be taken to fix the issue: (those apply in addition to the standard deficit policies))
  1. Decrease administrative spending by 10% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  2. Decrease education by 20% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  3. Decrease military funding by 10% until balance is achieved. Failing this:
  4. Increase taxes until balance is achieved.
After a steady surplus is achieved and most debts have been payed, begin reverting the contingency's policies in a reverse order.

Contingency III: Surplus:
A. Regular:
In case the Empire of Japan is running on a steady surplus of at least 150, changes would be made to the budget:
  1. Increase education by 10%. In case a steady surplus still exists:
  2. Decrease taxes for all strata in 5% increments until they reach 50%, keep decreasing each increment as long a steady surplus still exists. In case a steady surplus still exists:
  3. Increase military funding by 10%. In case a steady surplus still exists:
  4. Decrease tariffs by 5%. In case a steady surplus still exists:
  5. Decrease taxes for all strata by 10%.
B. Construction project:
In case the Empire of Japan is undergoing a construction project important on the national level, which may be the recruitment and training of soldiers, the building of naval ships or infrastructures, and is running on a steady surplus, priority will be given to increasing Construction funding to 100% until the important project is finished.

~Count Nishimura Hiroshi of Fukuoka, Minister of Finance
 
I am concerned that the Privy Council has yet to appoint regional governors in compliance with the law promulgated by the Emperor.
 
((Private: Cabinet))

I am honoured to join you in government, I may be inexperienced, but i look forward to working together.

Ministry of Commerce plans for privatisation of state assets.

The state has no business running industry that can thrive in the private sector, therefore I propose that Aomori Steel and Edo Cement be put up for auction, with starting bids at half their construction costs.
Due to inaccurate data in our current records this will be based on prices from the year 1871.
Entry level bid for Edo Cement: £2.72k
Entry level bid for Aomori Steel: £6.5k

Do my honourable colleagues have any thoughts on the subject?

mrlifeless said:
((Private Cabinate))

Ministry of Education-Technology Plan First Draft

1. Complete importation of modern industrial equipment. ((Complete Mechanical Production)).
2. Acquire Breech Loaded Rifles.
3. Modernise Financial Institutions by founding an Osaka Stock exchange.
4. Fund Political thought on the role of the State & Goverment.
5. Draft plans for Iron Steamers.
6. Modernise Mining techniques & equipment.
7. Reform Millatry Doctrine to focus on Strategic Mobility.

This is the first Draft of the Technological Research, What are your opinions?
Click to expand...

I personally have had enough of this woolly idealism that has been floating around our academic circles in recent years. Some good pragmatic, empirical thinking would do us a world of good.

---

((Public))

After some careful thought I believe a small amendment to the Martial Discipline Act to be in order.

Le Corbusier said:

Martial Discipline Act
I. Active duty officers of the Japanese military are henceforth prohibited from simultaneously holding office as Ministers of State.
II. The overall commander of the Japanese military will fill the position of Chief of the General Staff as appointed by the Head of Government, working with their civilian counterpart in the War Ministry.
III. Section one does not apply to holders of honorary ranks.​
Click to expand...

I propose:

I.
a. In the event of foreign invasion of the Japanese home isles, or in the event of armed insurrection in the Japanese home isles, officers serving as ministers of state may take up active duty without resigning their position.
 
Last edited:
The Great Reform Act:

The purpose of the act is as follows: to replace the Empire of Japan's ad hoc and arbitrary electoral system with a more modern and sophisticated political culture, taking heed from the successful examples of the German Reich and the British Empire, the two most prominent powers of the day. Only by tempering the best examples of government the rest of the world has to offer with our own superior Japanese traditions, can we create a political culture befitting a great and virtuous nation such as ours.

This purpose is to be achieved by enacting the following:

I. The replacement of the current First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system with a system of Proportional Representation. (PR) Under such a system, seats shall be awarded according to the percentage of the national vote awarded to each party which wins at least 5% of the popular vote: a party who wins 5% of the vote shall win 5% of the seats, and so on. It is hoped that such a system will strengthen the level of debate in the Diet by electing a broader range of MPs and encouraging the airing of uncommon, yet legitimate points of view.

II. The abolition of the temporary regional governorships and other relics of Japan's post-revolution reconstruction. Japan has emerged from the ashes of the Boshin War a strong and united people, and as such there is no need to continue with the temporary military occupation and direct rule of regions for much longer. Let us jettison such things as they have more than outlived their purpose.

