The Rising Sun?

Humbled by outsiders, restless within, in 1868, Japan had embarked on a course of radical modernisation. The Meiji era saw Japan evolve from a remote backwater, where great powers tried to win concessions for coaling stations, into a great power in its own right, as the nation opened itself to modernity, adapted to western customs and standards, learned to use western technology and finally demonstrated this newfound might in its conflicts first with China and then with Russia. Following 1905, Japan had become the leading power of East Asia. But with this newfound power came new problems, as the approach of Japan towards its neighbours moved from sympathy as fellow Asians towards chauvinism over the supposed backwardness of other East Asians and the need for Japan to guide these countries, even if they resisted. This culminated further in an open imperialism, as Japan tried to extent its Empire over its neighbours, incorporating Korea 1910 and undermining China.

But as the dust settled from a new great war, the Empire stood again where it had been 80 years prior - Humbled by foreigners, restless within. Utterly crushed by the United States, the Chinese and the United Kingdom, the nation stood before the charred remains of their dreams. Millions of Japanese lay dead all over Asia and the Pacific, having fought a total war for over a decade. But even when it became apparant that the nation could not win, the war went on. The early successes quickly gave way to more or less censored reports of defeats and by 1945, cities all over the Home Islands were regularly bombarded, the once proud navy was practically non-existent, the colonies slowly got overrun, though for most Japanese families, what mattered most were not so much the lost prestige, but the still ongoing bloody struggle over China, as well as the fear of when the Allies would finally land in Japan proper.

By 1947, secret low level negotiations with the Allies succeeded in working out an agreement, as the Japanese agreed to withdraw from China and Korea, while the US was busy with increasing internal tensions. But as the war ended and soldiers returned home, not all was well within the Empire, which was faced with the monumental destruction at home and tensions between those who viewed the peace as necessary and those who viewed it as unjust. For months, the Japanese government had already tried to stall peace negotiations, hoping to wait out the war as America's situation deteriorated, and as news of the first forms of fragmentation appeared, an attempt was made to throw the peace treaty out the window. However, it was then, that from within the intelligence apparatus, which had been deeply involved in the negotiations from the start, a coup was started and the government was overthrown, as soldiers in favour of abiding by the peace treaty occupied key positions in the capital and securing the Emperor. Led by the enigmatic Lt. General Kusunoki, a new government was established, to "restore peace, security and righteous thought". What occurred in these days shook the political establishment, though, for most ordinary people, it just meant, the war was finally over. But what to do now?

Coriolanus Snow had been the first Allied Officer to begin pushing for his government to negotiate a conditional surrender of Japan. He had been a firm believer that any attempt at invading the Home Islands of Japan would end with to many deaths, and with reports that the an invasion was very likely he worked with other top Generals to force negotiations to begin. Having pushed for and lead the negotiations for peace he had been pleased when the coup had succeeded he had been pleased when it agreed to peace. In fact the success of the coup had given him ideas that he used to become Lord Protector afterwards.

Lt. General Kusunoki,

I would like to congratulate you on your government. I am glad to see Japan recovering from the war. The war was tough on both of our people and while I am sure we faced off against each other in the past I would like to put that behind us. It is a new world. I would like to ask for a meeting in your capital to renew relations between our nations.

Lord Protector Coriolanus Snow of the United Commonwealth of Britain

While there were still concerns about the safety within Japan, the general consensus was that the grip on the capital area was more or less secure. Even though the 11-1 incident had been successful, it had not been an unbloody affair and the new government relied extensively on the support from moderates, who eyed the coup's ringleaders with suspicion. It had after all, been still a coup by the military. For that reason, Kusunoki acted rather restrained, leaving most affairs to civil ministers, as the military by now had become more of a liability than an asset. Because who knew when the junior officers would again change their mind and try something funny. This was still a matter that needed to be adressed.

Thus, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Shigemitsu sent a letter to Britain, stating that the British offer was appreciated and the British were welcome to visit Tokyo to work on improving the damaged relations between the two countries.