Pretend that you are a resident in Japan and imagine what would happen if a dynastic state wants to be turned into a different political system. Thanks to a recent proposal issued by some of my prefectural rulers, for the first time it is your chance to vote which leader you want to see when they take the Chrysanthemum throne for next year. All you have to do is make a post stating the leader's name you want to vote for, and then your opinion on why you chose him or her. You can only vote once. This thread has been modified by me to make it that elections now use regions to determine votes instead of prefectures; the number of candidates has been significantly lowered from 47 to 16. This meant that two candidates initially duke it out against each other for their starting region, then progress onward to outvote other regions to get a five to three majority rather than highest number of prefectures. If a tie occurs, then the swing prefecture will be chosen randomly for the runoff session with an extended deadline. Edit 4: Re-purposed the thread's title to make it possible for prefectural elections to run annually.

Ooh, this could be fun! Do ya need any help with crafting the candidates? I'm pretty fluent when it comes to politics. ^^

Backlash wrote: Ooh, this could be fun! Do ya need any help with crafting the candidates? I'm pretty fluent when it comes to politics. ^^ I got all the leaders now, no worries. <3

( The following is a selection of excerpts from Akahata , official newspaper of the Lucian Democratic Socialist Party. ) [size=large][size=x-large]Jana Announces Coalition with Social Nationalists[/size][/size] [size=medium]Joint rally with Kumi (Saga) draws crowd of thousands.[/size] [size=x-small]Posted: 7:16 AM, September XX, 20XX[/size] Several hours prior to this writing, Hibiki Jana (Tokushima, Socialists - Militarists) held a large joint-rally with Saori Kumi of Saga (Conservatives - Social Nationalists). The announcement of the unlikely coalition between their sub-parties has surprised many representatives in other blocs, and comes hot on the heels of Jana's official secession from the Liberal power bloc. ... "The Liberals, as well as some of Miss Kumi's allies in the Conservative bloc, paint us as barbarians that would willingly bend over backwards for Pravda and North America. Do not believe these lies. Indeed, I'd reckon we could find a great deal of common ground." Jana spoke to a crowd of nearly seven-thousand, " ... But should not the workers who work in the mill, be the ones who run the mill? ... Should not the teachers, who dedicate their entire lives to educating our children, be in charge of the schools? ... Leaders are a necessity, but to this end we believe in democratic workplaces, where workers may elect their boss." In that same speech, Jana went on to reiterate her dedication to fostering an armed populace, and warned the attendees: "Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered. Any attempt to disarm the proletariat must be frustrated; by force, if necessary." ... Jana also won significant acclaim for her scalding criticism of the Liberals, whose attempts at land and welfare reform she called "limp-wristed" and "futile" against a parliament overrun by lobbyists. ... Though the rally incurred a volley of criticism from her fellow Conservatives, polls as of this writing show Kumi's voterbase as rather favorable towards the new coalition. Saga, like many provinces south of Kanto, was largely neglected in favor of the north due to Japan's mobilization against Pravda. In turn, their distance spared much of the south from that country's strategic bombing raids conducted late in the war. ... The decision has also caught some flak from her fellow leftists, who argue that protectionism is not in the best interests of a socialist Japan. Jana has deflected these criticisms, stating that "we will have plenty of time to vilify each other once our common enemies are defeated."

A few days ago, Lucia Konohana of her home prefecture Osaka, had suddenly removed herself from the Imperial Palace as a result of a very violent overthrow attempt that took place between the 14th and 20th of August. At that time, about roughly one-third of her entire population across the country were mistreated by her state police along with her provincial guards, classifying as “brutal” and “an unforgivable demonstration of authority.” However, when Genji quickly assumed the throne, and Pravda having ignored the peace treaty formed by Konohana a month ago, she did not hesitate to mobilize the nation’s ground forces, particularly in Hokkaido where the troops were already stationed near Pravda’s two closest islands. The exact details of Pravda’s advances against Japan are as of yet unknown to the public. Shortly after Genji announced that Pravda joined forces with North America, she left the country for Germany to meet up with an old friend of hers, which unfortunately causes her citizens concern that she could be killed overseas by her enemies. Nonetheless, this proves to be an opportunity for Konohana to ascend to the throne once more and to do the right thing this time, but first, she must win the trust of her nation’s people. Konohana then makes her first move to neighboring Kyoto on the first day of the race to secure a foothold under the Royalists party. “My people have been hurt, pushed around, and left to submission for too long, but one day I will restore order in my name, and I’ll let my rivals know I am not to be feared.” Konohana vows herself to win the race. As day turns to night, several hundred thousand people show up in the city of Kyoto awaiting her speech. She brought along three trustworthy guards: Kan’u Unchou, Ryuubi, and Bachou Mouki to protect her at all times. They were the same three loyal girls used in the April 6th incident, and were the same three who barely manage to protect her from a short-lived crisis that occurred fifteen years ago right before she became an empress, which failed spectacularly, and since then, she retain her class representative status. Now, as a running leader for her home province, she wants to become an empress she waited for so long. Her three guards stand beside her unobstructed from her peripheral view with their weapons sheathed, but highly alert, unmoving, and lips closed tight. Some of the local prefectural police already set up barricades watching for any signs of civil unrest. “Citizens of the heartland of Japan, I welcome you all in this important rally. I, Lucia Konohana, hereby state that it is time to rise up under the royal velvet banner and show us your will to support my ascension to the Imperial Palace as a rightful supreme leader.” Konohana then states her purpose in participating the race, as the large crowd briefly cheered and then silence. “Dear citizens, the sun shall forever enlighten us as we continue to pour in our fullest might toward our opposition, whilst working together with our sovereign allies of Germany and Italy to crush our foes. The superiority we always have as Imperialists, shall not fade away from the catalyst that nearly caused my downfall a long time ago, without provocation, came to the fore as a warmongering force against us as a whole. We will take action to the maximum extent under per jurisdiction that we will continue to endure the harsh reality without any pretense; we will send an avalanche of movement never seen in today’s world against the very opposition that as I just said, the catalyst that nearly caused my downfall.” Konohana then gives out the details about what she’ll do if she becomes the first Empress of Japan. “Under imperial law, on a case-by-case basis per jurisdiction at the time I will become an elected empress, no one will come in or out of the nation unless they have proper preparations and fully written, substantive information on their persons fully inspected by law enforcement on our airports and seaports. The media will be run by the state and heavily controlled by the government. Our streets, our seas, and property will be environmentally regulated and well maintained by law, there will be stiff taxes on corporations, high tariffs, and zero tolerance policy on all common substances. And lastly, we will be much safer with domestic security in this land, our waters, and our airspace by voluntarily offering the citizenry a chance for self-protection by lending in a fair share of our latest weaponry when they reach the age of fourteen.” And lastly, Konohana gives out her final words about the current condition of the war. “Our enemies will be pushed back, we will strive tirelessly to push them back, we will not give away this land, our waters, and our skies to any foreign superpower, nor to any foreign party who wishes to take away our way of life, and we ensure our forces to strike mercilessly into our opposition outside of our borders. Their reckless actions transpired on their own deaf ears, and their rhetoric as foreboding and hostile, and we will teach them a lesson the hard way. Thank you for your cooperation, and good night.” Konohana and her three guards then walk away as the audience cheers loudly and the camera zooms out to show the whole city of Kyoto. As of midday EST today, the polls indicate the Conservative Party has just overwhelmingly lost their swing prefecture Kyoto to the Royalists Party without incident. Sakuma is out of the election within the first day.

