neighpon The Government of Neighpon

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╭The Government of Neighpon - The Sun Rises in the East╮

The Government of Neighpon - The Sun Rises in the East

╰The Government of Neighpon - The Sun Rises in the East╯

While Neighpon is advanced in ways the rest of the world is still struggling to comprehend, its government remains a mixture of a feudalistic empire and a modernized democracy. Although the most advanced cities have grown to elect their Ministers through the voice of the herd, the entirety of Neighpon still remains firmly under the Shogun's hoof. As Head of the State, the Shogun is the ultimate authority in all national government, and although rarely involved in any government levels lower than national, he or she still holds authority over the prefectural and municipal levels of government, if he or she chooses to take action. The Shogun is even formally referred to as Heika, an ancient form of address equal to an emperor or king.

 

With Neighpon always on the edge of advancement and growth, many have advocated an end to the position of the Shogun, calling instead for a Cabinet of leaders to share equal responsibility - however, others fear a return to in-fighting and disunity without a Shogun, citing the country's advancement as possible only with a Head of State reigning supreme, and are content with the self-appointed Ministers and Councilmares that are rarely interfered with. Whatever the case, the Shogun remains unparalleled in power and jurisdiction - power that is shared, but not wholly given, to the Shogunate directly beneath him or her. 

 

Part I : The Primary Shogunate

Part II : The Secondary Shogunate

Part III : Prefectures and Municipals 

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Under the direct authority of the Shogun is the Shogunate, a collection of administrative offices that govern Neighpon on the national level. Hoof-picked by the Shogun, each Office is led and overseen by a singular individual, after which the Office is named. This individual must not only be a citizen of Neighpon, but must have also served in that office for at least four years, with exceptions made solely in times of crisis where no individual fulfills those requirements. It is these individuals that are collectively referred to as the Primary Shogunate, as they act as the Shogun's personal advisors and council in all matters. Thus does the Primary Shogunate act both independently and as a cohesive unit of council for Neighpon, overseeing their Offices while resting final and definitive authority on the Shogun.

 

╭Machi Bugyō - The Grand Admiral╮

Machi Bugyō - The Grand Admiral

╰Machi Bugyō - The Grand Admiral╯

 

Although the Shogun is officially considered the highest authority along the military chain, it is clear who commands the forces of Neighpon on a day to day basis. Otherwise known as the Grand Admiral, the Machi Bugyō heads the entirety of the Neighponese military branches - Navy, Air, Aetheral, Ground, and Colonial. The positioning and placement of military troops both around and away from Neighpon rests on the Machi Bugyō, whose strategic brilliance can make or break the unmatched militaristic force of Neighpon. The Machi Bugyō also acts as the voice of experience and expertise for the Shogun in regards to militaristic advice and counsel. 

 

The Office of the Machi Bugyō, in its entirety, is technically comprised of every branch of Neighponese military. However, working directly with the Machi Bugyō are the various generals of the specific branches of military, along with higher ranked admirals who nonetheless fall under the supreme command of the Grand Admiral. A highly intensive and exacting position, the strength of the Machi Bugyō is often reflected in the state of the Neighponese military might, which has remained unchecked and unmatched for centuries. 

 

╭Gijutsu-sha - The Technomancer╮

Gijutsu-sha - The Technomancer

╰Gijutsu-sha - The Technomancer╯

 

With so much of Neighpon's success dwelling in its success with magitech, new avenues of usage and utility are constantly being looked into, along with magitech uses in both defensive and offensive capabilities. The Gijutsu-sha is Neighpon's supreme authority in everything magitech, not only through the entirety of the Office, but also through his or her own engineering genius. The Gijutsu-sha is responsible for overseeing advancements in the field and maintaining the security of Neighponese magitech, arming the country against magitech hackers and in turn utilizing the technology against potential threats. In regards to his or her duties to the Shogun, the Gijutsu-sha advises on which areas of magitech to invest government funding into, and brings ethical concerns over certain uses of magitech to light. 

 

Barring the Machi Bugyō, the Gijutsu-sha oversees the largest and most widely varied Office on the Primary Shogunate. Divided by task or goal, the Office of the Gijutsu-sha includes several research teams that focus on discovering and utilizing new forms of magitech. Other groups are dedicated to maintaining vigil over Neighponese magitech, or turning raw magitech into new weapons and products. There is even a specialized group within the Office that is centered around the construction and utilization of Golems, from simple constructs that can be used in a home, to large-scale projects meant to act in defense of the country. Whatever the case, all information is passed along to the Gijutsu-sha, who in turn takes all available information to set the best course for the future of Neighpon's magitech empire. 

 

╭Ōmetsuke - The Overseer╮

Ōmetsuke - The Overseer

╰Ōmetsuke - The Overseer╯

 

As advancements in governing bodies throughout Neighpon began, so did their responsibilities that, if left unchecked, could turn corrupt. Alongside the duties of the public media, the Office of the Ōmetsuke is designed to keep tabs on and monitor officials appointed into office, including the various Daimyos of Ryushima and the Governors amongst the colonies. In truth, most of the efforts of the Ōmetsuke and his or her office remains focused on the colonies, as their removed distance from the mainland makes them more difficult to keep track of. 

