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Jin Hiraishi, Director of the Tokubetsu Kōtō Keisatsu, has confirmed that the agency has arrested a suspect in the investigation into the 6/10 attack. The individual, a man by the name of Kaiji Hatsu, was found to have ties to the organization known as the RAC, had been seen leaving the building where the gunfire came from, and had, according to a source in the organization, his fingerprints on bullet casings in the room where the firearm was found. The Director was quoted as saying "While we have concerns as to how our gunman acquired the rifle used, that being a Yamakawa R73, we have no doubt that 'Hatsu-san' was responsible." The Rifle, whose serial number has not been disclosed to the public, was last checked out by a Rikugun-Chūi by the name of Katsuo Ijima, who went missing shortly before the attacks on the 10th of June. While the Director did not confirm the relation of Ijima-chūi to the attacks, he did say that there was good reason to believe that he was tied to it in some manner.

Director Hiraishi expressed his concern over another finding in the case, that being the discovery of Ijima-chūi's body in Ikijima's Mitane Prefecture in June. This news was reported briefly in the Island's local news outlets shortly after its discovery but was, due to its apparent lack of importance at the time, not reported by national news networks. So far, Director Hiraishi stated he believed that the suspect, Kaiji Hatsu, may have kidnapped the lieutenant during a regular drill and had, after the killing of Prime Minister Anabuki and the Antei Emperor, murdered him in order to tie up any loose ends. However, he stressed that, although the primary suspect has been taken into custody, the case remains far from closed as the investigation into any potential co-conspirators begins. We will update you with any other findings as they arrive.

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   The Imperial Diet (帝国議会, Teikoku-gikai) is the national legislature of Daitō. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (衆議院, Shūgiin), and an upper house, the House of Peers (貴族院, Kizoku-in). Both houses, with the exceptions of a few seats in the House of Peers, are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally responsible for nominating the Prime Minister. The Diet was officially established in 1890 following the promulgation of the constitution, however, it took its current form in the 1950s as a result of the 1950 Public Offices Election Law and the 1951 Electoral Reform Amendment. Both houses meet in the Imperial Diet Building (帝国議会議事堂, Teikoku-gikai gijidō) in Shinkyō.

Composition
   The Houses of the Imperial Diet are elected under parallel voting systems. This means that the seats to be filled in any given election are divided into two groups, each elected by a different method; the main difference between the houses is in the sizes of the two groups and how they are elected. Voters are also asked to cast two votes: one for an individual candidate in a constituency, and one for a party list. Any national of Daitō at least eighteen years of age may vote in these elections, reduced from 20 in 1978. Daitō's parallel voting system is not to be confused with the Additional Member System used in many other nations. The Constitution of Daitō does not specify the number of members of each house of the Diet, the voting system, or the necessary qualifications of those who may vote or be returned in parliamentary elections, thus allowing all of these things to be determined by law. However, through a number of amendments, it does guarantee universal adult suffrage and a secret ballot. It also insists that the electoral law must not discriminate in terms of "race, creed, sex, social status, family origin, education, property or income".

   Generally, the election of Diet members is controlled by statutes passed by the Diet. This has led to controversy surrounding the re-apportionment of prefectures' seats in response to changes of population distribution. For example, the YFD has historically gained much support from rural areas, however, large numbers of people relocated to the urban centers in search of opportunity; though some re-apportionments have been made to the number of each prefecture's assigned seats in the Diet, rural areas generally have more representation than urban areas. The Supreme Court of Daitō began exercising judicial review of apportionment laws following the Akimoto decision of 1970, invalidating an election in which one district in Otobe Prefecture received five times the representation of another district in Ashina Prefecture. In recent elections the malapportionment ratio amounted 3.5 in the House of Peers and 2.1 in the House of Representatives. Candidates for the lower house must be 25 years old or older and 30 years or older for the upper house. All candidates must be Daitōjin nationals. Diet members are paid roughly 文12,000 ($11,600) per month in salary. Each lawmaker is entitled to employ three secretaries with taxpayer funds, free Shinkansen tickets, and four round-trip airplane tickets a month to enable them to travel back and forth to their home districts.
Powers
   While the constitution officially describes the Emperor as being the one who exercises authority with the consent of the Diet, through a combination of legal precedent and laws passed, in practice the Imperial Diet has become the highest organ of State power and in theory the sole law-making organ of the State, albeit with the concession that the Emperor is allowed to promulgate Imperial Rescripts. These rescripts are, however, typically confirmed by the Imperial Diet and can be vetoed by a 3/4ths majority vote in the House of Representatives and a 2/3rds majority in the House of Peers. The Diet's responsibilities include not only the making of laws but also the approval of the annual national budget that the government submits and the ratification of treaties. It can also initiate draft constitutional amendments, which, if approved, must be presented to the people in a referendum. The Diet is allowed to conduct investigations in relation to government.

