Set in a future Japan, this story is about national independence, war, economic renewal, and the restoration of human dignity. At the heart of the story is a grand vision of how postwar Japan can achieve independence and grow as a nation with the power to lead all of Asia. The story is multi-layered, intertwining the individual growth of the characters, their beliefs, and their human drama.
The story begins with the process of liberating postwar Japan from the spiritual and economic dependence it had been harboring. Japan had succumbed to external pressure, primarily from the U.S., and as a result was in a state of near spiritual and economic "slavery. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), under the influence of the U.S., manipulated the Japanese psyche and controlled education. As a result of the war, the dignity of the Japanese people was lost, the importance of "food, clothing, and shelter," the essence of life, was diminished, and a society was formed in which simply "living" was obligatory and one could not have self-respect. This setting underscores the overall message of the story. Japan's new independence and the restoration of human dignity is the underlying theme of the story.
The central characters of the story are Utsutsu Umiyama, Kazuma Nanjo, Toshio Sueyoshi, Shigeru Sugawara, Ryoma Sakoda, Kazuhiro Yamaguchi, and Asako Oda, among other diverse characters. They all contribute to the revitalization of the nation from different perspectives during the chaotic postwar period, and at times are at odds with each other.
Utsutsu Umiyama is a trading company employee and a man of reason and cool-headed judgment who works hard to achieve Japan's economic independence after the war. He is determined to completely liquidate relations with the United States and create an independent economic foundation.
Nanjo Kazuma, on the other hand, is an idealistic character who seeks to establish a major political co-prosperity sphere. He has the ideas and vision necessary to lead a strong future Japan and fights alongside Umiyama to build a new Japan. The trust and friendship between them play an important role in the story.
Toshio Sueyoshi and Shigeru Sugawara bring different perspectives to the rebuilding of Japan, and their opinions sometimes conflict. In particular, Sueyoshi strongly opposes Sugawara's attempts to conduct unfair transactions in the name of "business games," and a deadly confrontation develops between the two men.
Ryoma Sakoda and Kazuhiro Yamashii also have a subtle feud with each other, but ultimately work together to establish a new order. Their relationship, while seemingly peaceful on the surface, is fraught with deep inner tension, coloring the elements of conflict and reconciliation in the story.
As the story progresses, a new economic and political system, the Taisei Kyosei Kyosei Sphere, is established. After overcoming the postwar turmoil, Japan will become self-reliant and establish itself as the leader of Asia as a whole. This system was not merely an economic competition, but a movement to create a new order and independence for Japan, backed by political power.
Through the creation of the Zipangcoin and the Co-Prosperity Sphere Gold (Taisei Yokusan coin), Mitsui, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Sumitomo Corporation joined forces to create a new form of Japan, one that transcended the economic framework and had the power to create a new form of Japan, free from its history of war and domination. The birth of the new currency is portrayed not as a mere financial revolution, but as a symbol of Japan's economic independence and pride, which grows in importance as the story progresses.
The story depicts the military confrontation between the Great Political Co-prosperity Sphere, China, and the United States. In particular, a new military force based on private armies, known as the Taisei Revolutionary Army, fights to gain control over all of Asia and ultimately restore Japanese sovereignty. Victory in the war is portrayed in the story as a symbol of Japan's independence.
Thereafter, with the end of the war, the theme of the story is how Japan regains peace and what it must build for the new era. In the postwar peace, the characters go their separate ways to regain human dignity and rebuild their lost spiritual independence.
The most important theme throughout the story is human dignity. Throughout the war, people regain their lost pride and learn the true meaning of living together. In the establishment and subsequent rebuilding of the Taisei Kyoseikai, the characters gradually begin to understand the importance of respecting others and living together. In particular, the relationship between Utsutsu Umiyama and Asako Oda becomes a symbol of this, and they decide to walk together into a new era.
The final message of the story is not about the domination of power, but about building a future through symbiosis and cooperation. The Great Government Co-Prosperity Sphere is portrayed as more than just an economic system, but as a way to protect human dignity and to achieve a new kind of peace.