III. The introduction of further improvements to Japan's state education system, and the reintroduction of government subsidies for basic herbal medicines. The true measure of a nation's greatness is how it treats its poorest and most vulnerable; by investing in the two pillars of a successful state - education and healthcare - we shall prove the righteousness and justness of our Emperor and his government, and thus finally put our nation's long history of peasant rebellions and religious uprisings behind us.

IV. To formally outlaw any and all political parties dedicated to the espousal of dangerous alien agenda which are at odds with Japanese tradition and our Emperor. There is no place for either republicanism or socialism in our political culture: these ideas are foreign to Japan and her people, and seek to corrode the authority of our Emperor and our national faith. Such movements which propagate said ideas must be nipped in the bud before they grow too powerful.

It is hoped that by achieveing these four points, Japan shall continue upon her path towards modernisation and greatness, while simultaneously retaining those specific characteristics which make her distinctly Japanese.

-- Hosokawa-dono, Foreign Secretary.
 
Why improve hospitals and arbitrarily alter the method of election when the two largest reform movements in the country are for safer working conditions and expanded suffrage? If the intent is to ensure domestic tranquility, surely we should be reforming in line with popular demand and not forcing unwanted enterprises down the country's throat? And I find it entirely improper that a Minister of State should attempt to repeal the regional administration legislation before the Emperor has even had the time to make his first appointments. This "Great Reform" is nothing more than an unwieldy conglomeration of half-cooked notions intended to gain the National Liberal-Kamikaze coalition more seats in Kyushu in the next election. And I would hope that most members of the KAP would be happy that the National Liberals no longer have a majority by themselves and now require their Kamikaze partners to govern, giving that party's leadership more say in reforming the corrupt state of governance in the capital.

- Admiral Unryu
 
Le Corbusier said:
Why improve hospitals and arbitrarily alter the method of election when the two largest reform movements in the country are for safer working conditions and expanded suffrage?
Click to expand...

The answer to this question is embarrassingly simple: we cannot improve what doesn't exist! This act will reintroduce the old Bakufu-era policy of the government providing money to the sick to help pay for medication. It has absolutely nothing to do with improving phantom "hospitals" that do not exist.

If the Admiral is going to criticise a policy in future, then I do humbly suggest that he take the time to understand it first.

If the intent is to ensure domestic tranquility, surely we should be reforming in line with popular demand and not forcing unwanted enterprises down the country's throat? And I find it entirely improper that a Minister of State should attempt to repeal the regional administration legislation before the Emperor has even had the time to make his first appointments. This "Great Reform" is nothing more than an unwieldy conglomeration of half-cooked notions intended to gain the National Liberal-Kamikaze coalition more seats in Kyushu in the next election.
Click to expand...

I see that the Admiral is still wedded to his unpopular notions of federalism, hence his irrational opposition. This reform will do away with all such notions of federalism, and provide Japan with a unitary electoral system fit for unitary government. If the Emperor wishes to appoint sinecures he already has the power to do so.

Furthermore, I must in the strongest terms reject the petty assertion that Proportional Representation will result in more NLP seats; it will actually result in fewer, and more seats for the Admiral's own party and that of others, such as the UH which currently lacks parliamentary representation. I am not advocating a change in electoral system for the NLP's benefit; I advocate one because it is fairer, and therefore the right thing to do.

And I would hope that most members of the KAP would be happy that the National Liberals no longer have a majority by themselves and now require their Kamikaze partners to govern, giving that party's leadership more say in reforming the corrupt state of governance in the capital.

- Admiral Unryu
Click to expand...

So the Admiral endorses coalition government, then? One can hardly imagine why he'd oppose PR then, beyond reasons of petty political partisanship?

-- Hosokawa-dono, Foreign Secretary.
 
The Administrative Representation Act is the law of the land and should be given time to actually be implemented so that the parliament can see the improvements of moving from the current federal system to one of unitary control by governors appointed from the national parliament by the Emperor. I don't see why the Foreign Secretary would claim to oppose federalism but wish to prevent the Emperor and the Diet from exercising any practical authority over local affairs. In the absence of centrally appointed administrators, samurai families and yakuza groups will doubtlessly reassert themselves into positions of dominant authority in the villages and market towns. If the honorable Minister truly opposed federalism he would be supporting the law of the land, not obstructing it.
 