   The Prime Minister must be designated by Diet resolution, establishing the principle of legislative supremacy over executive government agencies. The government can also be dissolved by the Diet if it passes a motion of no confidence introduced by fifty members of the House of Representatives. Government officials, including the Prime Minister and Cabinet members, are required to appear before Diet investigative committees and answer inquiries. The Diet also has the power to impeach judges convicted of criminal or irregular conduct. In most circumstances, in order to become law a bill must be first passed by both houses of the Diet and then promulgated by the Emperor, with the role of the Emperor being similar to Royal Assent seen in some other countries. The Emperor is allowed to refuse to promulgate a law, with this being a final act of veto to proposed legislation, albeit one which is rarely used compared to other methods.

   The House of Representatives is the more powerful chamber of the Diet. While the House of Representatives cannot usually overrule the House of Peers on a bill, the House of Peers can only delay the adoption of a budget or a treaty that has been approved by the House of Representatives, and the House of Peers has almost no power at all to prevent the lower house from selecting any Prime Minister it wishes. Furthermore, once appointed it is the confidence of the House of Representatives alone that the Prime Minister must enjoy in order to continue in office. The House of Representatives can overrule the upper house in the following circumstances:
      • If a bill is adopted by the House of Representatives and then either rejected, amended or not approved within 60 days by the House of Peers, then the bill will become law if again adopted by the House of Representatives by a majority of at least two-thirds of members present.
      • If both houses cannot agree on a budget or a treaty, even through the appointment of a joint committee of the Diet, or if the House of Peers fails to take final action on a proposed budget or treaty within 30 days of its approval by the House of Representatives, then the decision of the lower house is deemed to be that of the Diet.
      • If both houses cannot agree on a candidate for Prime Minister, even through a joint committee, or if the House of Peers fails to designate a candidate within 10 days of House of Representatives' decision, then the nominee of the lower house is deemed to be that of the Diet.
Activities
   Under the Constitution, at least one session of the Diet must be convened each year. Technically, only the House of Representatives is dissolved before an election, but, while the lower house is in dissolution, the House of Peers is usually "closed". The Emperor both convokes the Diet and dissolves the House of Representatives but in doing so must act on the advice of the Cabinet. In an emergency the Cabinet can convoke the Diet for an extraordinary session, and an extraordinary session may be requested by one-quarter of the members of either house. At the beginning of each parliamentary session, the Emperor reads a special speech from his throne in the chamber of the House of Peers.

   The presence of one-third of the membership of either house constitutes a quorum and deliberations are in public unless at least two-thirds of those present agree otherwise. Each house elects its own presiding officer who casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie. The Diet has parliamentary immunity. Members of each house have certain protections against arrest while the Diet is in session and arrested members must be released during the term of the session if the House demands. They are immune outside the house for words spoken and votes cast in the House. Each house of the Diet determines its own standing orders and has responsibility for disciplining its own members. A member may be expelled, but only by a two-thirds majority vote. Every member of the Cabinet has the right to appear in either house of the Diet for the purpose of speaking on bills, and each house has the right to compel the appearance of Cabinet members.

Legislative Process
   The vast majority of bills are submitted to the Diet by the Cabinet. Bills are usually drafted by the relevant ministry, sometimes with the advice of an external committee if the issue is sufficiently important or neutrality is necessary. Such advisory committees may include university professors, trade union representatives, industry representatives, and local governors and mayors, and invariably include retired officials. Such draft bills would be sent to the Cabinet Legislation Bureau of the government, as well as to the ruling party.
Sessions
   There are generally three types of sessions of the Imperial Diet:
      • R — Jōkai (常会), regular sessions of the Imperial Diet, often shortened to "regular Diet" (通常議会, tsūjō Gikai). These are now typically called in January, last for 150 days, and can be extended once.
      • E — Rinjikai (臨時会), extraordinary sessions of the Imperial Diet, often shortened to "extraordinary Diet" (臨時議会, rinji Gikai). These are often called in autumn, or in the summer after a regular election of the House of Peers (貴族院通常選挙, Kizoku-in giin tsūjō-senkyo) or after a full-term general election of the House of Representatives (衆議院議員総選挙, Shūgi-in giin sō-senkyo). Its length is negotiated between the two houses and it can be extended twice.
      • S — Tokubetsukai (特別会) Special sessions of the Imperial Diet, often shortened to "special Diet" (特別議会, tokubetsu Gikai). They are called only after a dissolution and early general election of the House of Representatives. Because the cabinet must resign after a House of Representatives election, the Imperial Diet always chooses a prime minister-designate in a special session (but inversely, not all PM elections take place in a special Diet). A special session can be extended twice.
      • HPES — There is a fourth type of legislative session: If the House of Representatives is dissolved, an Imperial Diet cannot be convened. In urgent cases, the cabinet may invoke an emergency session (緊急集会, kinkyū shūkai) of the House of Peers to take provisional decisions for the whole Diet. As soon as the whole Imperial Diet convenes again, these decisions must be confirmed by the House of Representatives or become ineffective. Until 2023, such an emergency session had, however, never been called before.

