Under the Rising Sun, a Japan Interactive AAR

[Andre Massena]

The growing Nanban influence threatens to unravel the fabric of our society. Already we see evidence that these vile Nanban westerners seek to destroy our culture and system of laws to suit their nefarious purposes. Thus, as Ōmetsuke of the realm, I order the arrest and execution of all Nanban traders in Nippon! This may be an extreme measure but it is the only way we can save Nippon from corrupt influences. We must purge the malignant odors before they infect the entire body of Nippon.

-Matsui Hideki, Daimyo of Kobe and Ōmetsuke of Nippon

 

[Michaelangelo]

Do this and you'll invoke the wrath of every European nation that trades with us. Soon the armies of the Dutch, Portuguese, British, and many others will land on our shores seeking revenge. You claim to do this save us from the influence of the Nanban, but all you do is give them justifiable cause to invade us. Is it not better to seek reform on our own terms than to allow the Nanban to force it upon us? Think of the consequences of your decision before you commit such a foolish act that could cost Nippon dearly.

- Daimyo Ito Katashi of Miyazaki

 

[Le Corbusier]

Given Daimyo Uesugi's defense of the Bakufu as Oniwaban, truly Matsui is a disgrace to the Unity and Honor Faction and his patron.
- Tsugaru Noboyuki of the Hirosaki Domain (Aomori Province)

 

[Nax24]

Final Tally (With Samurai Bonuses and other Bonuses):

Guide: Yes/No/Abstain

Iron Horse Decree of Ninko 29: 13.5/3/0
Passed
The Japanese Naval Self-Strengthening Act: 11.5/5/0
Passed

 

[Nax24]

Satake (1846-1849): It Ends in Blood Pt.1​

They say there is always a calm before the storm. That is what exactly happened in the opening years of Satake's third tenure as Roju. What spurred this on was the rise of Daimyo Kishiwada, a low-level Kansai Daimyo. His rise would begin when he would beat out traditionalist juggernaut Matsui Hideki for the Kansai spot on the Roju. Kishiwada though would suffer from an inability to beat out Satake's iron grip on the Tairo position. However, Kishiwada's rise to power coincided with the rise of a new rebel faction, the Imperial Restoration Faction. The IRF was a faction bent on removing the Shogun and instituting Imperial rule once again, an idea that was not passed around for over 700 years. The IRF was led by the mysterious "Dragon", and no one knew who he was.

Paranoid at who could be his enemy, Shogun Ieyoshi would appoint Daimyo Uesugi as the leader of his personal Ninja group, the Oniwaban. The Oniwaban's first task, find out the identities of the IRF members, and bring them to justice. While the Oniwaban were sent out to investigate, Daimyo Satake did begin the process of selecting members to his Advisory Council. One of the most controversial, and the decision that would hurt everyone, would be the appointment of Daimyo Matsui as Justice Adviser. Matsui already hated Nanban influence, and he considered the possibility of using his new found powers to try and get rid of the Europeans. He needed a reason though to do this, and his reason came with reports from the Oniwaban. The Oniwaban were unsuccessful in tracking down any IRF members, but they did discover something interesting. They began following a hooded man near Nagasaki delivering a message. They did see who the man was, and he was European. Why would a European be outside of his designated zone? The investigation went deeper, until a warehouse was discovered being controlled by IRF members. The warehouse was raided, and even though no members were found, they did discover something shocking. They found European rifles, origins unknown. These were rifles not used by the infantry of Japan, they were state of the art. This gave enough evidence to show that the IRF was receiving some sort of aide from a European nation. The only question was, what nation? The Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese denied these accusations, but confirmed the guns were European. There were still plot-holes needed to be discovered, and questions needed to be answered.

Daimyo Matsui though did not wait on evidence to go forward with his plan. In January of 1846, he branded every single European on Japanese soil a traitor, and ordered their execution. Daimyo Satake caught word of this, and removed Matsui from his position, and rebuffed the order, preventing Japanese soldiers from killing the Europeans. However, word spread across the countryside that Matsui had given an order to kill the Europeans. Samurai and reactionary peasants soon took up arms. In ports like Nagasaki and Osaka, the Europeans were hunted down by mobs and executed. Hundreds of European sailors and merchants were killed in what is considered "The Day of Fiery Blood". The Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese were outraged, but they could not do anything. Spain was in the middle of a rebellion, the Portuguese were reeling from external wars, and the Dutch were too weak to get troops half-way across the globe. The purges continued unopposed, as more and more Europeans were mobbed down and killed.

