In essence、the modification of the Constitution of Japan is pointless.

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

this point

"The Tokugawa government may soon return Japan's administrative power to the Imperial Court.

However、even if this is done、it is only a formality.

In other words、it is nothing more than a ceremony to legally make Tokugawa's position clear to the Japanese people and other countries by formally reappointing Tokugawa as the executive branch of Japan by the Emperor.

Therefore、Japan's foreign policy will not change at all in the future.

We Tokugawa will continue to engage in diplomacy with full responsibility and sincerity、as we have always done.

Please don't worry about that."

Three days before the Tosa clan submitted a policy to restore imperial rule to the Tokugawa shogunate at Nijo Castle、Itakura、the head of the Tokugawa shogunate's chief councilor、secretly visited a British warship anchored off the coast of Osaka Bay and had a secret meeting with the British ambassador、and informed the ambassador of his intention.

This is probably the true feelings of (at least) the central government of the shogunate just before the restoration of imperial rule was established.

"Currently、the Tokugawa government、which is merely a vassal of Japan's head of state、the Emperor、conducts diplomacy with foreign heads of state on an equal footing with their own wishes.

At least、in the present circumstances、from the standpoint of other countries、Japan can't be helped by being seen as such a dishonest country.

And the distortion caused by this is becoming larger day by day.

Therefore、Tokugawa temporarily returned Japan's administrative power to His Majesty the Emperor、and from now on、we would conduct Japan's diplomacy by clearly demonstrating both inside and outside the country that he had received the confidence of His Majesty and that this was His Majesty's will. 

By doing so、the current strange kinks between Japan and other countries can be completely resolved.

In addition、not only in terms of diplomacy、but by clarifying the situation、people in Japan will not be misled by the instigation of the agitators、and we can expect that their misconceptions about Tokugawa will be largely eliminated."

Yoshinobu also said so.

"Now、the Tokugawa shogunate has announced its intention to return the right to govern Japan to the Imperial Court.

This means that Tokugawa proved that he had a strong respect for the imperial court.

We should be satisfied with their this auspicious decision only、yes、we must also consider the honor of Tokugawa.

(The first and foremost reality is that we are completely unprepared to respond to it.)

The Imperial Court should commend the Tokugawa shogunate for their brave behavior this time and entrust them with the rule of Japan once again."

Immediately after the restoration of imperial rule was realized、this opinion was the majority among Kyoto's aristocrats.

During the Tokugawa era、which lasted 260 years、many of them were related to the Tokugawa clan and its branches (there is no fact that the Tokugawa was a severe oppressor of the Kyoto nobility)、and it is human nature to be conservative、so that must have been their true feelings.

"Give a good appearance and impression to the current reality and thereby reduce public dissatisfaction.

In short、reality doesn't change anything by it、but by doing so、we can buy time and quickly implement reforms that suit the current situation."

Their overall opinion may have been something like that.

　　

・・・・・・・・・　

"'Reform' is meaningless and useless.

The only absolute thing we need is 'revolution'、we have no other choice."

A man who continues to make such claims in a firm、low voice、that was Iwakura Tomomi.

Thursday, 13 December 2012

generalissimo

"In any case、the future policy will be decided through discussion among all citizens."

4-5 days had passed since the declaration of the return of imperial rule、and the opinions of the Kyoto aristocrats had largely been summarized to this、and this was the first official opinion of the Imperial Court to be declared.

However、no one knew the scope of this "all citizens".

・・・・・・・・・

"The lord of Choshu、unfortunately、is still kept in the position of being an enemy of the Imperial Court.

The Imperial Court must immediately stop this unfair treatment given to him.

And aristocrats who had to leave Kyoto due to an unfortunate misunderstanding.

Unfortunately、they are also still in that condition.

However、all misunderstandings between us have been resolved now、as a natural consequenceleaving、leaving them in this situation is an extreme injustice and is a gross negligence on the part of the Imperial Court that could expose His Majesty the Emperor to unfair slander from the people、they should be recalled to Kyoto immediately.

Next、let's talk about the Tokugawa shogun.

He was fortunate enough to realize his extraordinary lack of ability as a ruler、and obediently returned control of Japan to the Imperial Court.

If that is the case、he must immediately resign from his position as shogun and return it to the Imperial Court."

Iwakura insisted so.

※If that's not a story I made up(lol)、in exchange for the opening of Hyogo Port to foreign countries、at least、Yoshinobu was supposed to have agreed to lift the status of the Choshu clan lord's status as an enemy of the Imperial Court、but the situation probably progressed before this could be carried out. 2024041607:49(japan time).

・・・・・・・・・

At the end of the 12th century、Japan's first samurai government was established.

"The commander-in-chief of the national army、ordered by the Emperor、subjugates the unscrupulous barbarians who do not understand the benevolence of His Majesty and repeatedly commit brutal acts against good people."