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The Imperial government has confirmed that general elections will be held on the 27th of October, in keeping with the terms of the mandate given to it by the Imperial Diet in June. This comes as candidates prepare to begin their campaigns on the fifteenth of October, a result of a law passed in 1978 requiring that electoral campaigns for the House of Representatives take place over just twelve days. This rule was temporarily waived in 2020 as a test for potential reform in the system which has, however, been rescinded. So far, it seems likely that, in spite of previous events surrounding the tumultuous Fukumoto premiership, the Jiyū-Minshutō (LDP) will perform well, although it is expected to face a significant challenge to its hold on power by the Rikken-minshutō (CDP).

The elections this year are expected to be rather unique, coming off the heels of the Imperial Diet being dissolved in the wake of the 6/10 attacks and power being temporarily handed to the Emperor. This move was generally met with a mixed response, with many questioning the need for a Diet if it was going to hand power to someone else in the face of a crisis. It is expected that this decision will pose a challenge to many members of the House of Representatives as they begin their campaigns.

Gubernatorial elections will be held as planned this year on the same day as the General election, with several prefectural governors standing for reelection, although some, such as Gov. Shiro Yokata-san announcing their retirement. With that in mind, the coming election season looks to be a most interesting one for the Empire.

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His Majesty, Go-Tenshi Tennō, has won the Gold Medal in the Horseback Archery Circuit and Cross Country Relay events. The latter of these victories was, as he admitted, achieved in part thanks to the other members of the national team, to whom much glory has rightfully been attained. His Majesty also won second and third place in the standard cross-country and Time Attack events respectively. It should be noted, however, that in the case of the latter event, he was reportedly "going easy" on the Fleuroix and that he felt pity for their team in particular, given their rather poor performance in the Circuit event. As for the Cross Country event, he admitted that his Achkaerinese competitor was genuinely skilled enough to have beaten him fairly. The same went for the Tytorian competitor in the Time Attack event. Regardless of this, though the games will continue, the Nation celebrates its honoured Emperor. Long may he reign!

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(OOC Note: This was meant to be released last wednesday/thursday)

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   The Daitōjin political process is made up of two types of elections:
      • National elections (国政選挙, kokusei senkyo)
      • Subnational/local elections (地方選挙, chihō senkyo)

   While the national level features a parliamentary system of government where the head of government is elected indirectly by the legislature, provinces, prefectures, and municipalities employ a presidential system where chief executives and legislative assemblies are directly elected, independently from each other. Many of these elections are held together in unified local elections (統一地方選挙, Tōitsu chihō senkyo) which have, since 1952, been held in years before leap years; but since each election cycle of every chief executive or assembly of any prefecture or municipality is independent and not reset after resignations, deaths, recalls, no-confidence votes, dissolutions, or municipal mergers, there are also many non-unified local elections today. While prefectural and municipal assemblies are unicameral, both the provincial assemblies and the Imperial Diet are bicameral, with the two houses on independent election cycles.

Rules and Regulations
   Both national & local elections are regulated by the Public Offices Election Law (公職選挙法, kōshoku-senkyo-hō), which was passed in 1950 ahead of the 1952 general election. Elections are supervised by Election Administration Commissions at each administrative level under the general direction of the Central Election Management Council, an extraordinary organ attached to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The minimum voting age in Daitō was reduced from 20 years old to 18 in 1978. Under the current system, voters must satisfy a three-month residency requirement before being allowed to cast a ballot. For those seeking offices, there are two sets of age requirements: twenty-five years of age for admission to the House of Representatives and most local offices, and thirty years of age for admission to the House of Peers and governorships. Each deposit for candidacy for national election is 文29,000 (roughly $27,000) for a single-seat constituency and 文58,000 (approximately $54,000) for proportional representation.

