Transformation of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Education After the overwhelming victory of the Great Political Co-prosperity Sphere, Japan established its rule. After the war, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) moved to liberate the Japanese people from American domination and restore human dignity once again. These ministries begin policies aimed at revitalizing Japanese identity by focusing on spiritual liberation and the transmission of truth. • MHLW official: "Now that the domination by the U.S. has ended, it is time for the Japanese people to regain their dignity. From now on, we will build a society that tells the truth and pursues happiness wholeheartedly." • MEXT official: "Correct past distortions in education and rebuild pride in being Japanese. We must begin now to regain our spiritual independence." This will rapidly reform the education and welfare systems and promote the spiritual independence and rebirth of the Japanese people.
2. Stillness of the U.S. military
Reasons for the U.S. military presence and quiescence As the war raged, the U.S. military took a stance of stillness toward the war by the Japanese government and the Great Government Co-prosperity Sphere. This decision was due to American strategic considerations for two reasons. First, the U.S. already had a strong influence in Japan and maintained U.S. military bases throughout Japan. The U.S. did not want to invite international condemnation by interfering in Japan's internal affairs. The U.S. government was particularly cautious in protecting its own position because the U.S. military presence played an important role in Japan's security. • U.S. Government Official: "Adding to the current turmoil in Japan would not justify the presence of U.S. forces. It is prudent to simply remain quiet for now and watch for internal adjustments." Second, although the U.S. could not completely ignore the existence of the Taisei Kyosei, it was trying to maintain its influence in Asia by taking advantage of the Japanese government's civil war. In particular, the U.S. had a policy of avoiding direct intervention to curb the expansion of the Taisei Co-prosperity Sphere's attempts to form an Asian economic bloc. • U.S. government official: "No matter how strengthened the Great Government Co-prosperity Sphere becomes, it does not necessarily mean that it is directly against American interests. We should first keep an eye on the situation inside Japan." Thus, the U.S. military did not directly intervene in the war inside Japan, but instead remained quiet and watched the war between the Japanese government and the Taisei-Yuppan Co-prosperity Sphere.
3. Umiyama and Nanjo to Hello Work
Encounter at Hello Work Utsutsu Umiyama and Kazuma Nanjo visited Hello Work in order to revitalize the Japanese people in the new era of the Great Political Co-prosperity Sphere. Their goal was to rehire the unemployed and provide job training necessary for postwar reconstruction. There they sought to help build the foundations of a new Japanese society. • Utsutsu Umiyama: "What Japan must accomplish now is to rebuild people's lives and bring about spiritual independence. The support we provide at Hello Work is one step in that direction." • Kazuma Nanjo: "It is not enough. We must restore the pride and responsibility of the Japanese people to support the foundations of our society." They arrive at the Hello Work site and begin talking to the staff there.
4. Encounter with a mysterious staff member
An encounter with a first-year man
In a corner of Hello Work, there was a first-aged man with some mysterious atmosphere. The staff member had a somewhat grim expression on his face, unlike the usual staff members. His face, with deep wrinkles between his eyebrows, looked as if he was anxious about something, and the air around him was disconcerting. • Utsutsu Umiyama: "Why in the world does this official look so unstable?" • Kazuma Nanjo: "I'm curious. Maybe there's something, a big problem, hiding in the background." The official turned to Umiyama and Nanjo, and when they asked, he was silent for a moment before answering. • first man: "I am not anxious about where Japan is going from here. Even now that the war is over, I feel as if the shadow of the Great Political Co-prosperity Sphere still lurks deep within." His words were filled with anxiety about the future as well as mixed feelings toward the Taisei-Yuppan Co-prosperity Sphere. Sensing the deep feelings hidden in his expression, Umiyama and Nanjo sensed some kind of dark cloud. • UmiyamaUtsutsu: "It is what we have anticipated. We will just have to wait and see if the system established by the Great Political Co-prosperity Sphere will indeed move in the right direction." • Kazuma Nanjo: "Indeed, we may be moving forward under a dark cloud. Still, we have no choice but to fight to defend Japan."
5. Signs of dark clouds
Anxious Official The first man then took a deep breath and began to speak again. • First Elderly Man: "Japan has won the war. But after the victory, there is a hidden shadow. Is it really for the Japanese people that the Great Political Co-prosperity Sphere is aiming, or is it happy for its rule to continue ......." At these words, Umiyama and Nanjo were speechless. They sensed the presence of a latent dark cloud, along with hope for the rebuilding of Japan and its future. • Utsutsu Umiyama: "I believe that the system we have built is the way to save Japan. But nothing is certain as to what will happen in the future." • Kazuma Nanjo: "Surely, we are moving through the dark clouds. We may be in the middle of a dark cloud. We may be. Still, we have no choice but to fight to defend Japan." Now that the rule of the Great Government Co-prosperity Sphere has been established, there is a thinly veiled sense of danger and anxiety about where that system is headed. However, Umiyama and Nanjo are determined to stay the course and protect Japan's future at all costs.