LordTempest said:
The Great Reform Act:

The purpose of the act is as follows: to replace the Empire of Japan's ad hoc and arbitrary electoral system with a more modern and sophisticated political culture, taking heed from the successful examples of the German Reich and the British Empire, the two most prominent powers of the day. Only by tempering the best examples of government the rest of the world has to offer with our own superior Japanese traditions, can we create a political culture befitting a great and virtuous nation such as ours.

This purpose is to be achieved by enacting the following:

I. The replacement of the current First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system with a system of Proportional Representation. (PR) Under such a system, seats shall be awarded according to the percentage of the national vote awarded to each party which wins at least 5% of the popular vote: a party who wins 5% of the vote shall win 5% of the seats, and so on. It is hoped that such a system will strengthen the level of debate in the Diet by electing a broader range of MPs and encouraging the airing of uncommon, yet legitimate points of view.

II. The abolition of the temporary regional governorships and other relics of Japan's post-revolution reconstruction. Japan has emerged from the ashes of the Boshin War a strong and united people, and as such there is no need to continue with the temporary military occupation and direct rule of regions for much longer. Let us jettison such things as they have more than outlived their purpose.

III. The introduction of further improvements to Japan's state education system, and the reintroduction of government subsidies for basic herbal medicines. The true measure of a nation's greatness is how it treats its poorest and most vulnerable; by investing in the two pillars of a successful state - education and healthcare - we shall prove the righteousness and justness of our Emperor and his government, and thus finally put our nation's long history of peasant rebellions and religious uprisings behind us.

IV. To formally outlaw any and all political parties dedicated to the espousal of dangerous alien agenda which are at odds with Japanese tradition and our Emperor. There is no place for either republicanism or socialism in our political culture: these ideas are foreign to Japan and her people, and seek to corrode the authority of our Emperor and our national faith. Such movements which propagate said ideas must be nipped in the bud before they grow too powerful.

It is hoped that by achieveing these four points, Japan shall continue upon her path towards modernisation and greatness, while simultaneously retaining those specific characteristics which make her distinctly Japanese.

-- Hosokawa-dono, Foreign Secretary.
Click to expand...


((Okay, so Tempest wants to:

I. Reform two things (Election system and healthcare)
II. Ban an ideology, and a party that has 49 seats in the Diet.

Based on the mechanics presented, and based on my own analysis of the situation and what this single act is trying to do, I hereby declare that this act is a Political Revolution.

For those who do not know, a political revolution is when a bill is presented that will either change the government drastically, bring about multiple reforms at once, try to eradicate opposing parties, or a mixture of all three. This bill is trying to eradicate an opposition party and is trying to enforce multiple reforms (regardless of how small).

Tempest has till 9:00 PM EST tonight or 1:00 AM GMT tomorrow to either change his mind and bring the bill down, edit it so that it is not as revolutionary, or push it forward to a political revolution vote. Remember, should that vote fail, the supporters get -2 VP till the end of the next election, but if it succeeds, I get to roll on the population's response...))
 
((In light of the circumstances, would you strongly object to giving me an extra day to think about my options, Naxhi?))
 
((Well tell you what Tempest, since this is the first supposed "revolution", I will give an extra day (Friday at 9:00 PM EST or Saturday at 1:00 AM GMT). But if you do amend it to the point where it is no longer revolutionary or if you remove it, I will start the vote immediately following my notification and approval. If you do not by the time allocated, the vote starts for the revolution.))
 
LordTempest said:
IV. To formally outlaw any and all political parties dedicated to the espousal of dangerous alien agenda which are at odds with Japanese tradition and our Emperor. There is no place for either republicanism or socialism in our political culture: these ideas are foreign to Japan and her people, and seek to corrode the authority of our Emperor and our national faith. Such movements which propagate said ideas must be nipped in the bud before they grow too powerful.
Click to expand...

Yes, it certainly is worrying that the Foreign Secretary believes that his party is not capable of surviving without banning and disenfranchising an entire segment of the Japanese population. I highly doubt that the National Liberal Party's leadership has so much doubt over their future- unless, of course, Hosokawa-san truly believes that the Japanese farmer is more inclined to support a party which is in alignment with his interests... From a legal perspective, my greatest concern would be that, with such a marked shift from a liberal polity, which is in open support of the Japanese man's right to join most organizations of his choosing that we may see a greater shift in the direction of a reactionary state which is advocated for, seemingly, by the Foreign Minister alone. I will leave his supposed claims of desiring the preservation of Japanese culture alone, but others, perhaps, will not.