The following status updates as of 09:00 on Sept 11: Jana of Tokushima has switched political parties from Liberals to Conservatives. The swing prefecture Kyoto owned by the Conservatives was overtaken by the Royalists. Konohana of Osaka is now leading the election by a few hundred-thousand votes and has two prefectures. A drastic change in weather patterns across Japan has forced some leaders to change outfits. Sakuma is eliminated from the election, bringing the number of potential candidates down to 46.

[size=large][size=x-large]Labor Protests Turn Deadly as Police Fire Upon Demonstrators[/size][/size] [size=medium]Nishiniigata Central Hospital confirms at least fifty dead, several thousand wounded.[/size] [size=x-small]Posted: 8:16 AM, September XX, 20XX[/size] [size=x-small][size=small]Above: Unarmed demonstrators panic as police charge them with pistols and rifles.[/size][/size] Tragedy struck yesterday afternoon when Niigata's prefectural police opened fire upon The Peoples' March for Universal Healthcare and Employment, a populist leftist movement that had set up camp before Rep. Uesugi's (Minarchists, Hoppeans) gubernatorial mansion. ... The group was largely comprised of war veterans and families from the prefecture's bombed-out cities. Several members were armed with rifles and sub-machine guns, presumably to serve as peacekeepers. Eyewitness accounts report some of these peacekeepers returned fire against the police, but most fled into the forests surrounding the mansion. ... Niigata, like many municipalities throughout northern Honshu and Hokkaido, saw considerable military buildup in preparation for a Pravdan invasion of the Home Islands. When it became apparent that the invasion would not arrive, excess equipment such as rifles and tank-outfits soon found their way into the hands of prefectural police departments. Photos depict several Type-97 Chi-Ha tanks assisting police in dispersing the demonstrators. ... Spirit-weapons such as the Type-97, while incredibly powerful in comparison to conventional arms, have the natural effect of attuning the wielder to the consensus of their people. During an interview several weeks prior, one soldier remarked that the recent political unrest had made her "quite uneasy". ... As of this writing, the demonstrators' camp is occupied by police forces. Those who could not flee have been given twenty-four hours to vacate the premises, and the majority of the shelters have been looted and demolished. ... Approximately two weeks ago, mere days prior to her secession from the Liberals, Representative Hibiki Jana visited the site to rally the demonstrators and commend their spirit. She has since condemned the actions of Niigata's police as an "unforgivable breach of the peoples' rights" , and "a clear demonstration of Capitalist morality." ... "Scratch a Minarchist, and a Fascist bleeds," quipped Jana during a speech, "Capitalism is inherently authoritarian; in a sense, Minarchists are little different than the Royalist-Statists. Businesses have their dynasties and internal politics, and more often than not, advancements in station are earned through personal favors rather than any manner of meritorcracy. But rather than serving towards some nebulous, ever-changing 'good of the nation', the greatest possible virtue to a Minarchist (and indeed, all Capitalists) is the accumulation of personal wealth." ... "When this wealth-making apparatus is put under pressure, when the people begin waking up to the explotation inherent in the system, the Capitalist class has always projected their control over media outlets to allay the peoples' anger. When that fails they resort to force, which is precisely what we saw in Niigata earlier today." ... Representative Haruka Arinori (Okinawa, Socialists-Libertarian Socialists), a staunch ally of Jana, has also made strong remarks regarding the incident. ... Following unprecedented popular backlash, Representative Kumi has explicated her intent to resign from office as prefectural governor. A council of aides has taken up temporary rule, but preliminary polls show Socialist Akko Fujimoto as her likely replacement in tomorrow's snap-election. The reputation of the Minarchists has been severely damaged throughout Northern Japan. Representative Uesugi has been removed from the race. We ask that her name and portrait be kept on the roster for posterity's sake. Several days prior, Okinawa announced its complete solidarity with Jana's breakaway coalition, netting her a valuable addition to her independent power bloc. For reference's sake, the complete roster of the Socialist faction has been presented below. [spoiler] Socialists (Actual Leftists) Hibiki Jana - Tokushima - Militarists Haruka Arinori - Okinawa - Libertarian Socialists Saori Kumi - Saga - Social Nationalists Akko Fujimoto - Niigata - Democratic Socialists [/spoiler]

