News from Japan (formerly known as the "Japan, end of 1907..." thread)

[Walter]

I am not familiar wth this one.

What this one?

Wynson would be the Rohirrim Royal Family.

No doubt the letter would be corrected in the final phase, just as the Special Notice was corrected. After all, we do not wish to have weird and insulting text in an official letter. :D

[Ithekro]

Just expecting the characters to be based on a show I've not seen before.

[Walter]

I don't know if you have...

Majority of names are from RG Veda (Taishakuten, Bishamonten, Kendappa/Jikokuten, Zouchoten, Koumokuten (not mentioned in that story), Karura, Karyoubinga and Hanranya (there are more but these are the ones I used so far))
Only a two part OVA exists so I guess it is quite easy to miss and I doubt it would be shown on TV. The Manga exists of 10 books and was created by CLAMP (IMO among the best in the business).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RG_Veda
The OVA is so-so, but that is mainly because it is only 2 parts and is a small part of that takes place somewhere in the middle of the whole story. The Manga is very good and earlier this week I picked up the last book after what seems like ages since I bought the first book!


Tennyou/Empress Kaguya. Originally a bit like Kaguyahima/Princess Kaguya from Inuyasha by Takahashi Rumiko (The movie Eiga Inuyasha: Kagami no Naka no Mugenj? to be exact) but lately I have been looking more at Ceres from Ayashi no Ceres by Watase Yuu (IMO the best in the business) as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InuYasha_the_Movie:_The_Castle_Beyond_the_Looking_Glass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceres,_Celestial_Legend
The works of Watase Yuu are definitely my favorites. :)


Abe no Seimei is a historical character.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_no_Seimei


General Aragaki Yukie and Lord Ryou are based on nothing but Ryou is a Wesworld character as well (Could be anyone. Who knows. It might even be the dreaded Manzo using a different name in order to move around the Navalism world without being noticed... until he gets his hands on a plane).

[The Rock Doctor]

Nice work, Walter. 

[swamphen]

Bishamonten. Taishakuten's most loyal General.

... between 9 and 5.

It might even be the dreaded Manzo using a different name in order to move around the Navalism world without being noticed... until he gets his hands on a plane.

At which point we all dive for a foxhole.  :D

[Walter]

January 5, 1914.
An Army testfield in Manchuria...


The large steel machine slowly rolled down the muddy hill. It crossed a trench before passing the spectators that had gathered at the field for the demonstration of the machine.

Once the machine had moved off, Dr. Fu Manchu, Chief advisor to the Governor of Manchuria, Baron Tsao Siu Yan, and head of Japan's technical department, turned around to address the crowd. "... and that, Ladies and Gentlemen, concludes this short demonstration of this latest weapon of the Imperial Army: the Thank. You have seen how our troops can huddle behind the Thank as it moves forward and be protected from enemy fire coming from the front. You have seen how it can cross a trench and how it rolls over a barbed-wire fence without any difficulties. This machine is unstoppable!"

"So if it is unstoppable, that would mean that we can move it through water to some island out there?"

Fu Manchu was looking at the crowd and spotted a smiling Lady Kendappa sitting next to Lord Taishakuten. "Not that unstoppable, My Lady," he replied.

"How nice. I can make a song of how the unstoppable Thank met its end below the waves of the sea..

Fu Manchu ignored her. "If you have any questions, my colleagues will be glad to answer them once we are back in the meeting room."

While the people headed back to the main building, Fu Manchu headed over to the location where the machine came to a halt. The crewmembers, struggling to get out, didn't look too good as they walked away from the machine and lay down on the ground about 10 meters from the machine, breathing in the clean air.

Yes, the Thank could definitely be improved...

[The Rock Doctor]

Nice.  I can imagine the crewmembers saying, "No thanks..."

[Walter]

Considering that I have seen the "Tanks!" - "You're welcome." remarks a few times (and I have used the "Tanks!" remark a few times instead of "Thanks!" in PMs when it is about tanks), I thought it would be original to call it a Thank instead of Tank. :)

[P3D]

Tzar Blooded and the Empress must be really happy with joy.

[Walter]

Oh definitely.
*Sells tanks to Tzar Blooded and the Empress* :D

[P3D]

Apparently no need to spend it on the Kaigun...which become a bit dated since the Swiss war.

[Walter]

"Antique" might be a better word for it... :)

... but that will soon change.