National Elections
   National elections in Daitō include:
      • General elections of members of the House of Representatives (衆議院議員総選挙, Shūgi-in giin sō-senkyo), held every four years unless the lower house is dissolved earlier to elect all members of the House of Representatives at once.
      • Regular/Ordinary elections of members of the House of Peers (貴族院通常選挙, Kizoku-in giin tsūjō-senkyo), held every three years in staggered elections to six-year terms with half of the membership up in each class.
      • By-elections of members of the House of Representatives/House of Peers (衆議院/貴族院議員補欠選挙, Shūgiin/Kizokuin giin hoketsu-senkyo) to fill vacant majoritarian seats
      • Repeat elections of members of the House of Representatives/House of Peers (衆議院/貴族院議員再選挙, Shūgiin/Kizokuin giin sai-senkyo) after an election has been invalidated, e.g. by a winner missing the legal vote quorum or after election law violations

   Daitō's legislature, the Imperial Diet (帝国議会, Teikoku-gikai), has two directly elected chambers, elected on independent electoral cycles:
House of Representatives
   The House of Representatives (衆議院, Shūgi-in) has 465 members, elected for a four year term, 289 members in single-seat constituencies and 176 members by proportional representation in 13 regional "block" constituencies. General elections of members of the House of Representatives are usually held before the end of a four-year term as the chamber may be dissolved by the cabinet via the Emperor. Most prime ministers use that option. The only exception in post-war history was the so-called "Kalasin Election" of 1982, which saw the DPD lose power as a result of the fallout from an incident between Daitō and the People's Republic of Kalasin that nearly led to a resumed war. The single-seat constituencies are decided by plurality, and the proportional seats are handed out in each "block" constituency to party lists proportionally (by the D'Hondt method) to their share of the vote. Each voter votes twice, once for a candidate in the local constituency, and once for a party in the regional "block" constituency. In a parallel system, there is no link between votes in one tier and seat numbers in the other; but so-called dual candidacies (重複立候補, chōfuku rikkōho) of one candidate in both tiers simultaneously are allowed. If such dual candidates lose in the majoritarian tier, they still have a chance to be elected in the proportional block. Parties may also place dual district and block candidates on the same list rank; in that case, the Sekihairitsu (惜敗率, ratio of margin of defeat) system determines the order of candidates.

House of Peers
   While there was originally no constitutional proscription for the House of Peers (貴族院, Kizoku-in) to be elected—indeed, until the early 1950s, it was almost entirely appointed—since the Public Offices Election Law of 1950 and subsequently the 1951 Electoral Reform Amendment, elections have been held for the vast majority of seats. Nonetheless, before proceeding, the structure of the House of Peers between 1925 and 1950 is worth examining. The House of Peers formerly comprised:
       • The crown prince (Kōtaishi) and the imperial grandson and heir presumptive (Kōtaison) from the age of 18, with the term of office for life.
      • All imperial princes (shinnō) and lesser princes of the imperial blood (ō) over the age of 20, with the term of office for life.
      • All princes and marquises over the age of 25 (raised to 30 in 1925), with the term of office for life.
      • 18 counts, 66 viscounts and 66 barons over the age of 25 (raised to 30 in 1925), for seven-year terms.
      • 125 distinguished politicians and scientists over the age of 30 nominated by the Emperor in consultation with the Privy Council, with the term of office for life.
      • 4 members of the Imperial Academy over the age of 30, elected by the academicians and nominated by the Emperor, for seven-year terms.
      • 66 elected representatives of the 6000 highest taxpayers, over the age of 30 and for seven-year terms.

   The House of Peers has 248 members in total, of which 240 are elected for a fixed six-year term, 148 members by single non-transferable vote (SNTV) in 45 single- and multi-seat constituencies and 92 by proportional representation with optionally open lists in a single, nationwide constituency. The eight remaining seats are allocated to the crown prince and imperial grandson, as well as the imperial princes, whose terms are for life. When those positions are not filled, they are elected under the same proportional system, and if a prince becomes eligible during a term, the seat is not put up for election in the next cycle.

   Regular elections of members of the House of Peers are held once every three years. In staggered elections, half of the House of Peers comes up for election every three years in elections. The term is fixed, the House of Peers cannot be dissolved. This, too, is a parallel electoral system. Dual candidacies are not allowed. As in House of Representatives elections, voters have two votes: In the majoritarian election, the vote has to be for a candidate, but in the proportional election, the vote may be for either a party list or a single candidate; in the latter case, the vote counts as both a vote for the party list (to determine proportional seat distribution), and as a preference vote within that list (to determine the order or proportional candidates within that list). The district magnitudes in the majoritarian tier vary between one and six, dependent on, but not fully proportional to the population of each prefecture. In single-member constituencies, SNTV becomes equivalent to first-past-the-post, whereas seats are usually split between different parties/alliances in multi-member constituencies (and in the proportional constituency by definition). Therefore, the single-member constituencies of the House of Peers are more likely to swing the election result and often receive more media and campaign attention. The proportional election to the House of Peers allows the voters to cast a preference vote for a single candidate on a party list. The preference votes strictly determined the ranking of candidates on party lists before 2018. Since the 2018 election, parties are allowed to prioritize individual candidates on their proportional list over voter preferences in a "special frame" (特定枠, tokutei-waku).