Then came the arrival of the HMS Elizabeth and the HMS George II, British ships employed by the British navy to open trade between Britain and the Asian nations. They had already been to China, now they had to go to Korea and Japan. However, no one warned them of the danger that Japan was bringing, and no one could warn them. When these two ships arrived, the mobs descended on the ships, killing the crew of the ships and burning the ships. All the sailors were executed on sight.

(Samurai who took part in the massacres)​

The British were outraged by this. Parliament began talks of war, but many thought it would be a waste of money to send troops to Japan, and possibly to fight off their Chinese allies. During the parliamentary debates, Daimyo Satake decided to wait and see what the response of the British would be. He hoped that calmer heads would prevail, and war be avoided. It seemed that there would be no-point in engaging in a war with the British, a war Japan was not ready for. Britain was considered the #1 power in the world at the time. No one bested the British. Satake hoped though that the British would not be too angry.

He was dead wrong.

Parliament had a unanimous vote to declare war on Japan, and war was declared a week after the massacre of those sailors. Japan was now under attack. Britain called upon her allies, the Indian Rajs, Greece, the Ottoman Empire, and asked the Dutch to join her. The Dutch agreed to send troops. China backed Japan, and began mobilizing for war. Asia was now engulfed in flames. Japan's isolation would be put to the test as the greatest power in the world was making plans to invade.

​

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

Player Actions Needed: Wait.....

 

[Nax24]

Satake (1846-1849): It Ends in Blood Pt.2​

The war with the British began in earnest. The first actions of the war were in India. The Chinese Imperial Army marched into India unopposed at first, and began occupying Bengal. It would be met by little resistance from the Indians, who watched as the Chinese burned plantations and fields across the area.

​

In Japan, the country was ready for war. It had to defend its traditions, it had to make sure that its ideals were protected from the Nanban. A parade was held to help spur the warriors to battle. Battle would come soon enough. In mid-1847, Turkish troops landed in Kyushu, and began assaulting the port of Nagasaki. Leading the charge was Osman Bey, a well-regarded general in the Turkish army. The Turks were long-ways from home, and knew little about the terrain, yet they besieged Nagasaki. The Kyushu Army and the Chugoku army met up in the nearby province. Samurai Sakamoto Naotari was grabbed from Shikoku to lead the armies of Japan against the Turks. The result of this first battle was devastating. 9,500 Japanese soldiers would be killed, wounded, or captured by the Turks, who suffered only 8,000 casualties. It was unknown why Japan lost this battle. Some speculated that Sakamoto wanted to loose the battle due to the fact that he was part of the IRF. Historians now agree though that the resulting defeat was because Japan could not obtain the necessary resources to fuel its army. The tariffs were so high that trade was impossible. So Lord Satake lowered them, and push taxes through the roof. The government though was running a large deficit.

​

As the war progressed into 1847, the Chinese army became bogged down in India. Indian Rajs formed up to repel the Chinese from their homelands where the British failed. The Rajs put up one hell of a fight, and halted the movement of the Chinese. Eventually, China became bogged down in Bengal, and was forced to try and manuever around the Rajs to attack more British provinces.

​

In Japan, the remaining forces from Kyushu and Chugoku met up with forces from Kansai and Shikoku, and decided to attack again. Clearly a 33,000 man army was capable enough of beating only 10,000 men. Well it turns out they werent. The Turks were well entrenched, better equipped, and had supplies while Japan did not. Japan suffered a catastrophic defeat at the hands of the Turks suffering 16,000 casualties compared to the 4,500 suffered by the Turks. Eventually, the Turks got reinforcements and moved to siege Hosokawa domain. The Japanese army was powerless to stop them.

​

​

In China, the Rajs were pushing the Chinese out of India. The Rajs regrouped and began to assault the Chinese with more and more vigor. The British still had yet to put a troop into battle. In multiple battles, the Chinese began to suffer defeats.

​

The island of Taiwan was also captured by a combined force of Dutch and Greek soldiers. With Taiwan lost, the British now had an area to use as a supply station for an invasion of Japan.

​

The Indians however were growing restless. So many Indians had died in combat, and so much property was destroyed, that the British began to seek a peace deal in order to appease the Indians in India, as well as the Raj allies. A peace conference was set to begin, and the British had their terms set up. To their suprised, they were met by Spanish diplomats. In the midst of all this chaos, Japan began looking for another Great Power to intervene on her behalf against the British. Russia was a clear choice, but they were not really as friendly. Instead, the Japanese went to Spain, and pleaded for the Spanish to intervene on their behalf. Spain agreed to this, but under the condition that Japan become a Spanish Sphere. This would end isolation, hurt the Japanese spirit, and bring down tradition. Japan though, had no choice if it was to survive the British onslaught. They agreed to the deal set forth by the Spanish, and became their puppets.

