Timeline of Japan

Showa era ends; the Sakae era begins with the ascension of Crown Prince Irohito to the throne.

Ryotaro Hashiwaza of the Issinkai party is elected Prime Minister. With control of the Diet and high popularity, the Issinkai party announces sweeping policies.

• The Hashiwaza Cabinet announces the privatization of publicly-held corporations, as well as the redenomination of the yen at the end of the fiscal year. The new currency unit is called the nuyen.
• The Hashiwaza Scandal. The Hashiwaza Cabinet's budget is discovered to be a fraud. The expenses are more than what was estimated and there are many sanctions off the budget; however, there is no evidence of embezzlement. The Hashiwaza Cabinet's popularity hits rock bottom. PM Hashiwaza retires and Jiro Omoto of the Issinkai party becomes Prime Minister.
• Unemployment rate hits 9%

Crown Prince Takehito, also known as the Okutukinomiya, the second son of Emperor Sakae, returns from the United Kingdom. He breaks a constitutional prohibition and begins making political suggestions and taking direct political action. Many people take to the young prince. Because of his ideas and actions, Japan begins to show signs of recovery.

• Because of the Shiawase Decision, Japanese corporations abroad begin to militarize.
• Japanese police crackdown on terrorists, radicals, and environmentalists.
• First trial of prince lawsuit. The Okutukinomiya's noble bearing in court attracts the support of many people. The charge is violation of the Japanese Constitution, so a Constitutional Reform movement is formed. There are many proposed reforms, but few have democratic goals.

• The plebiscite bill for Constitution Reform passes. The Diet schedules the plebiscite for 2004. It is delayed until 2005.
• The verdict in the prince lawsuit arrives. Contrary to expectations, Crown Prince Takehito is found guilty. The Okutukinomiya side appeals. Days after the judgement, the presiding judge is murdered at his home. The judge's murderers are never found.

• Emperor Irohito retires at the age of 70, 30-year old Crown Prince Takehito assumes the title of Emperor. With the succession of Emperor Takehito, the Sakae era ends and the Hikari era begins.
• The plebiscite for Constitution Reform and Consent to the New Constitution. The result passes, but by a hair.
• The Second Korean War breaks out. Japan supports the South Korean invasion of North Korea.

• JIS forces reorganize from a self-defense force to an overseas-capable offensive army.
• Large scale logging and deforestation by the corporations devastate the ecosystem of the Philippines.

• As hazards increase, the JIS begins to advise Japanese corporations in self-defense. The JIS also allows corporate military actions in other countries. From this date, Japanese corporations are permitted to conduct piracy actions as long as their actions strengthen JIS power. Kakyo (overseas Chinese) dub these privateers Wako (Japanese pirates).
• Hibok-Hibok, Taal, Mayon and Mount Pinatubo erupted. Tons of volcanic ash, earthquakes, and tsunami deal a deadly blow to the Philippines. The JIS dispatch a contingent as "aid".
• December 24, the great dragon Ryumyo is observed passing above the Shinkansen(bullet train).
• December 27, an epicentral earthquake strikes Tokyo. The subway network is knocked out of commission. The seismic center is recorded to be under the Imperial Palace!
• Ministry of Health and Welfare isolate spike births and classify them as sufferers of a strange disease.

• The ICSC exhausts its resources. The ICSC issues a statement, "as long as the government does not liquidate the debt from us, the ICSC cannot continue the reconstruction of Tokyo." The JIS government in Kyoto responds, "in compensation for our debt, we entrust ICSC with parts of police and administration power, parts of communication and commerce permission authority in Tokyo". Negotiations regarding the debt and additional resources go smoothly.
• Two JIS Army divisions are stationed on the Kanto plains that surround Tokyo. They are called Kanto corps.

• JIS government send elves and dwarves to Hokkaido prefecture for "rest".
• Hokkaido becomes an area with strong rights of self-government. After this year, it is called the Hokkaido Republic and is governed by Ainu and Japanese leaders, but trade and export of goods and immigration remain unchanged from the other JIS prefectures. Later that year, a sudden population movement occurs, with some people leaving Hokkaido and others emigrating to Hokkaido.
• The New Dango (the secret agreement of 2018) is made. Corporate representatives persuade other Privy Council members and the Mikado to annex the Philippine Islands because it would bring more power to the JIS. Ryumyo supports the plan in exchange for a controlling interest in Yakuza activities.