As tensions between the Lucians and Pravda are nearing full-scale escalation, Konohana called in on some of her fellow Royalists with firm pressure to give further support to the Imperial cause, whilst she prepares for her next move by traveling to Hyogo. One of the former Capitalist leaders named Yukimura of Tottori with her deep, soft voice appear to be defecting to Konohana's antics, and she agreed to set off for Shimane and its islands overseeing an opportunity to take it away from the Liberals for the Royalists. It went smoothly in fair weather there. Whereas Miyabi of Miyagi with a more narrow-minded, strict regimen approach went to Iwate with a military parade and a very risky speech in the middle of Morioka’s downtown streets on a chilly, rainy afternoon. Konohana decided to keep her cool and head for Hyogo. Some residents within the prefecture are getting uneasy of her presence, expressing their disdain of her, but nonetheless she presses onward to Kobe to start her next speech, again with her three guards watching for any dissent: “We are here to give you a bit of a history lesson and you should learn this thoroughly. We have been here for about as long as our ancestors were here before us. Before we became Lucians, we were something else, particularly in Asia Minor where we are split into many similar names and then at some point in time we merge into one and form a legitimate reign. Now as of today, we want a permanent residence here in Japan, but only if I come to being as the one true leader, and there can only be one, so to speak.” “We only want our enemies out of our lands and our seas, whenever there’s evil out there somewhere, there’s always a counter force readying to act on, and we are that counter force. In response to the many atrocities and injustices I have seen in many years as a class representative, this nation like Japan that has experienced the same burden as I have will one day be no more, and I make it clear we do not want any outsider and insider evil forces interfering in our way of life. That means no more outside and inside evil forces within our soil!” “The domestic reign of silent terror will be over when it’s time, but exactly how I’ll handle the situation is up to the nation’s future administration once I take the throne. There hasn’t been a time like this in Japan when backdoor schemes and the like becomes the norm, and I don’t like it, I fully condemn them as “brazen riggers” and “anti-Imperialist sympathizers”, and they shall be investigated, punished, prosecuted, and sanctioned.” The following leaders have been eliminated and/or replaced, along with some status updates as of 11:00 Sept 12: Maemi of Shimane, Izo of Iwate, and Kobe of Hyogo are eliminated from the race. There was a bit of a verbal uproar within the confines of Kobe and Morioka due to split opinions and disdain for Konohana and Miyabi, but eventually within hours, the Royalists secured a firm hold on these prefectures. Konohana is still in the lead with three, and is now on Jana’s doorstep via the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. Yukimura and Miyabi are closing on the gap with two. Yukimura has defected from the Capitalists to the Royalists Party. The number of potential candidates in this race is down from 46 to 43. State media newspapers and officials just confirmed a replaced leader from Niigata prefecture named Fujimoto, and Kumi of Saga pledging to resign from office sometime later this month. Due to current national laws handling censorship under Genji's administration, we censored only one image due to ‘depictions of violence with state police' in state media newspapers. Niigata is now under control of the Liberals, whereas Shimane, Hyogo and Iwate are overtaken by the Royalists.

As time passes, some leaders' expressions have changed accordingly (a smiling, blushing face means they're winning or confident, a neutral face means they're so-so, whereas a sad or angry face means they're either losing or in danger of elimination), just to let you readers know. Edit: As of 14:30 on Sept 15, Japan is about to experience Typhoon Talim. Her name is a shout-out to a Soul Calibur character well known for her graceful movements, and mostly having a kind voice, but in nature she's a storm.