Election of the Prime Minister
   Prior to the Greater East Ardian War, the prime minister was not elected by legislature, but responsible to, chosen and appointed by the Emperor. In practice, however, the Genrō (元老) usually nominated a candidate for appointment. The Imperial Diet, and more specifically, the House of Representatives, had no constitutionally guaranteed role in the formation of cabinets.

   Under the terms of the 1951 Electoral Reform Amendment, however, the the Prime Minister has been chosen in the "designation election of the prime minister" (内閣総理大臣指名選挙, Naikaku sōridaijin shimei senkyo) in the Imperial Diet. It is held held after a cabinet has submitted its resignation—the outgoing cabinet remains as caretaker cabinet until the Imperial inauguration ceremony of a new prime minister—; a cabinet must resign en masse under the constitution (Electoral Reform Amendment, Articles 6 and 7) 1. always on convocation of the first Diet after a general election of the House of Representatives, 2. if the post of prime minister has fallen vacant, including cases where the prime minister is permanently incapacitated (e.g. by illness, kidnapping or defection), 3. if a no-confidence vote in the House of Representatives is not answered by the dissolution of the chamber. Though both Houses of the Diet vote in two-round elections to select a prime minister, the House of Representatives has the decisive vote: If the two Houses vote for different candidates, a procedure in the joint committee of both houses (両院協議会, Ryōin Kyōgikai) may reach a consensus; but eventually the candidate of the House of Representatives becomes that of the whole Diet and thereby prime minister-designate. The designated prime minister must still be appointed by the Emperor in the Imperial Investiture (親任式, Shinnin-shiki) to enter office. The Emperor has the discretionary power to appoint an individual other than the person appointed by the Diet, however, except in cases of emergency, this has rarely occurred.

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Daitōjin Mundus Games Participant and kendōka Mayumi Chida (千田 真有美, Chida Mayumi has won the Gold Medal in Womens Individual Kendo, beating out FleRur and securing the national team a spot in the top-five. Chida-san, aged 28, is a 6-dan in Kendo, having studied the art since she started secondary school. She previously competed in the 2020 Mundus Games where she won a bronze medal in WIK and as part of the Womens National Kendo team, jointly won the silver medal. Himekawa-daijō congratulated Chida-san on her accomplishment in a statement released earlier this afternoon, wherein he praised her determination and valour against odds which were stacked against her, in effect saying that she embodied the spirit of a warrior.

Asahiko Esashika (江刺家 朝彦, Esashika Asahiko won the silver medal in Mens Individual Kendo, being beaten out by an athlete from Bakkermaya for the top spot on the podium. He will compete alongside the Mens National Kendo team in the team phase of the event when it is held.

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   The Emperor of Daitō is the head of state and sovereign of the Empire of Daitō, as well as the head of the Imperial House. Under the Constitution of Daitō, he is defined as the "head of the Empire, combining in Himself the rights of sovereignty, and exercises them, according to the provisions of the present constitution", while his authority is derived from the constitution, which states that Daitō shall "be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal." The Imperial Household Law generally governs the line of imperial succession. The Emperor is immune from prosecution by the Supreme Court of Daitō. He is also the head of the Teidō religion. In Ōnishi, the Emperor is referred to as Tennō (天皇), which translates literally as "Emperor of Heaven" or "Heavenly Sovereign". The Teidō religion holds the Emperor to be the direct descendant of the sun goddess, Amaterasu. The Emperor is also the head of all national Daitōjin orrders, decorations, medals, and awards. In English, the use of the term Mikado (帝／御門) for the emperor was once common but is now considered obsolete.

