Jason Liao wrote:

On Thu, 8 Jul 1999, Mike Allen wrote:

The last group of nobility was created a hundred and fifty years ago in
response to the technological superiority that the European monarchies
held over the people of Nippon.  These are the Technologists.

Similar to the popularity of physicists in the early 50's, huh?

Hmm.  I suppose that could be a possible comparison.

Actually, I disbelieve the plausibility of this.  From what I was taught,
Japan was content to be isolationist until they were attacked by United
States ironclads demanding that they trade.  It was then that they decided
to increase their technology.

Well, all I can say to this is that different choices by earlier rulers
brought about a Japan that was expansionistic in the 1800's, joining the
other Western powers in reaching out for control of the globe.  One of
the ideas I considered was what Japan would be like if Nobunaga had
lived.  His presence, and those of his descendants, changed the face of
the Empire, a ripple effect down through time that produced what I
thought might be a logical conclusion.  The bloodline of Nobunaga was
mingled with that of the Imperial Family, producing a new Imperial Line
that regained control of the military for itself, creating an Emperor
who ruled through military strength as much as tradition.

JK aluded in one part that the United States never formed.  So, just where
did Japan gain their motivation?  Since it's so far to Japan around
Africa, it's unlikely that Europe would have attacked since any ship
willing to make the journey would have rather gone to China.  After all,
Japan might have had some raw materials, but all the trade goods were
flowing from China.

Well, greed can be a motivator as well.  The wealth of China and the
other Asian nations flowing out to Europe provided the spur to get
the Empire moving.  Compared to faltering China, Japan was vigorous
and growing in strength.  The Christianization of Japan was also not
crushed, but it was instead used (as Western kings had done) by the
nobility to support the Empire.  Though they haven't been shown yet in
the story, there are sects of the Catholic Church which have adopted
some Eastern philosophy, and allow the Church to influence events in
the Empire.

Unless, of course, Europe already occupied the Americas, in which case,
shipping from Japan would be more desirable.  But if that were so, then
there's no way Japan could have waged a sucessful war.  After all, the
amount of raw materials available to its enemies would have been enormous.

Well, Europe had its own troubles, such as the threat of the Swiss and
their control of Northern Europe.

Then again, I'm not a history major, so feel free to ignore me.

Well, when I first created the story concept, all I had in mind was
that Japan had an Empire and ruled much of the world, and it let me
approach the characters from a more radical perspective than fanfics
normally do.

   The most proper form of address to one of this caste is "Citizen
family name."  Due to a slight relaxing of the forms of address in
recent decades, even a low noble may be referenced in this way, for
example, "Citizen Saotome."

[Greetings, Citizen Saot-O-MEE.  Are you happy?  Thinking any treasonous
thoughts?  Any mutant powers?]

Heh.  Ah, a Paranoia player.   ^_^

Anyone found with a weapon that belongs to a lower caste
can be summarily executed.

I assume you mean "higher caste."

[Posession of a weapons about your clearance level is treason.]

^_^

Jurai Knight