[size=large][size=x-large]Jana Consolidates Grip on Shikoku[/size][/size] [size=medium]As the entire island becomes a stronghold for the Socialists, Royalist Ai Kanbayashi officiates her change in allegiance.[/size] [size=x-small]Posted: 7:41 AM, September XX, 20XX[/size] NOTE: This news article has been autosummarized by a bot. For the full text, please visit Akahata's official website. Several ten-thousands gathered in the central city of Kochi earlier today as Rep. Hibiki Jana (Socialists, Militarists) held a joint rally with the other prefectural representatives from across the island. Accompanying her were her old university classmate Hitomi Himi (Socialists, Militarists), Sumire Kishi (Socialists, Militarists), the governor of Kochi, and most surprisingly of all Ai Kanbayashi (Socialists, Strasserists), the prefectural governor of Ehime. This comes soon after her conversion of Saori Kumi from Saga, who has since aligned herself with the Social Nationalists and recently recruited Rep. Junko Mino of neighboring Fukuoka. One possible explanation is the lack of industrial development in the densely-populated province. As the Zaibatsus found cheap, disposable labor overseas in poor countries, millions within the prefecture were left without jobs. On the other hand, Jana's planned economy eschews this practice and pursues full employment. The speeches also elaborated considerably on Jana's aim for a planned economy. She began by laying out the core Socialist principles of increasing productivity by employing the most amount of people possible, while simultaneously reducing the length of the workday as much as possible. Individuals would be paid not a fraction of how much money they make for the Capitalist class, but rather in vouchers representing the true value of their day's labor (excepting a small amount for the communal and federal fund.) This means that for one hour's work in the mill, a laborer may exchange his voucher for goods that took one hour's labor to produce. Jana's proposal also beholds human labor as the only commodity in domestic economics. This has the neat effect of eliminating the exploitative and unproductive financial sector. [size=small]Above: The control room of Project Cybersyn, an advanced central planning system developed in Allende's Chile.[/size] Rep. Akko Fujimoto (Democratic Socialists), the new governor of Niigata, also took the opportunity to cite the successes of central planning in industrializing the USSR, a remark which had particular effect on the audience hailing from Ehime. She further went on to point out Project Cybersyn, a functional example of the computerized planning system proposed by Jana. Jana and company spared a few choice words about the Royalists' animosity towards Pravda. However, the sudden and unexpected approach of Typhoon Talim saw them urging citizens to put aside their differences for a few days. She expressed her willingness to collaborate with the Royalists in handing out food and ensuring shelter for those most likely to be afflicted by the cyclone. Rep. Haruka Arinori had also planned to be in attendance, but canceled in order to see Okinawa through the hurricane. [spoiler title="Socialists (Actual Leftists)"] Hibiki Jana - Tokushima - Militarists Haruka Arinori - Okinawa - Libertarian Socialists Saori Kumi - Saga - Social Nationalists Akko Fujimoto - Niigata - Democratic Socialists Sumire Kishi - Kochi - Militarists Hitomi Himi - Kagawa - Militarists Junko Mino - Fukuoka - Social Nationalists Ai Kanbayashi - Ehime - Strasserists [/spoiler] ~***~ [size=large][size=x-large]Pravda Gears Up for War![/size][/size] [size=medium]Forces amass near Vladivostok in preparation for next major conflict.[/size] [size=x-small]Posted: 9:31 AM, September XX, 20XX[/size] Last night at approximately eleven o'clock Japan Standard Time, Comrade Premier Katyusha surprised many with her declaration of Pravda's readiness to continue the Second Pacific War if need be. This announcement comes hot on the heels of the unofficial North American ceasefire, and has been accompanied by massive troop movements via the Trans-Siberian Railroad. ... "Our allies are battered, our own lands sacked and pillaged by the fascists in the west," spoke Katyusha on national television, "But even as we enjoy our hard-earned hour of victory, we cannot relent! An old enemy beats her chest and hollers for revenge: Japan watches us hungrily, eager to sink its fangs into our vulnerable eastern lands!" ... Comrade Katyusha, of course, makes reference to several small skirmishes fought in previous years against the Lucian Empire, the most recent of which being the undeclared border conflict in the hills of Khalkhin Gol. [size=small]Above: Lucian infantrymen during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol. The burning building in the distance was once a Pravdan ammo dump.[/size] ... Pravda saw limited participation in the Pacific War due to its commitments against Lieseltania and the Central Powers. However, the Kamchatka Fleet played a vital role in disrupting Lucian supply lines and arresting Japan's hopes for a land invasion of Hawai'i. ... https://panzerwaltz.gamepedia.com/media/panzerwaltz.gamepedia.com/4/41/T-34M_full.png [/img] https://panzerwaltz.gamepedia.com/media/panzerwaltz.gamepedia.com/b/b9/IS-1_full.png [/img] [size=small]Above: Pravdan soldiers wearing the T-34 and IS-1 "Iosif Stalin" tank-outfits.[/size] ... Though Admiral Gangut (Гангут) was unable to be reached for comment, Akahata acquired some choice opinions from Verniy (Верный), the only fleet girl known to have (successfully) defected to a foreign power. "Morale is high, but opinions are mixed." the destroyer spoke candidly, "Many are fatigued veterans of the war with Lieseltania, packed in a railroad car and hastily shipped across the taiga. More still are fresh recruits angered by Lucia's treatment of their fellow leftists." Here she paused to take another sip of her hot chocolate. The wind was picking up, and a flurry of snow against our faces coaxed us behind a cargo container. "... My take? At first I'd wanted nothing to do with it, but now I can't help but wonder at the possibilities. The fighting would be brutal; and they'd likely commit every man, woman, child, fleet girl, and humanoid tank to the ultimate defense of my home islands; but if we succeeded - and we would succeed without a doubt - perhaps there's slim chance I'll see my sisters again." Another sip from her hot chocolate. As she took in a deep, slow breath, the destroyer cast her lustrous silver eyes off into the mist. "Inazuma, Ikazuchi, Akatsuki-neesan. If you're watching, your sister is very happy here, but she misses you dearly. Wherever you are, I hope you're all taking care of yourselves."

LucianDreamer wrote: ... and Kumi of Saga pledging to resign from office sometime later this month. Please don't take Kumi from me. She is adorable and I do not wish to see her removed from the race. <3 Also, Talim was a total cutie back in SCIV. You have no idea how disappointed I was to see her absent from V.

[CLOSED] Prefectural Elections Thread

LucianDreamer

In case if you are not aware of the major status updates, we now have only three days before the election ends, unless it is a tie for the pole position.

As of Oct. 3, the following status updates have taken effect:

Honda has retaken Saitama, and then she proceeded to take away Tochigi and Ibaraki.
Mayako is still in the lead with 9 prefectures, she is now closing in on Kyoto. Tengan is in second place with 7, Konohana, Yukimura, and Honda are tying for third place with 5.
Tengan is now in full control of Kyushu.
Shikoku is lost to the Royalists, kicking Jana out of the election, replacing with Remilia as the new leader. Konohana and Hironaka in mutual agreement gave away some of their territories to her. Gensokyo is now recognized on the map, with Remilia assuming total authority in that area.
Neru has taken out Teika and Fujimoto and has claimed both Yamagata and Niigata for herself. She takes back her prefecture; she is now the new leader representing Akita under the Royalists.
The Yukimuran Empire is formed with only five prefectures and three small islands by Yukimura, whereas the Mayakan Republic is formed by Mayako with 9 prefectures under her control.
There are only three Liberals, two Conservatives, a lone Minarchist, and nine Royalists remaining in the roster, totaling 15 candidates.
Having ignored the numerous warnings the Empress has given to the bipartisan alliance over a week or so, Genji has authorized the use of the state police to patrol all major cities within the country for the remainder of the elections.

Backlash

< OOC: My apologies for dropping off the face of earth, but my health has been truly awful lately. It's become difficult just to keep up with my schoolwork, much less any manner of creative writing.

I'll do my best to write at least one more article before time's up. >

LucianDreamer

We still got about around 36 hours remaining.

Backlash

< OOC: I coulda sworn this was on till the 9th, guess I musta misread. Ah well, no worries.

This ain't my best writing, but it should help us wrap things up right. ^^ >

[size=large][size=x-large]Royalists and Conservatives Rally Behind Lucia Konohana![/size][/size]
[size=medium]Authoritarians of all stripes clamor for the return of their old empress.[/size]
[size=x-small]Posted: 9:14 AM, October XX, 20XX[/size]

Serious fracas ensued across the Home Islands today, when Representatives Keiko Tengan (Conservatives, Nationalists) and Konomi Mayako (Conservatives, Fiscal Conservatives) conceded their political domains to Lucia Konohana (Royalist-Statists, Imperialists). This appointment, which oversteps any sort of due process, has invited the wrath of the zaibatsu corporations, who fear Konohana's promise of stiff taxes.

Along with this came the simultaneous announcement of a coalition between many remaining Royalists, all in favor of the former Empress.