[Walter]

January 22, 1914


Bishop Miguel Ximinez de Palinos entered the Grand Hall of Zemni Castle where he was welcomed by Lord Taishakuten.

"Greetings Lord Taishakuten," Miguel replied. "I was wondering if you had time to listen to me and if you are willing to do me, the Church and God a favour."

"I always have time for a friend," Taishakuten replied. "As for the favour, that would depend on what it is."

"I have a project. A building project... and I was wondering if the Empire was willing to aid me, the Church and God by financing this project."

"In order to strengthen the Catholic belief in this part of the world?"

"Naturally." Miguel stared at Taishakuten. He knew Taishakuten was not one who could be converted to Christianity, however Taishakuten did allow the religions within the Empire to do as they pleased, as long as it would not cause any friction and trouble within the Empire. Eventhough he could not be converted, Miguel knew that Taishakuten was intrigued by and looked favourably on the Catholic Faith, more favourably than other religions, and it was that which would help Miguel to convince Taishakuten about the project.

Miguel then produced a photo from his red tunic and held it out to Taishakuten.



"Interesting..." Taishakuten studied the photo. "Is this your project?"

"That is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, the Cathedral of Chartres. My project, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l'Est as I call it, is something similar to that. My colleagues, Bishop Bigglesworth and Bishop Fang, have travelled to France to get a good look at the plans of the Cathedral."

"So how long did it take to construct the Cathedral of Chartres?"

"Uhmmm... something like... 60 years," Miguel stated. "... but with todays technology, I guarantee that we will be able to build the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l'Est much faster than that," he quickly added.

"And the cost?"

"Ehrm... Fang looked into that and made some guesswork as to how much it would be in today's money. He estimates that the total cost of the Cathedral of Chartres was..." Miguel looked around a bit. "... 2,000,000 Gin?(*)"

Taishakuten looked up from the picture and stares at Miguel. "That is a lot of money you are asking for, Miguel."

"Y... yes. Well... Let's... Let's just forget about it and... and let it be as it is. Just another plan on a piece of paper and I really don't want to waste any more of your precious time with all this nonsense of mine. I will just leave and..."

"You hope to become Cardinal with this project?"

"Hopefully... if Papa Gregorius Septimus Decimus Episcopus Romanus, a.k.a. Pope Gregory XVII, approves of our efforts here... It would be good for Japan as well. I expect many pilgrims in this region of the world to come this way to visit the place, as well as the faithful travellers from Europe who will see this as a welcome and familiar place.... kind of like a home away from home."

"You hope to become the next Pope with this project?"

Miguel shook his head. "You know me, Taishakuten, as well as the others. You know of our almost fanatical devotion to the Pope. If I were to become Pope, then what? I'm just nothing without my almost fanatical devotion to the Pope."

Taishakuten laughed slightly. "What about an almost fanatical devotion to God?"

"That is expected from every Catholic. I'm no different... but Cardinal is as far as I wish to go... Also, I hope that the Pope also looks kindly on the hard work that Bigglesworth and Fang are putting into it."

"I shall work on it," Taishakuten then said.

Miguel stood there for a few seconds and breathed a sigh of relief. "You have my thanks, Taishakuten, as well as the thanks of the Church and God." Miguel then bowed and walked away.

Taishakuten then grinned. "You know, I certainly hope you have forgotten about your other project. I doubt anyone on earth would expect the Iberian Inquisition to make an appearance in this era."

Miguel stiffened and swung around. "NOBODY expects the Iberian Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our four...no... Amongst our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such diverse elements as fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope... and nice red uniforms..." Miguel stopped. "Darn! I mentioned the uniforms again... and I did it again."

"Yes, you did."

"You do this on purpose, don't you?"

"Yes I do." Taishakuten held out the phote he got from Miguel. "You forgot your photo."

Miguel shook his head as he grabbed his photo. "I am not sure if your support of the project is a blessing or a curse."

"We'll see when you get started."

"Now, if you will excuse me. I need to pray and ask God for forgiveness for using... unproper language for a person of my position... as usual."

"Take care, Miguel." Taishakuten was still smiling when Miguel left the hall.

================================================================

(*) About $50,000,000 dollars in 1914 and about $1,000,000,000 in today's money.

[The Rock Doctor]

Nice.  Who knows - the plan just might work.

[Kaiser Kirk]

What, no comfy chair?