This was the legal basis for their existence at the beginning of the establishment of the samurai government.

Once established、it became a fait accompli and became a custom (although they had their own fighting power、unlike the imperial court、which used them as bodyguards)、gradually、the word 'shogun' came to have the same meaning as the Japanese king.

Japanese word of 'generalissimo' is 'Seii Tai(Dai) syougun'.

The literal translation is 'A great general conquering barbarians'.

　

As a side note.

The 'barbarians' at that time were the people called the 'Emishi' (although by the time the first samurai government was established、the conquest of the 'barbarians' had almost come to an end due to the activities of these samurai).

They were ordinary people who lived in what is now the Tohoku region of Japan.

However、this was not land ruled by the Emperor.

※I think that the process of the Imperial Court's War of Conquest of (current) East Japan was at the same time a process in which the samurai acquired abilities that surpassed the Imperial Court. 2024041523:29 (japan time).

※Even now、the head of an organization is sometimes referred to as a '大将・taishō' (a rather informal expression).

征夷大将軍(Seii Taishogun)、if I literally translate this word with Google Translate as of 2024041608:21 (Japan time)、征(conquest)、夷(夷)、大(Big)、将(general)、軍(army).

The normal Japanese pronunciation for 大将 is 'daisyō'、but at least currently the word is pronounced 'taisyō'、which is probably because it's easier to pronounce that way.

So、my personal feeling is、unlike the dynasty period、during the samurai regime、the expressions '将軍 shōgun' and '大将軍 daishogun' were not used to refer to military commanders、but the expressions '大将 taisho' and '将 sho' were used instead (it may have been used in formal expressions - Chinese expressions in Japan).

To put it simply、"Perhaps they stopped using it because of the presence of the Seii Taishogun," and that's all (lol). 2024041608:41(japan time).

Friday, 14 December 2012

never mind

"'It's simply a process of maturation of the times、and I believe that our history will grow even better as we gain experience.'

This time、His Majesty the Emperor、a wise monarch、has made it clear to me that he will forgive the Choshu clan for their grave sin of firing at his imperial palace.

In order to repay His Majesty's kindness、the lord of Choshu must lead his army to Kyoto and express his gratitude to His Majesty as soon as possible.

Choshu will then work with Satsuma to take charge of guarding the Imperial Palace."

This secret order of the Emperor was secretly conveyed to Satsuma from Iwakura with no other people involved.

"The Imperial Court must resolve the Choshu domain's unfair position of being an enemy of the Imperial Court as soon as possible."

Around the same time、Iwakura was strongly asserting this in public.

Yes、'in public'.

Saigo and Komatsu immediately headed west with this secret mission from the Emperor.

They first went to Choshu、met the lord of Choshu、and conveyed the emperor's order.

Saigo then headed straight for Satsuma、while Komatsu rushed to Kyoto with 500 Satsuma soldiers armed with the latest guns who had been waiting in Choshu.

　

・・・・・・・・・

"Recently、some aristocrats and extremists from the Satsuma clan frequently meet secretly and there are disturbing movements."

Naturally、the Tokugawa Shogunate's security maintenance organization was also aware of this fact、and the Shogunate's tracking and monitoring of them was strengthened.

"I am currently being followed by the Shinsengumi on a daily basis、bordering on harassment."

One day、Iwakura said this to Okubo with a tired look on his face.

"Never mind.

At present、this is the best solution."

Okubo replied so with a smile.

He then headed from Kyoto to Osaka in order to go to Choshu、but of course he was followed (although it would have been difficult to harass him as he was a powerful figure in the Satsuma clan).

After the Meiji Restoration、he became the de facto supreme power in Japan.

However、he had no bodyguard until he was assassinated by a disgruntled samurai (although、at this time、when he was just a samurai of the Satsuma clan、he would have been protected by many Satsuma clan samurai).

※outtakes.

"Even if His Majesty climbs Mt. Hiei、there will be no future for us.

We ask His Majesty to board a steamship waiting in Obama Bay and proceed to Hiroshima. 

Hiroshima Castle will be used as the main headquarters for the war against the Shogunate. 

This has already been approved by His Majesty."

『"How shall we prepare that steamship？"

"It's okay、Sakamoto-san has already prepared two small fast ships."

The sailors of the Meikomaru were originally sailors of Sakamoto's company and one old sailing ship actually sunk.

※Sakamoto's shipping company、which is descended from the Marine Training School、has a higher than average number of sailors per ship.

However、at the time of the sinking of Iroha Maru、the number of crew members on board Iroha Maru was average、but the number of crew on the large ship Meiko Maru was smaller than average、and this was one of the main reasons why the Kishu clan decided to pay a large amount of compensation to Sakamoto's company in mediation. 2024041707:12(japan time).

"However、there was actually no need to do that、but just in case.

It is not a bad choice to hide anything that can be hidden from the enemy before the war begins."』2024041623:00(japan time).