...

"Our people long for a strong leader," spoke Rep. Miyabi in a public address, "But furthermore we crave a return to more peaceful times. ... A shining future in an -authentic- Japan, helmed by none other than our most august Empress."

However, this praise has not been unanimous. As her last-ditch attempt to secure the throne, Rep. Nanako Yukimura has found a strange bedfellow in Honda to the east. Meanwhile @[deleted] Scarlet (Shikoku) has been ambivalent towards the display, mentioning that she could "Walk in and take [the throne] whenever she saw fit."

As usual, the Socialists have been quick to offer their own makes of scalding criticism. Rep. Hibiki Jana, who earlier today returned to her station as Governor of Tokushima, had this to say:

"'Strong leaders, peaceful times.' This reads like a propaganda piece. ... Comrades, while I strongly condemn Lucia Konohana and every one of her newfound allies, I cannot say it was unforeseen. The proletariat is conscious - our early victories are proof enough of that - but their rulers are frightened, scared of the future that may lay ahead. They seek to concede not only their responsibilities, but their freedoms along with! All whilst clinging to the foolhardy belief that their life's problems may be solved through a return to traditional values."

...

"Economics would have been the only viable route. Whereas as your Governor I have always championed liberty and the embracing of the human spirit, the Royalist-Statists call for its suppression. And while the pragmatic portion of my character must commend Konohana's adherence to nationalization and high taxes, make no mistake: This is no proletarian revolution. If anything, it is a revolution of the middle class."

~***~

[size=large][size=x-large]Breaking: Haruka Arinori Declares Independence from Mainland![/size][/size]
[size=medium]The southernmost islands of the Kagoshima Prefecture have also joined the independence movement.[/size]
[size=x-small]Posted: 9:51 PM, October XX, 20XX[/size]

In a bold and highly unprecedented political maneuver, Representative Haruka Arinori (Socialists, Libertarian Socialists) has declared full independence from the Japanese mainland. In the wake of the Okinawa Prefecture, she has announced the foundation of a "Revolutionary Republic of the Ryukyu Islands".

...

[size=small]Above: Members of the Hard Hat Army listen to Arinori's declaration. Their elation is tempered by fatigue from the last of the rebuilding efforts.[/size]

Arinori's independence claim is legitimized by the relevant referendum held one year prior. As of this writing, tens of thousands of thousands of newly-minted Okinawan citizens have taken to the streets in celebration, waving both historical flags and the previously-proposed banners from the 2016 referendum.

...

"Okinawa has always stood apart from the Japanese. Though they have denied it for centuries, we posses our own language, our own culture! Thus it is with great prestige that today, we celebrate an historic occasion for our peoples."

...

"As your new President, I shall not lull you into complacency with honeyed words. Rather, I say we embrace the trials ahead! For through our struggles we shall create a shining future for all of Okinawa's peoples; Ryukyu, and otherwise."

...

UPDATE: Approximately six hours after the writing of this article, North America has declared its recognition of the new state in Okinawa. Eyewitness reports claim several American fleet girls making full steam for the Islands, including the battleship West Virginia and the aircraft carrier NAS Langley, as well as a squadron of Abyssal I-class destroyers.

Loading Image
[size=small]Above: The North American Battleship West Virginia. (File photo.)[/size]

Akahata will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds.

~***~

Many events have occurred within the past twenty-four hours. Akahata sums them up as follows:

Arinori has declared independence from Japan, founding a new Socialist state on Okinawa and the surrounding isles. Its waters will soon be guarded by North American and Abyssal naval assets.
Almost all of the Royalists have rallied behind Konohana, along with Tengan and Mayako. This gives her control over the vast majority of Honshu.
Remilia has maintained her independence, as have Yukimura and Honda.
Hagiwara is one of the few Royalists that have abstained from the coalition. She will remain that way till taken by force, or until Konohana guarantees the proper treatment of the Ainu. It is worth mentioning that Hagiwara is half-Ainu herself.
Homura and Azuma, the two remaining Liberals, have opted to abstain from the election.
As for everyone knocked out of the race, almost all of them have returned to their positions as Prefectural Governors.

LucianDreamer

[size=x-large]Martial Law in Japan, State in Full Control of Everything![/size]
[size=x-large][size=large]Prefectural Elections reaches peak tensions as two governors begin post-election rallies![/size][/size]
[size=x-large][size=large][size=small]Posted: 10:00AM October 6, 2XXX[/size][/size][/size]

https://a.pomfe.co/oazmevf.jpg[/img]

[size=small]Above: JSDF tanks patrolling a closed off Japanese city.[/size]

Genji: "I tire of your insolent wishes to remove us from this land, and this... is all your fault. To any who read this, we are no longer feeling safe roaming freely within our peaceful country. The cities, the villages, the mountains, and all who dwell outside of our mainland, there's emptiness. In every campus you see, students going about their daily lives fully loaded, yet hidden behind ourselves readying to pull out at any moment they mess with us. Not even a single acre of this land is truly safe from what's going to happen for the tens of millions of us here."

"As you can see, we see the approach of our sworn enemies wanting us gone, and for what reason? We see expansion of your forces encroaching on our very doorsteps, threatening the very existence of the state, and in return you are in fact see this as enemies of the state. In wasting no precious diplomatic words I previously tried since my visit in Geneva, that option was worthless."