   The Imperial House of Daitō, alternatively known as the Imperial House of Fusan or by their name, the Yamato Dynasty, is amongst the oldest in the world, with its historical origins in the late Kofun period, which lasted from roughly 600 to 188 BC. According to the mythological accounts of the Kojiki, Daitō was founded by Emperor Shin'ō in 660 BC. The role of the Emperor of Daitō has has historically alternated between a largely ceremonial symbolic role and that of an actual imperial ruler. Since the establishment of the first shogunate in 1192, the emperors of Daitō have rarely taken on a role as supreme battlefield commander, unlike many other monarchs. Daitōjin emperors have nearly always been controlled by external political forces, to varying degrees. For example, between 1192 and 1867, the shōguns were the de facto rulers of Daitō, although they were nominally appointed by the emperor.  Since the Keiō Restoration, the Emperors of Daitō have been the embodiment of all sovereign power in the realm, as enshrined by the constitution, although through long-standing precedent, they act largely as ceremonial heads of state, albeit ones with notable political power unto themselves.
Role of the Emperor
Constitutional and Political Roles
   As is seen in many constitutional monarchies, the Emperor is the chief executive of the nation. Executive power is vested in the position of the Emperor, however, he is bound by convention to act upon the advice of the cabinet and to exercise his powers through the various ministers and ministries. He is also the de jure Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Though there is nothing on the books prohibiting it, the Emperor is, by convention, typically barred from making political statements, owing to his position as a unifying figure within the country. The Emperor's roles are as follows:
      • Appointment of the Prime Minister as recommended by the Diet.*
      • Appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as recommended by the Cabinet.*
      • Promulgation of amendments of the constitution, laws, cabinet orders, and treaties.
      • Issuance of Imperial Ordinances and Rescripts.
      • Convocation of the Diet.
      • Dissolution of the House of Representatives.
      • Proclamation of general election of members of the Diet.
      • Command of the Armed Forces.
      • Attestation of the appointment and dismissal of Ministers of State and other officials as provided for by law, and of full powers and credentials of Ambassadors and Ministers.
      • Attestation of pardon, general and special amnesty, commutation of punishment, reprieve, and restoration of rights.
      • Awarding of honors.
      • Attestation of instruments of ratification and other diplomatic documents as provided for by law.
      • Declarations of War and Peace.
      • Conferral of titles of nobility, rank, order, and other marks of honor.
      • Performance of ceremonial functions.
(*Under extreme circumstances, the Emperor can appoint these positions without the recommendation of the Cabinet)
Cultural Role
   The Emperor is regarded as the foremost Teidō priest in terms of religion. This sacred duty dates back to the Niiname-sai (新嘗祭, "tasting of new rice") imperial harvest festival. In this ritual, the emperor presents newly gathered rice to the gods. The celebration is known as Daijōsai (大嘗祭, "Great Tasting") and takes place in the first year after the emperor's accession to the throne. The historical text, Fusō Shoki, dates to the late Kofun period and mentions this ceremony. The event evolved through time to become "Harvest Day", a recognized official holiday today. The office of the emperor is also cultural bearer and steward of tradition and culture. For example the Utakai Hajime is the annual poetry reading competition convened by the emperor. The emperor is supported in this function by the empress and other members of the imperial family, who have honorary patronages of many associations and organisations. They travel extensively throughout the year within the country to uphold these roles. In sports, the Emperor's Cup (天皇賜杯, Tennō shihai) is given to a number of competitions such as football, judo, volleyball, and the top division yūshō winner of a sumo tournament.
Names
   The Ōnishi language has two words equivalent to the English word "emperor": tennō 天皇, "heavenly sovereign"), which refers exclusively to the emperor of Daitō, and kōtei (皇帝), which primarily identifies non-Daitōjin emperors. Sumeramikoto ("the imperial person") was also used in Old Ōnishi. Emperors used the term tennō up until the early Medieval period, then, following a period of disuse, again from the 19th century onwards. The weakened power of the emperors led to the title tennō not being used from 1200 to 1840; during this time, living emperors were called shujō (主上) and deceased ones were called in (院). Other titles that were recorded to be in use were kō (皇), tei (帝), ō (王), all meaning "prince" or "emperor", and tenshi (天子), or "child of heaven". In English, the term mikado (御門 or 帝), literally meaning "the honorable gate" (i.e. the gate of the imperial palace, which indicates the person who lives in and possesses the palace) was once used, but it has fallen out of use.

   Daitōjin emperors take on a regnal name, which is the common and polite way to refer to the emperor as a person during their reign. Daitōjin regnal names are more precisely names for a period of time that begins with a historical event, such as the enthronement of an emperor. Since Emperor Keiō, it has been customary to have one era per emperor and to rename each emperor after his death using the name of the era over which he presided. Before Emperor Keiō, the names of the eras were changed more frequently, and the posthumous names of the emperors were chosen differently. The current emperor on the throne is typically referred to as Tennō Heika (天皇陛下, "His [Imperial] Majesty the Emperor"), Kinjō Heika (今上陛下, "His Current Majesty") or simply Tennō, when speaking Ōnishi. An abdicated Emperor is given the title Daijō Tennō (太上天皇, Emperor Emeritus), which is often shortened to Jōkō (上皇). They are renamed to their regnal name upon their death.
Origins of the Title
   Originally, the ruler of Daitō was known as either 大和大王/大君 (Yamato-ōkimi, "Grand King of Yamato"), 倭王/倭国王 (Wa-ō/Wakoku-ō, "King of Wa", used externally) or 治天下大王 (Ame-no-shita shiroshimesu ōkimi or Sumera no mikoto, "Grand King who rules all under heaven", used internally) in Ōnishi and Lijiangian sources prior to the 7th century. The oldest diplomatic reference to the title 天子 (Tenshi, Emperor or Son of Heaven) can be found in a diplomatic document sent between the rulers of Daitō and Lijiang. The oldest documented use of the title 天皇 (Tennō, heavenly emperor) appears on a wooden slat, or mokkan, that dated to the mid-7th century.