Lord Satake Yoshizane
 
Firehound15 said:
Yes, it certainly is worrying that the Foreign Secretary believes that his party is not capable of surviving without banning and disenfranchising an entire segment of the Japanese population. I highly doubt that the National Liberal Party's leadership has so much doubt over their future- unless, of course, Hosokawa-san truly believes that the Japanese farmer is more inclined to support a party which is in alignment with his interests...
Click to expand...

I must say, if the best arguments the opposition can present are as nonsensical and downright fallacious as those presented by the Admiral and Lord Satake above, then the Act will surely pass with little argument. This act will allow for greater diversity in political representation, not engineer some kind of NLP elected dictatorship. Perhaps Lord Satake can explain why he feels the current electoral system, which allows for the silencing of personally disagreeable yet legitimate and widely-held political views, such as those of the UH and Lord Uesugi, but allows harmful and foreign minority opinions to have disproportionate influence in parliament simply because he happens to support them, is objectively fairer?

From a legal perspective, my greatest concern would be that, with such a marked shift from a liberal polity, which is in open support of the Japanese man's right to join most organizations of his choosing that we may see a greater shift in the direction of a reactionary state which is advocated for, seemingly, by the Foreign Minister alone. I will leave his supposed claims of desiring the preservation of Japanese culture alone, but others, perhaps, will not.
Click to expand...

I could understand why this might be a legitimate fear if the law were to be extended to organisations or political parties which expressed widely-held or legitimate points of view. I can assure Lord Satake that said laws are only meant to deal with ideologies which are a threat to the Emperor's position as Japanese Head of State, (namely republicanism and socialism) and the organisations and parties which profess them. If that were not clear from my proposal, and he would like me to amend said proposal to make that expressly clear and so to rule out ay possibility of said laws being used to establish some kind of unsavoury precedent, then I will happily do so.

If a Japanese nation with the Emperor as Divine Head of State is to be considered reactionary, then I, like all revolutionaries who supported the Emperor, are and have always been, a reactionary.

-- Hosokawa-dono, Foreign Secretary
 
LordTempest said:
... such as those of the UH and Lord Uesugi, but allows harmful and foreign minority opinions to have disproportionate influence in parliament simply because he happens to support them, is objectively fairer?

-- Hosokawa-dono, Foreign Secretary
Click to expand...

Lord Uesugi leans over to Lord Hosokawa during the next session of Privy Council.

"My retainer has informed me that during the last question and answer session of the Diet you mentioned my name. I would rather you not ruin my name in such base talk as the politics of elections. I do ever find the entire concept petty."
 
Public Announcement from the Ministry of Commerce

Private individuals may now announce interest in these state owned companies.

Entry level bid for Edo Cement: £2.72k
Entry level bid for Aomori Steel: £6.5k

(( @mrlifeless @Luftwafer @liefwarrior please declare your interest, or if you aren't, please state that too. Ideally bidding will take place in irc, but all interested parties cant get there we'll have to organise something else))

- Kusaribe Kinzo, minister of commerce.

---

I am interested and will take part

- Kusaribe Kinzo, Industrialist.
 
Keinwyn said:
Public Announcement from the Ministry of Commerce

Private individuals may now announce interest in these state owned companies.

Entry level bid for Edo Cement: £2.72k
Entry level bid for Aomori Steel: £6.5k

(( @mrlifeless @Luftwafer @liefwarrior please declare your interest, or if you aren't, please state that too. Ideally bidding will take place in irc, but all interested parties cant get there we'll have to organise something else))

- Kusaribe Kinzo, minister of commerce.

---

I am interested and will take part

- Kusaribe Kinzo, Industrialist.
Click to expand...

I am interested and will bid in the auction.
 
As I have yet to be given good reason by anyone to alter the proposed Great Reform Act in any way, shape or form, it is my intention to submit the Act for consideration as originally drafted. I do however wish to add in response to Lord Satake's comments that the tabling of the fourth clause of said Act will create a precedent for the banning of other anti-Imperial parties that such a precedent already exists, and has for some time. The Fourth Clause of the Act merely seeks to update and renew the old Bakufu-era legislation for the post-revolutionary age.

Here I must stand, I can do no other.

-- Hosokawa-dono, Foreign Secretary
 
I am unfortunately unable to invest in these ventures due to the fragile state of my finances, as such I am not interested in bidding on the State Owned Companies.

~ Hajamoto Yoshihiro
 
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