"We are through! You brought your very militaristic existence where it isn't warranted, and we will... right here, right now end this by officially declaring alongside our Italy and Germany against the Allied nations. It is our time for revenge! Children of the Rising Sun, we must defend our honor, our heritage, and our traditions! In the name of Amaterasu, this is war!"

https://pomf.pyonpyon.moe/jsopzm.jpg[/img]
[size=small]Above: Japanese Chi-ha Tanks authorized by the Empress hours after declaration speech against Pravdan forces in battle of Hokkaido.[/size]

https://pomf.pyonpyon.moe/hjvjkx.jpg[/img]

[size=small]Above: A lone girl deep within enemy territory able to defend herself against Pravdan infantry and local wildlife.[/size]

https://pomf.pyonpyon.moe/ukrfqk.jpg[/img]

[size=small]Above: In Battle for Stalingrad, a German girl is hiding in the trench just outside the city limits taking a brief rest from fatigue.[/size]

[size=small]https://pomf.pyonpyon.moe/qgckky.jpg[/img][/size]

[size=small]Above: A similar battle, Battle of Vladivostok, three girls from various countries on a special operations mission to capture high-ranking Pravdan officials whilst eliminating enemy troops in this bombed city.[/size]

https://pomf.pyonpyon.moe/riinfw.jpg[/img]

[size=small]Above: Battle of the English Channel begins, some Kriegsmarine ships taking a heavy beating from Roselian Spitfires.[/size]

LucianDreamer

Post-election rallies have just begun, thanks to a tie from two prefectural governors Konohana and Honda having 11 prefectural votes. We will use the swing prefecture Tokyo as a starting point for our final polls. Simply say the leader's name and pick a ward from the map provided here. The one with the most wards will eventually win the whole election.

We have until October 20th as the final deadline.

Konohana - Pink (22)
Gray - Neutral (16)
Other (10)
Honda - Red (5)

LucianDreamer

If I want Konohana to win, she needs at least 27 out of 53 to win. I am rooting for her and Okutama will be her first stop.

Backlash

Here's the shortlist of updates as of 11:59 PM, October 8th:

Honda has launched an aggressive campaign to sweep the election from under Konohana's feet. Her first targets are the Special Wards of Shinjuku and Chiyoda, both major hubs for commercial and financial markets throughout the country. In other words, it's Honda's home-turf.
The wards' denizens, ranging from upper-middle-class to the super-rich, were easily enamored by Honda's promise of weaker governement and the most minimal of taxes. Regardless, this has secured her an early lead against rival Konohana.
In the meantime, Hibiki Jana and many prolific Socialist politicians have coincidentally traveled to the capital for various reasons. Perhaps we'll run into them sometime?

LucianDreamer

Latest status updates of our post-election is here as of 22:00 on Oct 11:

Konohana's efforts have stepped up, her speeches has allowed her to take Ome and Hinode.
The ward votes stand at 3-2.

LucianDreamer

We got one week left!

Backlash

LucianDreamer wrote:
We got one week left!

Guess it's up to us, then! I had a flash of inspiration for a log entry just now, but I'll require some sleep to properly pursue it. In the meantime, here's the shortlist of events as of current. ^^ \

One of Honda's secretaries launched a campaign on Nerima earlier today, banking on its proximity to the city center and its famous animation studios for support. Unfortunately, the ward's denizens are almost exclusively lower-middle-class, who didn't take kindly to Honda's plan to abolish unions, particularly Animators' and Teachers' unions.
The ward has since walled itself off from both candidates. In their stead, the most popular write-in candidate is Hibiki Jana (Tokushima, Socialists - Militarists).
Shibuya, similarly dissatisfied with both candidates, has also written in Hibiki Jana. Despite being knocked out of the race de facto, she's still running de jure and technically remains eligible for the seat of Empress.
On the flipside, Honda successfully acquired Chuo and Minato in a series of aggressive propaganda campaigns and at least one buyout of a minor automobile firm. She has denied all allegations of bribery.

As of this report, Honda has secured four districts within Tokyo, edging out Konohana's three.
Luckily for Konohana, the Special Ward of Bunkyo has erupted into a hotbed of debate between its many national and private universities. A timely visit just might win over an uncertain populace.
Both candidates continue to face face stiff opposition from Socialist sympathizers in the more modest central districts.

LucianDreamer

Konohana has laid out the plans for a future empire to many wards along her path to the Special Wards, and her speeches worked like a charm. Yet she still has to hurry up, because she does not want to lose her place against a lone Capitalist trying to defend her prefecture. Genji approved the move, but she's still concerned about Okinawa and she wants it back. She gives out a stern warning to Okinawa's representatives:

Genji: "Your recent secession is an affront to our progress, and I demand that I want the archipelago handed over to the Japanese people. Your very strong, monstrous fleet and allies may have crippled us of our finest resources, but we will NEVER back down anytime soon, not even your biggest arsenal can make us surrender! We will put all ourselves to the forefront and push you back out to where you came from! We will definitely amp up our ante by sending everything we throw at you by the hundreds of ships, the tens of thousands of planes, and the millions of our brave militia to blot out the daylight out of you, thinking you're better than we are, but in fact think again. The Empress has spoken."

Genji then sends out a warning to Pravda as well, regarding the three KanMusu destroyers she wants back: Verniy, Kawakaze, and Fumizuki:

Genji: "Such a misfortune has befallen on our three girls, which is of great concern to me and our empire. In order to operate efficiently as a nation, I strongly warn you that your recent human trafficking exploits behooved me to have you return these three back immediately, or we will reinstate open hostilities. We can't afford to lose any more ships to foreign superpowers for their own purposes."

The missing girls' images scattered around Japan are found here. The amount of yen upon sighting any of these three is undisclosed to the public:

[spoiler]
Verniy was last seen a month ago in Wakkanai Base before she departed from Japan prior to the elections.
https://a.pomf.space/vgosdxitwios.jpg[/img]
Kawakaze was last seen a month ago enjoying one of the festivals in Sapporo moments before her disappearance.

Fumizuki was last seen just a few days ago hanging out with her sister Satsuki prior to her voyage.

[/spoiler]

Due to a boycott in the Bunkyo ward where the state media newspapers originated from, state officials cannot write up articles at the moment. Regardless, we have the latest status updates as of 04:00 on Oct. 15 are as follows:

Konohana has secured so far seven wards, she needs about 20 more to win the post-elections.
Nerima and Shibuya are the only two going for the other candidate, noted by the dark blue stripes and Bunkyo is disputed by the pink-red stripes.

Backlash

[/img]

[size=xx-large][size=large]OFFICIAL DISPATCH[/size][/size]

FROM: Comrade Klara, Minister of the Interior

TO: Genji Konohana, Acting Empress of Japan

Greetings, Miss Konohana. You must forgive my speaking on the behalf of Comrade Nonna, for she is currently occupied securing a trade agreement with the Axis Powers.