Population:
   Total: 14,941,704
   Density: 6,831/km²
   Special Wards: 10,619,913
   Density (Wards): 17,042/km²
   Urban: 39,993,701
   Metro: 41,973,401
Area:
   Special Wards: 623.17 km²
Demonym: Shinkyoite
Dialects: Shinkyo, Northern Kikai Islands

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   Shinkyo (新京, Shinkyō), officially the Shinkyo Metropolis (新京都, Shinkyō-tō), is the capital and most populous city of Daitō. Shinkyo's metropolitan area, which includes neighboring prefectures in Tokai and Aomori, is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 41.974 million residents as of 2023. The prefecture itself has a population of 14.942 million, of which roughly 10.62 million reside in the 23 special wards (特別区, tokubetsu-ku) which make up the city proper. Located at the head of Shinkyo bay, the prefecture forms part of the Kantō region on the coast of the Rokkenjiman Sea. Shinkyo serves as Daitō's economic center and is both the seat of the Daitōjin Government and the Emperor of Daitō.

   Originally a fishing village named Hagi, the city emerged into political prominence at the end of the Sengoku period, when it became the seat of the Hachisuka Shogunate. By the mid-18th century, Hagi was one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of over one million people. After the Keiō Restoration in 1868, the imperial capital in Tenkyo was moved to Hagi, which was renamed "Shinkyo" (lit. 'new capital'). Shinkyo was devastated by the Great Kantō Earthquake in 1925, and again by Ardian bombing raids during the Great War. Beginning in the 1950s, the prefecture underwent rapid reconstruction and expansion efforts, going on to lead the Fusanese Economic Miracle. Since 1942, the Shinkyo Metropolitan Government has administered the prefecture's special wards (formerly Shinkyo city), various commuter towns and suburbs in its northern and western areas, and outlying islands known as the Shinkyo Islands.

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Special Wards of Shinkyo

Name	Kanji	Population	Area (/km²)
Sendō	先導区	93,391	11.84 km²
Komoda	小茂田区	240,582	10.43 km²
Inage	稲毛区	260,486	20.37 km²
Hakata	博多区	349,385	18.91 km²
Asakita	安佐北区	240,069	11.33 km²
Kita	北区	328,772	10.11 km²
Higashi	東区	272,085	13.98 km²
Chikusa	千種区	568,122	41.03 km²
Ikuno	生野区	422,488	22.81 km²
Naniwa	浪速区	332,516	14.83 km²
Midori	緑区	748,081	60.66 km²
Iwatsuki	岩槻区	1,027,441	58.05 km²
Taihaku	太白区	243,883	15.11 km²
Isogo	磯子区	431,781	15.61 km²
Seya	瀬谷区	591,108	34.91 km²
Tsuzuki	都筑区	301,599	13.08 km²
Nakano	中野区	355,213	20.62 km²
Sumida	墨田区	407,321	10.75 km²
Iwaki	岩城区	683,585	32.48 km²
Shinagawa	品川区	752,608	48.18 km²
Shiraizumi	白泉区	777,039	53.28 km²
Yodogawa	淀川区	453,093	34.82 km²
Isahaya	諫早区	739,265	49.98 km²

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Retraction of Statement on Clysperi Actions during the Civil War

On behalf of the Heavenly Sovereign, the Press Office of the Empire of Daitō formally retracts its allegations of a breach of the Uppsala convention during the Clysperi Civil War. The statement by His Majesty, which reads "in light of the behavior of their forces during their civil war. Truth be told, I don't have any reason to suspect that similar breaches will not occur in any future wars.", was made during an interview which he was ill prepared for, and those responsible for preparing him have resigned in disgrace. The Imperial Government of the Heavenly Sovereign of Daitō apologizes for this statement and any others of a similar manner made by her representatives, and will strive to be more careful in the future.

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To: Clysperis no Akasha-Joō and the Clysperi jōtai
Regarding: Ratification of the Uppsala Convention and the abolition of the System of Indentured Servitude

The Empire of Daitō would like to extend it's congratulations to Her Ladyship, Clysperis no Akasha-Joō, as well as to the people of Clysperis, on the ratification of the Uppsala Convention for Humanitarian Treatment in War. This is a bold step for an absolutist regime, but one that is ultimately necessary for the betterment of all mankind. However, despite this, I wish to remind the Clysperi government that it must refrain from the downright abhorrent actions taken during its war against the Clysperi Confederacy in any military action going forwards. Any breach of the convention can and shall be punished by those nations party to the convention.

I would also like to extend my congratulations to the nation on abolishing its system of Indentured Servitude, electing to move away from the institution in favor of community service. While we recognize the importance of this move, I wish to express my concern for the manner in which it was undertaken. Though, at this time, it is too early to tell where the wind will blow, I do fear that those who were previously indentured servants will be maintained by their former masters in a new form of servitude in order to survive, unless the central government will support them in getting new jobs and starting a new life.