(The Shogun and Roju meeting with Spanish diplomats)​

The British however, were not so ready to back down. They did however concluded that if the Spanish, a nation harmed by the massacres, was ready to accept Japanese surrender, that they would too. Britain and Japan signed a peace treaty in 1848, and the war would end.

​

However, things were bad in Japan. The economy was rocked, the military devastated, and Japan humiliated. Japan before-hand had spent most of its money on new ports and infantry units. The Naval Self Strengthening Act would be passed and ports would begin to be built. However, the Iron Horse Decree would be vetoed, the Shogun could not see the benefits of spending more money on Western technology. This would leave Japan in a state of depression. The Spanish saw this, and wanting to improve their position in Asia, decided to aid Japan. They sent economists to help the Japanese in rebuilding the economy. Economic reforms were enacted to help taxes and the budget.

Yet, the biggest damage done to the Shogunate was to the respect it once garnished. Shogun Ieyoshi would loose huge amounts of respect and prestige from all around him for loosing the war and ending isolation. The period that would begin following the war would be called "Bakumatsu", The End of the Shogunate. The power of the Shogun would begin to be drained, and the prestige the Tokugawa clan once garnished would slowly fade. Daimyo Satake saw this, and decided that the best course of action to be taken would be to strengthen the Emperor. The Emperor would be a stronger voice in fixing Japan then the Shogun, and more power would be given to the Emperor slowly. Also, the need for westernization to fight off another invasion helped spur the research into Western technology, and greatly boosted the research spent into it. The opening of Japan and the end of isolation would allow many new ideas to flow into Japan for the good of the country. This timeframe would be called "The Modernization Period", or simply put, "The Meiji Restoration".

Edit: For those of you wondering why the Japanese rushed so quickly to get Spain involved, well, The British expanded their demands to take Kansai and the Imperial Capital of Kyoto. Loosing Kyoto would destroy the fabrication of Japanese Society.

​

Also, the terms mentioned above by the British at this peace conference were simply to have Japan become an SoI of the British, end isolation, give special treatment to British merchants, and to appoint Kishiwada (for some reason) to the position of Tairo. Of course that was decline when Spain became involved
-------------------------------

Player Actions Needed: Japan is now in Spain's SoI, and the (not early) Meji Restoration decision has been activated. We now have Imported Ships and Economic Reform enacted, and we can also reform anything else (My suggestion would be to enact International Debt, it gives +35% westernization and can help with taxes, plus you can take out loans).

​

I will give you all two days to get any decree you want passed. Remember though, only one reform proposed shall go into effect.

 

[Nax24]

Spoiler: Screenshots

Clarification: 2nd Army is Tempest's army, 4th Army is Somberg's army, and 5th army is Riccardo's army

 

[Marschalk]

The members of so-called Imperial Restoration Faction are no more than lowly traitors, unworthy of using the name of the Son of Amaterasu, whose cause they claim to champion. The Emperor, who is the father to us all and to whom we are bound by absolute loyatly, has nothing in commin with our Nanban enemies, whose agents the so-called resotrationists have become. Accepting weapons from a barbarian power to kill your Japanese brothers and push forwards your own ambitious designs is something so lowly and so uncommon for people of our tradition that I shudder even to think of that.

- Asano Naritaka, Daimyo of Hiroshima, Representative of the Shogunate at Kyoto

 

[Andre Massena]

Men of Nippon, do you see what has been done? Do you see the results of this Foreign Plot that has entangled Nippon?

The British devils sought to ensnare us in their web of decadence and corruption. They wanted to rape our realm so that they could obtain our resources while spreading their evil ways. Men of the so-called "Self-Strengthening" Faction sought to help these devils (enriching themselves in the process) under the guise of supporting the emperor. When Daimyo Uesugi discovered the beginnings of this Foreign Plot I ordered the destruction of all Nanban influence to save Nippon from destruction and desecration. However, the British Nanban and the Self-Strengthening traitors used our bold actions as a pretext for war so that they could violate Nippon.

A bloody war ensued that almost destroyed us. If the British had their way, we would be their slaves and have to cede resources and land to them. But luckily the discipline and wisdom of the people of Nippon and Shina prevented the red-cheeked devils from completing the Foreign Plot and ensnaring us in their web. Sadly, however, we have still fallen victim to western influences on a smaller scale than the British intended. The Spanish Nanban can now rape our women and gold with impunity. Even more reprehensible is the fact that traitors from Nippon still walk among us!