I must advise you refrain from idle threats. While I may understand your personal apprehension at losing several fleet girls, I'm afraid the matter's out of my hands. They have found comfortable lives here, Miss Konohana. A fulfilling existence, free from the inhumanity of imperialism, and harmonious with both nature and the community. To extricate them from such a life would be simply inhumane.

I have heard through official channels that at least one destroyer, comrade Verniy, has expressed wishes to visit your country over the holidays, but fears she'll be branded as a traitor and scrapped the moment she sets foot on the dock. Until you can assure us that this is not the case, I cannot in good faith permit her to go.

Good day, Miss Konohana.

Klara

~***~

Here's the latest news on the last phase of prefectural elections:

Owing to the Socialists' diligent efforts to promote class-consciousness, Honda has had a tough time making headway in the city's less-affluent districts. Her only gains this cycle are Shinagawa and Ota, both major commercial centers.
In the meantime however, Nerima's solidarity with her cause has convinced Hibiki Jana to take temporary leave from her post of mayor and travel to Tokyo for one final round of rallies. She's since made major headway in the heavily-suburbanized middle city, with Hino, Setagawa, and Fuchu all exploiting the write-in option.
The debate in Bunkyo continues to rage. Unfortunately for the Socialists, their efforts to sway the student populace has been largely futile there.
Nonetheless, with five districts compared to Honda's six and Konohana's seven, it's clear that they're still a force to be reckoned with during the election.

LucianDreamer

[size=x-large]45th KanMusu Fleet has entered service![/size]
[size=x-large][size=large]Allied Powers felt genuinely scared as the remodeled ships are introduced in show of force drills.[/size][/size]

[size=x-large][size=large][size=small]Above: 4 unofficial new KanMusu girls in a simulated battle in Lake Biwa, supervised by Admiral Houki. They consist of four special destroyers called the Kanagi-class: Kanagi (far left), Sekiguchi (center), Yogi (middle right), and Deguchi (far right).[/size][/size][/size]

[size=x-large][size=large][size=small]Posted: 8:30PM, October 16, 2XXX[/size][/size][/size]

In what would be considered open defiance of restraint orders from the Allies, the Empress has just successfully completed the rearmament program, largely in thanks to the ongoing Carbon Fire project still underway in Kyoto. This brings the total number of Imperial ships from four dozen into the triple-digits, including some unofficial guests making a cameo appearance, along with as many as several ten-thousand planes produced but still sitting in their facilities' hangars waiting to be launched when called on.

In a recent closed-off meeting with the Empress, flagship Yamato and Admiral Houki made their comments praising their new outfits and upgraded compartments:

Yamato (K): "It is very good having me served once again. It looks better than I used to be!"
Houki (K): "This new technology would definitely make our enemies feel very afraid when they see this."

While the majority of the newly commissioned fleet is largely made up of destroyers and cruisers, the latest decked out outfits will surely distinguish them from their normal selves, adding a K with parentheses indicating Kai status, as proof that they achieved maxed out veterancy with modified stats. After having extensive training sessions in Lake Biwa, these ships are confident on taking out the Abyssal Fleet on their own. Yet, they are not going to set sail unless granted permission by the Empress.

In another closed-off meeting between the Empress and one of Pravda's high-ranking officials in Moscow, a trade agreement has been reached and signed for the two parties. Genji also said that the girls she wants back should be a "safe and sound journey back home for evaluation tests before recommission into the service."

As far as the elections are concerned, the Empress made a brief reminder to the whole nation they still have 3 days to vote.

Additional latest status updates as of 20:30 on Oct. 16:

Protests at Bunkyo have subsided after riot police broken up the fights, a win-win for Konohana for her twelfth ward.
After multiple warnings were issued, Genji has shrugged off and has authorized the full use of the newly constructed 45th KanMusu fleet into operation in the dead of night.
As it stands, the ward votes is now 12-6.
Civilian militia is now in the hundreds of thousands and is acting independently to take away wards that voted for Jana.
The Lucian Empire and Pravda has signed a trade agreement in exchange of not attacking for no more than two months. Citizens across Japan who are used to be loyal to Genji for her imperialist beliefs are now becoming untrustworthy of her, putting a dent on her reputation.
The ability to write articles on behalf of the Lucian state media is operational once more.

LucianDreamer

If I'm reading JST (Japan Standard Time) correctly, we still got around 48 hours.

Backlash

< Oh my god, I just realized how badly I'd let time slip away from me. Sorry hon, the past week's been kind of a blur here. Anyhoo, I'll do my best to contribute to the final acts of this simulation. >

Many things are bound to occur in the next forty-eight hours. Akahata's news ticker sums up recent events as follows:

[size=large]DOMESTIC:[/size]

Loading Image
[size=small]Above: Nationalists cause chaos at a Socialist rally in Shinjuku.[/size]

In light of recent violence, the Hard Hat Army has come out in full force to patrol Socialist neighborhoods and dissuade rightists from breaking up rallies. Several clashes have occurred, though miraculously no one has been seriously injured.
While Honda flounders, Jana and company have made aggressive advances towards winning the race. Their western holdings now include Mizuho, Musashi, Tachikawa, Fussa, and Akishima; while their eastern possessions are Musashino, Suginami, Kodaira, and Mitaka.
This brings her current holdings to fourteen (14) prefectures, representing considerable threat to Japan's other militarist populist.

[size=large]INTERNATIONAL:[/size]

In light of Japan's massive military buildup, North America and the Abyssal Fleet has quietly withdrawn from Okinawa and the Ryukyus. Along with them went a convoy of passenger liners carrying the former republic's staff, who following a referendum agreed to set up a government in exile to avoid inevitable escalation.
Nonetheless, Okinawa is still a very diverse prefecture with proclivities towards mutual aid and libertarianism. The new governor has announced her support of Jana in the elections.