Regardless of this, I once again congratulate the Clysperi jōtai on this pair of truly momentous decisions that it has taken.

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The UHS spacecraft "Tenryū", designated OV-201, has completed its final captive flight test aboard its CT-8 carrier plane. The vehicle, which was manned by Taichi Yukawa and Asami Egawa, flew to an altitude of 9,300 km  at a speed of 500 km/h for approximately an hour. This test was primarily a preparation for the upcoming free flight test of the Orbiter scheduled for the 24th of August which will land near MFS Artsiv on an old lakebed. The flight was deemed a success by the DNSA, which called it possibly among the most important achievements of the program thus far. In the meantime, the boosters for the upcoming Orbital Flight test have arrived at MFS Artsiv and are being processed in preparation for the test flight.

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The Imperial Government has authorized a bill that would allocate funds to begin the process of modernizing Daitō's rail network, closing gaps in the nation's high speed broadband network, the construction and repair of the nation's road and bridge network, and the construction of new nuclear power plants in order to begin phasing out the nation's oil and natural gas power stations, as well as providing an incentive to set up more electric vehicle charging stations. The bill has a price of around ¥32 trillion ($400 Billion USD), which will be spread out over the course of five years. The bill has been given the name "the National Revival Act", or "NRA" for short and will go into effect on the 21st of August. The Imperial Government has also stated that it is exploring options for reforms to the nation's welfare system.

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His Majesty, the Emperor has performed a visit to the Keiyo Shrine in the Kita, Ashina. The shrine, built in 1933 to commemorate the late Keiyo Tennō, is one of the most important in Teidō, being dedicated to the deified spirit of the former Emperor. While there, he reportedly offered a prayer for peace to abound throughout the world and for healing within the Empire following the attacks earlier this year. He also reportedly partook in several rituals while there, including an exorcising ritual for the shrine to ward off malevolent Yokai as well as to inspect the shrine's day-to-day operations. It is anticipated that he will return around New Years to partake in lead various rituals once more.

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Following an intensive round of testing in the last two weeks, the DNSA has authorized for crewed testing of the UHS spacecraft. This comes on the heels of four successful captive inert flights of the orbiter held over the last two weeks, with the next round of testing, the captive active testing phase, set to begin later this week. At this time, plans remain on schedule to begin free flight tests of the orbiter starting August 24th. The Shuttle also perform its full stack tests, designated now as ZTS-1 and ZTS-2, on September 21st and September 28th. Purchase of the UHS system will be offered starting in 2022.

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   In the aftermath of the Great War, Daitō was effectively reorganized as a federal state with the goal of the strain of administering the country. This resulted in the creation of regional states, or more officially, Provinces and Circuits under the Dōshūsei system, which have greater autonomy than the prefectures. In total, there are eleven Provinces (州, Shū) and two Circuits (道, Dō), with the latter of the two being applied to the regions of Hokuriku and Tsukishima owing to their cultural differences from the country's core. Provided below is a list of the Provinces and Circuits in order of population, alongside their capitals:

Name	Population	Capital
Tōkai Province	46,818,561	Shinkyō
Kinai Province	38,606,619	Okayama
Ōita Province	33,534,077	Urasoe
Aomori Province	30,152,800	Tajimi
Tsukishima Circuit	26,948,841	Taikyū
Tochigi Province	26,706,178	Awara
Yakumo Province	22,533,258	Saito
Higashikawa Province	18,443,202	Seki
Nishiyama Province	17,188,759	Wakasa
Tottori Province	13,001,413	Kyotangō
Hokuriku Circuit	9,773,406	Ishikari
Amami Province	7,060,694	Isen
Nishihata Province	4,320,156	Yazu

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ANSA has confirmed that the UHS orbiter designated "Tenryū" has completed it's third approach and landing test, this one being a test of the flight dynamics of a full stack of the system while mounted aboard it's carrier plane. The fuel tank was, however, kept empty as it would not be a test of the launch system itself. The vehicles left MFS Artsiv at 6:00 AM, flying for two-and-a-half hours at approximately 8,700 meters above sea level. The crew aboard it's carrier found no issues with the orbiter nor its fuel tank during flight, and it was deemed to have gone off without a hitch.

The Tenryū Orbiter remains on track to perform it's first crewed flight test this Sunday, as well as its first orbital flight test no earlier than October 11th. ANSA has, at this time, not disclosed the mission details for the orbiter, though it is expected by many that it will dock with the Kyūden IV Space Station, presumably with the goal of restoring it to operational condition in preparation for a resumption of missions to the station. The first batch of UHS orbiters remains on schedule for production, with Akaryū being scheduled for completion in December. The unmanned variant of the spacecraft remains under construction too, although it is still a year away from its first flight.