My fellow Nipponese, it is time to reclaim our home from the designs of barbarians. Throw out the Spanish Nanban and kill all the traitors among us! Save the honor of Nippon, the Shogun, and the Emperor.

-Matsui Hideki

 

[mrlifeless]

Men of Nippon, do you see what has been done? Do you see the results of this Foreign Plot that has entangled Nippon?

The British devils sought to ensnare us in their web of decadence and corruption. They wanted to rape our realm so that they could obtain our resources while spreading their evil ways. Men of the so-called "Self-Strengthening" Faction sought to help these devils (enriching themselves in the process) under the guise of supporting the emperor. When Daimyo Uesugi discovered the beginnings of this Foreign Plot I ordered the destruction of all Nanban influence to save Nippon from destruction and desecration. However, the British Nanban and the Self-Strengthening traitors used our bold actions as a pretext for war so that they could violate Nippon.

A bloody war ensued that almost destroyed us. If the British had their way, we would be their slaves and have to cede resources and land to them. But luckily the discipline and wisdom of the people of Nippon and Shina prevented the red-cheeked devils from completing the Foreign Plot and ensnaring us in their web. Sadly, however, we have still fallen victim to western influences on a smaller scale than the British intended. The Spanish Nanban can now rape our women and gold with impunity. Even more reprehensible is the fact that traitors from Nippon still walk among us!

My fellow Nipponese, it is time to reclaim our home from the designs of barbarians. Throw out the Spanish Nanban and kill all the traitors among us! Save the honor of Nippon, the Shogun, and the Emperor.

-Matsui Hideki

It was your rash and exaggerated view that brought the Nanban upon us, you are the cause of all that you mentioned, it is you and the scum of the “Unity and Honour” faction, who in fact stand for division, that brought the British and Spanish to are shores. You have brought this upon us with your mindless arrests that are nothing more the a manifestation of your fear, as you did not bring a singal thought to what your actions might bring.

In this time of great danger to Nippon we need Self-Strengthening more then ever, you saw how our men were cut down by the barbarian Turks! thier vicory was not duo to their following of bushido nor for their courage, but becuase they had better wepons. Self-Strengthening is the only way to save Nippon form the Barbarians.

 

[Michaelangelo]

Never have I been so disappointed to be so right. I said that the actions of Daimyo Matsui would have severe consequences, and now look what those actions have wrought. He blames the British and Self-Strengthening Faction for the war, when it was his order to execute Nanban merchants that sparked the whole conflict to begin with. If we had continued on our path of slow modernization, we could have reached a point where we could actually fend off the Nanban. Now we have been humbled and shown just how weak we are in comparison. Thanks to this fool, we have been violated by the Nanban. I am only grateful that Tairo had the wisdom to seek out the Spanish to aid us. Granting them privileged access is a small price to pay compared to the fate that awaited us if the British had won their war. It is a painful burden to bear, knowing we have been forced down a path we should have been able to take freely because of the actions of one man. I beseech the Tairo, Shogun, and Emperor to ensure this madman Daimyo Matsui is never allowed to cause such chaos again.

Seeing as we are now facing a financial crisis brought on by this war, we must take measures to stabilize our economy. The Spanish have already provided us with knowledge of their banking system, but perhaps they can share more. If we must open Nippon to them, we may as well benefit as much as we can from our new relationship. I have heard rumours of a system of International Debt which could be of use. It could help alleviate our financial burden while we recover from our war with Britain. I suggest we adopt such a strategy.

- Daimyo Ito Katashi of Miyazaki

 

[LordTempest]

Fellow Lords, I have but one act to propose to you this day:

I hereby request that Hideki Matsui be executed for high treason. His reckless stupidity has cost the lives of thousands of Japanese, many of whom were my subordinates, and has irrevocably embarrassed the people and nation of Japan. Should Satake fail to order this execution, then I will personally hold him responsible for the idiocy of his subordinate.

-- Hosokawa-dono, Lord of Higo and Roju of Kyushu.

 

[Davout]

Only a fool goes to battle whilst his katana is still in the forge.

My Lord Matsui has brought shame and dishonour upon his family and the Emperor through his rash actions, knowingly inciting a war before our armies were ready. He has cared not that my province suffered under the Gaijin's fire but sought to blame others for his own errors. He is clearly not fit to serve the Emperor any more.

I agree with my Lord Hosokawa that Lord Matsui pay the price for his folly. My only addendum is that Lord Matsui be given the opportunity to commit seppuku to restore his family's honour, and if he refuses that mercy, to be executed for bringing disaster upon our people.

