Of course, Eijiro had been aware that the citizens of the Democracy might have a... less than stellar opinion of his homeland and indeed of himself. For starters, ideologically Daitō was quite different to them. There was no getting around that, the YFD had a monopoly on power, while here, the people themselves ruled. There was of course also the matter of the Great War. Long are the memories of those who suffered, and unforgiving the heart of those who had lost so much for so little. Suffice to say, there were many within the government who thought that rapprochement was a fool's errand, that their grievances were too great. Eijiro, however, was not one of them. Though he had unfortunately never had the chance to visit, he had, in his youth, come to cultivate a certain respect for the Feng, to the point he went out of his way to learn the language, though it perhaps did not benefit him then. He had always hoped that this moment would arrive, and here it was. The naysayers could speak their mind all they wished; their kind had said much the same when efforts were made to normalize relations with the Ardians back in the seventies, and now, they were a close friend of Daitō. If such could be achieved with them, though much suffering had been dealt to both countries, then certainly it was possible—no, inevitable— that the Democracy would be no different.
He had to admit though, this was far different to any other meeting he had participated in. Far more casual, if you could call it that, since it wasn't relying on the constant formality that came with a typical state visit. In a way, it was actually quite refreshing. As a result, it being unnecessary to bear the accoutrements of his station, he instead elected to wear something more modern. Not Occidental per se, rather taking the traditional clothing of his homeland and updating it so that it may be more suited to life in this day and age. He saw someone give the signal, and then it was time. With a deep breath, the lights turned on, and it was time.
He listened to his host, the esteemed Guo Tianming, as he introduced him as he walked forwards, waving to the audience as he did so. When he mentioned his personal name, rather than being bothered, Eijiro smiled and nodded, not particularly minding its use as the tradition did get in the way of diplomatic affairs from time to time. Then it came time for him to ask his question, one which was evidently quite important, about the last seventy years. Sixty-eight, really, but close enough. Without skipping a beat, having of course prepared for the question ahead of time, he answered.
"Certainly, Mr. Guo." Eijiro said in Feng; his pronunciation was on point, although he certainly spoke with something of an accent. "The last seventy years have been a time of great prosperity, although I will freely admit that it could've turned out differently. After the war, we, like many other countries in the region, were left scarred by war and ravaged by famine. It was only through the kindness of others that we were able to rebuild, and from that firm foundation, we have now reached new heights, achieved things which our forebears could scarcely imagine."
He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts as he looked around the room, first at the audience, then at the table, upon which tea and mochi had been graciously offered, before finally turning his gaze back to his host, back to Tianming.
"Likewise, as is most apparent tonight, you and your people have managed much the same." Eijiro acknowledged with a smile. "Of course, it hasn't always been perfect. Sure, we have seen much progress, but the path of history is not always straight like an arrow. We've had to navigate a world which has changed rapidly, yet stayed the same in others. What I can assure you, however, is that the Daitō which fought in the Great War, though its spirit is eternal, has come to see the world in different manner to what it was then, a better way." He stated. "It was the Empire's founder, Emperor Shin'ō, who said at the time of his accession at the end of the Kamiyo—the Age of the Gods—and I quote, 'shall cover the eight directions and make them my abode.', which formed the basis of our nation's ideology at the time. We were misguided in how to achieve that goal, for it is not through armed conflict that the world can be brought together, but through peace and fraternity with all nations. It is a belief that I, like many others back home, earnestly share, and it is my hope that we can once again demonstrate the nobility of that goal."
He paused again, turning his mind now to the second part of the question. It almost seemed out of place; certainly, it was a source of pride for the Empire, but it was like a drop of water in the ocean that was the the last seventy years. Still, he was certain to oblige, as it was another of his interests, though one which was still secondary to the task at hand.
"As for your other question, yes. We have landed men and women on the face of the moon, and furthermore, we have returned them safely to this fair world we call our home. Even as we speak, we have dutiful and skilled crews living among the heavens, learning the secrets of the universe in which we reside, so that the knowledge we gain today may benefit the generations of tomorrow."