 

Because of the long reach this office has in nearly all cities and colonies, the focus of the Office of the Ōmetsuke also serves a dual purpose in rooting out rebellion and treachery. This remains especially so in the colonies, as losing these precious resources would spell disaster for Neighpon. As such, the office of the Ōmetsuke has a shady reputation among the public for subterfuge and government spying rather than simple accountability - a reputation that is shared with the Office of the Karasu.

 

╭Karasu - The Raven╮

Karasu - The Raven

╰Karasu - The Raven╯

 

A remnant of the days when the first Shogun relied on the ninjutsu clans of old to forcibly keep control over a mentally divided country, the Karasu is the Shogun's resident Spymaster, a peerless ninja who coordinates the efforts of his or her office to gather intelligence both inside and outside of Neighpon. Officially, the Office of the Karasu works to handle information from a network of contacts and informants spread through the entire world, designed to keep the Shogun up to date in an age where worldwide communication has not been perfected. However, there are some that claim that the office also commits in acts of bribery, information manipulation, and even outright silencing, whatever is needed to keep the Shogun and the Shogunate held in high esteem in the eyes of Neighpon.

 

Although the Office of the Karasu maintains several contacts and informants spread throughout different nations, the actual Office inside the Primary Shogunate is extremely small. There are never more than a hoof-ful of positions that operate directly with the Karasu at any given time - specifically, there are three individuals that manage the various informants under their supervision, and along with the Karasu his or herself, these four make up the entirety of the Office of the Karasu.

 

╭Gaikoku Bugyō - The Ambassador╮

Gaikoku Bugyō - The Ambassador

╰Gaikoku Bugyō - The Ambassador╯

 

Neighpon prides itself on its ability to be self-reliant, an ability that has negated the need to engage other nations in matters of alliance or cooperation. However, even the Shogun realizes the need to maintain friendly relations, which is where the Gaikoku Bugyō comes in. Acting as an official ambassador of Neighpon, the Gaikoku Bugyō spends more time out of the country than in it, traveling from place to place in order to strengthen ties and showcase Neighpon's willingness to treat with other nations. If an event or spectacle is large enough to warrant government representation, but small enough to remain outside of the Shogun's scope of responsibilities, the Gaikoku Bugyō is the most likely candidate to attend. 

 

The Office of the Gaikoku Bugyō is relatively small in nature, but still comprised of several positions that all focus around foreign affairs. Discussions of trading routes, alliances, and culture sensitivity all fall within the realm of the Office of the Gaikoku Bugyō, and he or she in turn provides sounds advice to the Shogun in matters concerning relations with other nations across the seas. 

 

╭Hatamoto - The Honored╮

Hatamoto - The Honored

╰Hatamoto - The Honored╯

 

While the way of the Samurai has become more widespread throughout Neighpon, to be officially titled a Samurai was once an honor granted only by the Shogun himself - to those that had proven both their loyalty to Neighpon and their skill in battle, a status of honor and prestige, similar to a peasant family being raised into nobility. To this day, to be officially honored as a Samurai by the Shogun is something many Ronins strive to accomplish, and none have accomplished so much as the Hatamoto.

 

Once a position of great political meaning, the Hatamoto is a peerless Samurai who has been specifically named by the Shogun as a shining example of everything Neighpon ever was and ever will be. With Neighpon ever marching towards advancement, the Hatamoto is a physical symbol of tradition, a reminder that the old ways of Neighpon will be maintained throughout the ages. In the present day, the Hatamoto holds no political power his or herself, and keeps no council in the Primary Shogunate despite technically being a part of it - however, he or she is still venerated and respected throughout the nation, and often wields unintentional power solely through the respect and adoration the title of Hatamoto wields.

[Zeig]

Unlike the Primary Shogunate, the leaders of each office or group within the Secondary Shogunate do not interact directly with the Shogun - however, like the Primary Shogunate, the offices work both independently and cohesively. Most of the offices are centered around the colonies and islands, their distance away from the homeland requiring governing bodies to be able to act with discerning independence. More often than not, the offices of the Secondary Shogunate are accountable to a position or positions within the Primary Shogunate. Still, the ability to act remotely and independently makes the Secondary Shogunate necessary in order to maintain the peace in all regions of Neighpon.

 

╭The Imperial Vanguard╮

The Imperial Vanguard

╰The Imperial Vanguard╯

 

Although technically a part of the Secondary Shogunate, the Imperial Vanguard operates solely within the Palace Castle, a force dedicated to the protection and security of the Shogun and his or her family. Members of the Imperial Vanguard range from simple hoof soldiers, to experienced magitech enforcers, and even a few specialized forces, such as ninja and samurai. While called a vanguard, the office acts mainly in defense of the Shogun's family, and was so named in history to symbolize the advancement of the Shogun's well kept might against all offenders who would dare take action against him or her. 

 

Of special note within the Imperial Vanguard is the Shīrudo, who not only acts as the personal bodyguard of the current Shogun, but heads the entirety of the office as the Head of the Vanguard. Inside the Palace Castle where threats are less liable to reach the Shogun, the Shīrudo is more free to take control of security measures and countermeasures, and masterfully dispatch forces throughout the Palace Castle for maximum security and protection. Outside of the Palace Castle, the Shīrudo is a constant figure at the side of the Shogun, keeping him or her safe from all possible threats.

 

[[ WIP ]]