Kitagawa Merchant Republics

## **Overview**

The Kitagawa Merchant Republics, also known as the Japanese Indochina Trade Leagues, is a centralized state conglomeration of merchant leagues (*Zaibatsu*) and agricultural cooperatives led by the **Kitagawa Zaibatsu Megacorporation.** The state formed as an emergency treaty signed by various subsidiaries of the corporation necessitated by the fall of imperial Japanese authority (and isolated Vichy French garrisons) after its surrender to the United States. Now far from the militaristic ideals of its predecessors, the trade leagues of Indochina work hand-in-hand with the former Vietnamese administration of the region in ensuring commercial security and prosperity in the area amidst rampant factionalism and militarism within and without its sovereign lands.

## **History:**

**1945** - After losing their faith in the fallen imperial Japanese administration following the empire's fall, several small corporations and larger megacorporations, chief among them the newly-formed Kitagawa Zaibatsu, took advantage of the lack of a centralized bureaucracy and moved their assets to the relatively pacified regions in south Indochina east of the Mekong.

**1947** - Kitagawa Zaibatsu forms the Emergency Courts (Saibansho), and its first decree is to form reform the isolated Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) units into a cohesive armed wing of the Saibansho.

**Summer 1948** - Final pockets of resistance of Vichy French splinter groups are obliterated at the Battle of Saigon.

**Winter 1948** - Saigon is renamed Kitagawa City and is relocated several miles north of the old city in preparation for the predicted rise in sea levels.

**1949** - The "Closed Doors" policy is enacted, external trade is restricted as foreign interference is considered a threat to the internal stability of the economy.

**1950** - Kitagawa Zaibatsu Megacorporation is elected as the sole executive body of the Saibansho

**1952** - The Martial Courts of the Saibansho are disbanded, replaced by elected civilian prefectures

**1955** - The May 19 Movement, a revolutionary organization espousing neo-fascist ideals, is established after the bloody massacre at Kitagawa City when Vietnamese nationalists stormed the Supreme Court building of the Republican Saibansho.

**1955-1962** - A 7-year long rebellion raged in the countryside all along the Mekong to the border with Burma.

**1963** - May 19 Movement is declared suppressed, defeatist factions of the rebel movement are given posts in the Zaibatsus running the government.

**1965-1974** - Massive industrialization begins, agricultural cooperatives are given semi-autonomy, welfare committee is established to cater to civilian needs**1975 -** Oligarchies are granted governing power, the country is divided into 7 administrative Republics each led by a subsidiary of the Kitagawa Zaibatsu

**1995** - Kitagawa Merchant Republics opens its borders to trade once more and rejoins the global community

## Policies

### **Foreign Policy - Reserved Neutrality**

The Kitagawa Merchant Republics respects the sovereignty of all nations of the global community. It has a policy of non-intervention in foreign military matters. The Kitagawa Zaibatsu that runs the national government is open to hosting peace talks between belligerent nations as a mediator.

### **Trade Policy - Open**

The Kitagawa Merchant Republics is open to trade with any nation so as long as they respect the right to its sovereignty and can ensure that commercial security and prosperity in the region is protected.

### **Military Stance - Defensive**

The Military Departments of Kitagawa shall ensure the territorial integrity of the state and shall act decisively in self-defense against hostile parties, but it shall not interfere with foreign military adventures.