[size=small]Above: Pravdan Light Carrier Partiya Lenina, formerly Kalinin.[/size]

Meanwhile, in the Sea of Okhotsk, the Pravdan Navy has just revealed its brand new light carrier to the public. Formerly known as the Kalinin, Partiya Lenina is a converted Kirov-class cruiser with many dual-purpose guns and an armored flight deck. Armed with a compound crossbow and loaded with MiG-15s, she represents the pinnacle of Pravdan carrier design.

LucianDreamer

[size=x-large]Abyssal Fleet is retreating, Empress is pleased with having Okinawa returned to Imperial hands!
[size=medium]45th KanMusu Fleet celebrates their return to their former HQ in Okinawa Prefecture.
[/size][/size]

For weeks, the headquarters where the original 17th KanMusu Fleet used to stage their operations had been taken over by the Independents during the elections and seceded from the Lucian Empire. Now with the completion of rearmament program, and knowing the Allies can't risk full escalation, Okinawa is back to being the 47th prefecture in every atlas textbook, globe, and web searches.

The three destroyers: Verniy, Kawakaze, and Fumizuki have returned safely to Japan for evaluation exams before their recommission, having passed their reviews with satisfactory results.

On the other hand, Pravda's moving force has shifted south from the Sea of Okhotsk into the northern half of the Sea of Japan, thinking they are going to mount a full-scale assault on the mainland. With the 60-day truce in effect, both nations cannot attack each other, as it would be considered a war crime and a breach of international law if neither of them do so.

In the last few hours of the elections, with the other candidate having more wards than Konohana, her civilian militia has made some last-mile protests across most of the eastern half of the prefecture, coupled with her dire speeches praising the big movement and securing the nation's future for the better. Unprecedented in size and sheer volume of words, Konohana is just a few places away from attaining a majority.

To anyone's surprise, Konohana's birthday is fast approaching, so she will have the throne right before Christmas instead of March 5th, to coincide the day of the Emperor. This means her reign will be indefinite and if she wins, Japan will remain in Imperial hands within our lifetimes.

Latest status updates as of 12:00 on Oct. 18 and this will be the last one for now due to time running out:

Konohana is just 5 more wards away from victory.
Verniy, Kawakaze, and Fumizuki have returned to Japan and taken oaths once more under the 45th KanMusu Fleet.
Okinawa is once again a prefecture and no longer a danger to the Lucian Empire.
Pravda's territory is encroaching on Japan's territorial waters, forcing the 45th KanMusu Fleet actively patrolling the coastlines.
Some of Jana's wards have been taken away from Lucia Konohana's civilian militia and her speeches.

Backlash

Here's the latest from Akahata's news ticker:

[size=large]DOMESTIC:[/size]

In a surprising turn of events, Hibiki Jana appears to have strongarmed Honda into a coalition with the Socialists. The last-ditch maneuver has drawn criticism from both parties, who have deemed it the "Unholy Alliance".
Jana, apparently keenly aware of this, has responded as follows,

"Make no mistake, comrades: The capitalist is -not- our friend. However, they -are- the enemy of our enemies, and with such stakes on the table it behooves us to recognize their agency. ... We shall have plenty of time to vilify each other once our common foe is defeated."

With the addition of Honda's holdings downtown, as well as Kurume, Nishi, and Hamura, Jana has acquired eighteen (18) districts for the Socialists.

[size=large]INTERNATIONAL:[/size]

From a timely editorial: "Pravda and Japan maintain a precarious balance of power in Northern East-Asia. On the one hand, they repeatedly bested us at Khalkin Gol, and their political territory forms a natural encirclement around our holdings in Manchuria. On the other, their navy is largely obsolete, and their logistical effort is concentrated entirely upon the Trans-Siberian Railroad, which lays in range of our land artillery. ... Advantage goes to she whom attacks first. However it is doubtful that either party would commit themselves to such a long, costly, and potentially unwinnable conflict."

LucianDreamer

Genji: "It looks like... we have ourselves a winner after all. By tradition, I hereby have all voting stations closed down across the nation immediately. Lucia Konohana, on this very day in the 19th day of the tenth month, year 2017 in this ultimatum official announcement, after attaining only 12 prefectures, but has bested everyone else, you are as head of the Royalists party declared the winner."

Lucia: "It is an honor, your Majesty."

Genji: "You will do well to reign my country in your name, seems a lot of people love you more than me. But, this title no longer serves me any purpose, so I am handing this crown over to you now." she takes off her crown and places it on Lucia's head. "You are the first official Empress of Japan for life."

Lucia: "Thank you."

They both hugged in the midst of incoming 24-33 km/h gusts from Lan, a super typhoon that is about to hit the capital by the weekend.

Genji is stepped down from the palace, and Lucia Konohana immediately takes over the throne, starting her reign anew as the First Empress of Japan.

OOC: Final results are here, this election is officially over.

https://a.pomf.space/shjjqyyliwkt.png[/img]

Backlash

< Had a flash of inspiration earlier today, so I'm considering repurposing this as a general news thread. I could make a separate thread if you'd prefer, but I figure these fake news articles are a great way to keep our creativity in shape. ^^

Also, the map might not be accurate when it comes to Japan's alliances. We can talk about that later. c: >

NORTH AMERICA/JAPAN (Reuters): After considerable deliberation, the heads of state of both North America and the Greater Japanese Empire have mutually agreed to withdraw their Montana and Yamato-class Super-Battleships from their bases at Guam and Truk Island. This directive, signed on the birthday of Japanese Crown Princess Konohana, forms the capstone of a vested effort to ease military tensions and facilitate cultural exchange between the two great powers.

Below: A North American Montana-class Super-Battleship, NAS Louisiana.

< ... >

Below: Hong Meiling (紅美鈴), General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.

However, many of North America's ideological and economic allies (light blue) have criticized the agreement as being "too soft" on the Japanese. In particular, Chinese General Secretary Hong Meiling blasted it as "blatant hypocrisy", and "an affront to the concept of a united left." In response, President Cordelia Thompson has assured North America and her allies that the partnership is strictly to prevent another major war so soon after the Abyssal Crisis, and that North America has no plans of lifting the multilateral embargo on the Japanese.

Japan's European allies (light yellow) have yet to make any comment.

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