To the Edge of Night [2/?]
anonymous
September 25 2011, 11:34:54 UTC
He will free those like him from the inhibiting powers, from imposing the Beasts, the gaikokujin. He will free and lead them to a greater future.
Hakkō ichiu. The world under one roof. His roof.
He will be their guide - or that is what he keeps telling himself, what they keep telling him.
"You are one of pride and of power, of honour and of military might. Your sword, your sword must always be sharp and ready, to cut and to slice. Your sword must be sharp with nationalistic pride and-"
He blinks, uncertain and for a moment, he isn’t quite sure what he’s doing or why. But no, he’s come too far and they urge him on and the Eagle is diving at him, a flurry of talons and feathers and a curved beak
( ... )
To the Edge of Night [3/?]
anonymous
September 25 2011, 11:41:55 UTC
Japan bolted upright in his bed, gasping sharply, his heart drumming so quickly his chest hurt. His yukata clung to his back, damp; the sheets entangled around his limbs. A sliver of sweat traced his forehead and down the slope of his neck
( ... )
To the Edge of Night [4/4]
anonymous
September 25 2011, 11:47:11 UTC
They didn’t speak for a moment, their fingers still laced together in comfort, in reassurance against the nightly fears. Then Greece leaned in closer, and gently pulled Japan towards him, wrapping his arms around him, as if he were physically making himself a protective barrier against spectres of the dream
( ... )
author!non's notes
anonymous
September 25 2011, 11:53:28 UTC
Translations and notes:
gaikokujin - literally "person (or people) from outside of the country", non-Japanese, foreigner.
Nai, i̱ Iapo̱nía? - Yes, Japan?
hanarenaide kudasai - please don't leave
"They" refer to the nationalists and militarists, Japan's bosses during the Imperial times. What "they" wanted back then didn't necessarily reflect the Japanese people's wants (or needs) as a whole.
Hakkō ichiu - literally meaning "eight cords, one roof" i.e. "the world under one roof." It was Japanese political slogan popularly used from the second Sino-Japanese war up to WWII. The original concept was an idealistic wish to liberate Asia from the colonizing powers of the West and to create a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Of course, the nationalists used this to gain resources to keep Japan as a modern power, and the militarists used those same resources as raw materials for war. Many Japanese as that time were drawn to the idea of "hakkō ichiu", and were convinced that the sphere was idealistic, therefore praising it for "
( ... )
Re: author!non's notes
anonymous
September 25 2011, 16:38:09 UTC
Not OP, but I loved this. It makes a lot of sense that Japan's dreams would be highly symbolic, especially dreams about that time, and I love fics that touch on his dark imperial past without making him into a complete monster or blameless victim.
The scene with him and Greece was short but sweet; it was very telling that Japan has had that dream before, but that he has changed enough that he doesn't feel ashamed about admitting it.
author!non
anonymous
September 27 2011, 00:52:50 UTC
^^ Thank you. That was exactly the kind of balance I was aiming for while writing the dream scene. I'm not really fond of the idea of "two" Japans existing as separate entities - his supposedly "normal" and his "dark" side. I just feel he's more complex than that and like humans, nations are fallible too in their decisions and actions. While I definitely don't think he's blameless during the war (and I'm quite sure he's aware of some of the consequences of those decisions/actions), I don't see him as a complete monster either. He probably did what he had to do, or rather, what he thought he had to do for the best interests of his people. Also because nationalist/militarist bosses = not cool at all.
I'm happy you enjoyed this! Thanks for the comment :)
Nation A has a bad nightmare where Nation B died. Nation B comforts them.
Reply
Reply
Hakkō ichiu. The world under one roof. His roof.
He will be their guide - or that is what he keeps telling himself, what they keep telling him.
"You are one of pride and of power, of honour and of military might. Your sword, your sword must always be sharp and ready, to cut and to slice. Your sword must be sharp with nationalistic pride and-"
He blinks, uncertain and for a moment, he isn’t quite sure what he’s doing or why. But no, he’s come too far and they urge him on and the Eagle is diving at him, a flurry of talons and feathers and a curved beak ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Reply
gaikokujin - literally "person (or people) from outside of the country", non-Japanese, foreigner.
Nai, i̱ Iapo̱nía? - Yes, Japan?
hanarenaide kudasai - please don't leave
"They" refer to the nationalists and militarists, Japan's bosses during the Imperial times. What "they" wanted back then didn't necessarily reflect the Japanese people's wants (or needs) as a whole.
Hakkō ichiu - literally meaning "eight cords, one roof" i.e. "the world under one roof." It was Japanese political slogan popularly used from the second Sino-Japanese war up to WWII. The original concept was an idealistic wish to liberate Asia from the colonizing powers of the West and to create a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Of course, the nationalists used this to gain resources to keep Japan as a modern power, and the militarists used those same resources as raw materials for war. Many Japanese as that time were drawn to the idea of "hakkō ichiu", and were convinced that the sphere was idealistic, therefore praising it for " ( ... )
Reply
The scene with him and Greece was short but sweet; it was very telling that Japan has had that dream before, but that he has changed enough that he doesn't feel ashamed about admitting it.
Reply
I'm happy you enjoyed this! Thanks for the comment :)
Reply
Leave a comment