The Onmyou and Conjuring department is established in Kyoto Imperial University.

• Mass worldwide 'goblinization' as orcs and trolls appear. The initial opinion of JIS medical officials is that it is a genetic disease, related to UGE. Orcs and trolls are isolated for their own protection, but many are killed by mob violence or commit suicide.
• Following the riots over goblinization that wrack the Philippines, the Trans-Empire Businessman's Association lobby the Emperor and the JIS government for emergency support. On April 28, 2021, the Japanese Imperial Marines land six divisions in the Philippine Islands.
• Emperor Takehito dies suddenly and is replaced by 16 year old Kenichi. Rumors abound that Takehito was stricken with goblinization, although there are no signs when his body is displayed. At the passing of the Emperor, the Hikari era ends and the Reimu era begins.
• In the confusion of the 'goblinization' epidemic, the invasion of the Philippines, and the death of the Emperor, a coalition of Ainu and anti-Imperial citizen groups stage an armed uprising against the JIS-backed Hokkaido Republic government, because of JIS interference in local affairs. They fight a guerrilla war against Hokkaido Republic forces that are supported by the JIS. (Donan War. 2021-2022)

The JIS begins classifying metahumans with the same status as illegal resident foreigners and ceases all protection efforts. The JIS sends them to live in restricted areas.

• Bloody struggle reported between metahuman gangs and right wing radicals.
• JIS bans possession of firearms by private individuals in its overseas territories. Carrying melee weapons more than 7 centimeters long are also prohibited. These laws are especially enforced in the Philippines Islands, where traditional martial arts are practiced openly.

Okinawa Riot of 2028 (2028年㿮オキナワ暴動, 2028 nen no okinawa boudou). The newly formed Okinawa Liberation Alliance challenges JIS rule with a series of magical terrorist attacks and faces off against JIS anti-terrorist squads.

Snow-Star wins the right to fish on the Sea of Okhotsk.

Healthcare providers are reorganized. No one can receive public health service who does not belong to a healthcare provider. With this legislation, a healthcare provider ID similar to the SIN appears in the JIS.

Following the aftermath of the Tokyo Corporate War, the Imperial family and the JIS government transfer the capital to Kyoto.

Following a plea of assistance from the governor of the newly formed California Free State, the JIS lands two light divisions in San Francisco.

• Karafuto War ends. Russia and the Hokkaido Republic negotiate to divide Sakhalin in half and the Hokkaido Republic is granted the southern half of the island.
• 2040 Battle of Chiba. Renraku uses chemical weapons against the security forces of Shinmyoin New Chemical.

The baseball game of Yomiuri-Giants and L.A.Dodgers.

• A group of unarmed metahumans are fired upon by JIS soldiers, killing seven. The JIS government announces that two of the soldiers will not be prosecuted. A riot breaks out in response and troops are sent out to disperse the rioters. Official reports declare that 38 people are injured, with no fatalities.
• In the JIS, an gengineering lab owned by Aztechnology explodes. Rumors persist that Aztechnology blew up its own lab to keep it from being taken over by Mitsuhama Computer Technologies.

Tokyo Olympics. Metahumans are barred from competing in medal events, and segregated to exhibition games.

• Earthquakes strike Yokohama and Nagoya. Tsunami from undersea earthquakes strike the northern coast.
• Unzen Volcano erupts on Shimabara Peninsula, throwing ash and magma and killing tens of thousands, including most of the Imperial family. The only remaining survivor of the Imperial family is Yasuhito.
• The JIS withdraws forces back to the homeland to assist in disaster and rebuilding efforts. Colonel Keiji Saito disobeys orders and coups the Imperial government in California, forming the California Protectorate.

Solidifying his power base, Emperor Yasuhito merges a number of neighboring prefectures into Tokyo prefecture, creating Neo-Tokyo. An ambitious Tokyo restoration plan is announced, with the Shinto priesthood and local kami spirits taking an unprecedented supervisory role.

General Saito is removed from California.

• New drugs "Tempo" and "Flipside" spark crime wars and government legislation.
• Asaka Nashihito, Crown Prince of Japan is born.

• February, 1st - Campaign Start
• February, 1st - The Emperor Yasuhito has a second child, the daughter Sakura