Imperial Japan

[iamthey]

September 2009: The Nationalist (monarchist) party forms in Tokyo founded by the Crown Prince Naruhito. It polls poorly; however it gains a few seats due to Proportional Representation. The two major parties begin separate closed door discussions on the potential for doing away with Proportional Representation, and changing constitutional law to allow amendment via simple majority of the National Diet.

October 2009: A new legislative agenda is pushed by the coalition among this a series of 2012 mandates are issued. The National Industrialisation act mandates full automation in national secondary industry by January 2012. The Social Act is passed reforming the Health Care system increasing the centralized nature of the single payer system. The Earth Act is issued mandating that cars be phased out of domestic use and that increased reliance on public transportation and alternative energies (particularly OTEC, tidal power, and geothermal sources). The act also puts into motion a longterm plan to research and develop fusion power for the nation. The two major parties form a centrist coalition and move to end Proportional Representation. They alter the Law amending the constitution to grant the Diet's simple majority Sovereignty. This invoked heavy resistance by the population but as the next election was far off nothing practically could be done.

November 2009: The Centrist Coalition closed the doors of the Diet on the minority parties taking on all matters as a bloc and keeping debate and vote accounting entirely internal. The coalition moved to end the paramilitary defense force, and instead restructure the nation's military forces into a true military force. The Emperor's son upset by the recent moves in Diet, issued the November Papers, denouncing the new coalition, and calling for an end to the new regime. As a result the Nationalist party began gaining popular support. As the majority had banished the minority parties, the crown prince Naruhito began giving weekly speeches outside the diet building against the diet.

December 2009: Protests inspired by the prince became greater in intensity; and in many cities these protests became full blown riots. In response to this the Diet issued the Gag Act stating that members of the diet must represent a unified front outward to the people, and cannot speak against public policy. This prompted the Prince, and minority party members to renounce their positions in the Diet. The day after this mass resignation Naruhito held the December convention where the Nationalist, and other minority parities unified under the Monarchist platform. Together their new front represented 1/3rd of popular preference previous to the elections.

January 2010: The renewed Nationalist Party of Japan who's leader is the Crown Prince Naruhito form a shadow government issuing competing public policy and listing particular reforms that would be made if they were in power.

February 2011: The sitting emperor issues the February Writ calling for the resignation of the sitting prime minister, the dissolution of the diet, and calling of an election. The Diet issues the Binding Act clarifying that the emperor has no Formal power within the government, and that all uses of Imperial Power must be at the consent and advice of the Diet. The Writ is declared null and void. In response Naruhito publishes the articles of dissolution a non-binding amendment dissolving the diet, and calling for the creation of a popularly elected unicameral parliament, the vestment of sovereignty into the Emperor, and the reinstatement of royal prerogative. It also denounces the concept of a written constitution stating that it produces a legalist system which prefers concern for law over concern for people, and recommends an unwritten constitution.

March 2011: Naruhito calls for an unofficial national referendum to support his Articles of Dissolution. His party hosts the polling stations which remain open for a week. The ultimate result is 60% in favor 30% against, and 10% who would support something similar. In response the Diet declared the poll rigged, and issued the Stability Act declaring such unofficial referendums illegal. They also issued the Sedition Act stating that the behavior of the shadow government, and the referendum were themselves acts of sedition and stating that similar acts would be treated accordingly.

April 2011: The Diet issues the Extension Act extending their rule until December of 2011. The act was marked by a two week uprising in Tokyo, which was ultimately put down violently by the Military and titled the April massacre.

May 2011: After the conclusion of the uprising Naruhito against holds an unofficial Referendum this time in the form of a Diet election. The result is a clear majority for his own party, and an almost non-existent support for the sitting coalition. During the progress of the election the Diet declares the enforcement of the Sedition Act, and orders the military to step in. The sitting generals refuse to intervene. In an essay titled "The powers and place of the Military." the generals refuse to intervene in the politics of the nation. Initially the Prime minister attempts to relieve the general's of duty however after a petition containing the names of every single soldier a compromise is reached and the referendum while illegal in law is allowed to proceed. None the less the new Diet is not seated, and the old one continues to maintain power.

June 2011: The "Office of State Security" is created as a national police and investigative force. They are given broad powers, and tasked with ensuring the continuity of government, and preventing uprising. The a man by the name of Sivs is named its Office Chief. Fortunately Sivs has a degree of respect for the monarchy and chooses to stay away from Naruhito and his inner circle. Despite that the office began its existence by cracking down on de-centralized resistance groups, and preying on those not directly connected to the Nationalist Party. As a result the resistance began centralizing around the JNP thus strengthening support for it. In response to the Office, Naruhito while ignoring Sivs, created his own "Royal Marines", or Red Berets, an elite paramilitary unit which shadowed his own inner circle and secured his person. They were characterized by their black fatigues, red beret's, and the fact that in addition to conventional weaponry they each carried both a Wakizashi and a Katana. The Marines themselves were spawned out of a neo-samurai movement amongst the military classes. Each personally considering themselves loyal to the Emperor however some chose to more directly serve his son who they considered to be promoting his interests more directly than the military itself.

July 2011 - October 2011: Despite the OSS's work resistence to the Diet multiplies, the OSS responds with increased furor, resulting in more resistance.

November 2011: The sitting emperor dies and Naruhito is crowned Emperor of Japan. In this November Writ he declares the referendum held in march to be legitimate and declares the Diet and constitution of 1947 null and void. The Military and particularly the Expanded faction of Royal Marines personally serving Naruhito and his Nationalist Party move to enforce the Writ. The Diet powerless to do anything are disbanded. The following weeks are marked with national celebration. Immediately after his victory over the Diet Naruhito now the Formal Sovereign of Japan issues an Internal Writ calling for an Imperial Council to sift though the legislation passed by the Diet and compile a list of laws and court sentences which require nullification. This time period is considered "The Great Liberation" during which repressive laws, harsh politically motivated criminal sentences, and bills of attender were repealed. Despite the abuses of the previous regime the Emperor issued a general pardon absolving all but a few key individuals of guilt for their actions during the Diet's Regime.

December 2011: On the first of December Emperor Naruhito declared a parliamentary election during which his nationalist party garnered a handsome majority. The Election process retained the rule change of the Diet and did not operate under Proportional Representation but instead operated under a Single Winner/First Past the Post style of election, selecting winners based on localized elections and majorities garnered there. The new Parliament convened a week later, the Emperor now the formal head of state delivered a speech from the throne setting the legislative agenda, and confirming the transfer of legislative authority to the Parliament retaining only a limited Royal Prerogative. The following day the working majority of parliament recommended that the Emperor be named Prime Minister. Accepting the previously existing shadow government was now officially made cabinet. A few days later the "Parliamentary Act of 2011" was passed setting procedures for parliament and designating that the maximum term of each MP was to be ten years.

January 2012: Mandates put into place have been reached, and the new government begins its first year of official reign. In honor of the new state the nation's name and flag are to be changed reflecting the change from the previously dark period. "Hence forth we are The Empire of Japan."