I also ask that the Shogun execute justice upon Sakamoto san. Twice he led armies of superior numbers against Gaijin armies in my home province of Nagasaki. Twice he failed ignominiously. To lose once is a tragedy, to lose twice is treason. This samurai does not deserve to serve the Emperor in the field. Sakamoto Naotari must be removed from his position and punished with execution as a warning to others that to fight for the Emperor is to fight to the death.

Yamamoto Hirakuni
Daimyo of Nagasaki

 

[LordTempest]

I respectfully disagree, Lord Yamamoto. Matsui's actions have all the rashness of a dog, and dogs are beneath the conventions beholden by men. His actions have tarnished the reputation of both his superiors in the eyes of Japan, and Japan in the eyes of the world and are beyond repair, he deserves no such face-saving luxury.

-- Hosokawa-dono, Lord of Higo and Roju of Kyushu.

 

[LoggingOut]

It happens what I have predicted: we have been defetead! Our nation, our emperor, our people. I want the westernize not for kill our traditions but to preserve them and to defend Nippon from another invasion. We must rise from the ashes. We will not suffer another umiliation like that. Our enemies will fear us. I will wrote another reform because I love my country and I want the best for it. Long live the Emperor and long live his Empire!

-- Takeshi Ohba, Daimyo of Yamagata

 

[LoggingOut]

Any of you gentlemen want to help me to write an International Debt Act?

 

[LordTempest]

((Yeah, for starters, don't call it that. We're passing this act to finance reconstruction and the build up of our armed forces in the face of foreign aggression, not because we want to wind up like Greece!))

 

[LoggingOut]

((Yeah, for starters, don't call it that. We're passing this act to finance reconstruction and the build up of our armed forces in the face of foreign aggression, not because we want to wind up like Greece!))

((It was a provisorial name: of course I don't want to give a trivial name to an important reform but I think that now the content is more important than the title.))

 

[LordTempest]

((Private - all Kyushu Daimyo))

Great Men of Kyushu,

I, like the rest of you, mourn for the loss of our brave fellows who fought and died in a meaningless war we could not hope to win. As the Lord of Nagasaki says, only a fool goes to war when one's katana is left in the forge. This war has wreaked great devastation on our province, while the rest of Japan remains for the most part unscathed. We did not want this war; we did not cause this war; the Lord of Miyazaki even took the brave, sensible yet utterly futile step of warning the baka Matsui of the consequences of war, at great risk to his own life. Alas, one cannot reason with dogs and fools. This war, and the destruction and humiliation it has disproportionately caused us, was forced upon us by forces oblivious to our needs and concerns: it was started by the idiocy of a single man, who is from Kansai, who was appointed by a man from Tohoku; neither of whom were endorsed by the great men of Kyushu. Indeed, in the three terms Lord Satake has served as Tairo, he has only once saw fit to appoint a Kyushu Lord as a Shogunal advisor; a weak, decrepit old man who was unanimously rejected by the other Lords of Kyushu and whom no longer takes part in national affairs. This has been a predominately Northern regime run by northerners and for the benefit of northerners; the so-called "regionalism" of the Raijin Alliance is in practice nothing more than "regionalism for the north, centralisation for everyone else."

It is clear that simply petitioning the Shogun and his poisonous advisors as we have done for the past fifteen years is no longer an option. Must we have to fend off a second foreign invasion on our own due to Northern incompetence while the Shogun's toxic northern advisors wait out the conflict in their plush mountainous castles? No, I say! The concerns and needs of Kyushu must be heard, for the nation's sake, as well as our own! I therefore humbly propose that we set up our own bloc, a Fujin League, if you will, dedicated to countering the toxic influence which pollutes our Shogun and Emperor, and to the modernisation of our nation, for the benefit of Kyushu and indeed of all Japan.

I formally invite all of you to Kumamoto castle to discuss this initiative further.

-- Hosokawa-dono, Lord of Higo and Roju of Kyushu

 

[LordTempest]

((It was a provisorial name: of course I don't want to give a trivial name to an important reform but I think that now the content is more important than the title.))

The National Revitalisation Act

The National Revitalisation Act seeks to redress both the massive destruction wreaked upon our lands by the recent British invasion and the humiliating state of our armed forces which the aforementioned conflict has stripped bare for all the world to see. This act seeks to provide the government of Japan with the means and credit necessary to fund reconstruction efforts and the modernisation of her army and navy by borrowing money from other nations on the world market.

((Enact reform: International Debt))