Reform bureaucrats Puns

Even compared to, say, Bormannite Germany being a textbook case of Orthodox Nazism being unsustainable in the long run, a "Status Quo" or "Reform Bureaucrat" Japan is ultimately set up to fail in the long run. Part of the reason why can be found in one word: demographics. Let me me explain.

It's not often brought up or discussed, but it's revealed that by the early '60s, the Yokusankai had implemented birth control policies comparable to the OTL People's Republic of China in an effort to stem the post-WW2 population boom, including a Japanese equivalent of the One Child Policy. Anyone familiar with those, would know in hindsight how much they're a REALLY GOOD IDEA due to how these have, in China's situation IRL, resulted in skewered social and gender dynamics, crippled birth rates, and a long-term demographic decline that the country's economy and welfare system are woefully inadequate to compensate. It makes real-life Japan's own demographic issues look outright benign by comparison.

In TNO, Japan is ironically shown going down the same path, with even Shidzue Kato (who OTL was not only one of the pioneers of modern Japanese feminism but also for Japan's birth control policies) being horrified by the measures taken, which are only the beginning of a long trauma conga line that would cripple the Japanese for generations to come.

This isn't to say that it's inevitable. Takagi, notably, can implement birth control reforms that effectively put an end to the Yokusankai's measures early enough before the damage could really be felt. A more "reformist" Reform Bureaucrat, perhaps with Kishi's backing, could also drop the One Child Policy antics potentially with, albeit at the expense of reducing women to little more than breeders. While the Junshin would similarly drop them if only due to their association with the previous regime's perceived incompetence, even if it could mean setting social norms back to the Victorian era.

Even if Japan "wins" the Cold War, if demographics is left unaddressed, it'll turn into a ticking time bomb that would make that victory be all for nothing.

So Japan found itself the losing side of the Weltkrieg and that altered a lot of events and removed circumstances, which led to the establishment of Taisei Yokusankai and military rule in OTL. In KRTL Japan is still a democracy in 1936, albeit a heavily a flawed and unstable one.

Since the Fengtian Government is not a full puppet like Manchukuo, it would be harder for people like Kishi (his racist views would not be tolerated by the Grand Marshal) to operate (unless the Japanophiles coup Zhang Zhuolin and Japan can go for chemical research in Manchuria via decisions, possibly hinting at something more sinister.) There's still the Kwantung army though, so that could force a rather illegitimate government to overlook some messed up wrong doing.

The closest thing to OTL Imperial Japan is military centralism (Tojo can be appointed as PM later on) and you can only the get Taisei Youkusankai (the closest path to the reform bureaucrats) if you go for the NatPops (Konoe and other restorationists)

However I never found a single mention of the elephant in the room - Kishi, the man who brutally industrialized Manchuria without regard for the locals and his own workers. He does not pop up in Japan's or Fengtian's events.

So is he an insignificant bureaucrat sitting in Japan and laudering the Yakuza's money or doing shady dealings in the Legation Cities/League of Eight Provinces?

Does clearing an all-India exam give someone to hold a bureaucratic position until the person reaches the age of 60? I don't think so. A bureaucratic reform is the need of the hour. Qualifying in an all-India exam does not make a bureaucrat to be a smarter fellow. Had it been the case, there would not have been so much indecisions in all most all the sectors in the country. Be it construction of a village road or implementation of a welfare measure, there are smell of kickbacks everywhere. Officials are taking decisions not in the interest of people, but some where to safeguard their interests. Whoever doesn't meet the demand of a bureaucrat for bribe in terms of gifts or any other such form, the concerned person will not get contract work. Bureaucrats are also playing major role in ensuring funds come to the political parties and that's how there has been a bonhomie between leaders and bureaucrats. In this context, contractors and businessmen pleasingly offer their services to get favours from political parties and bureaucrats. And that's how leader-bureaucrats-businessmen nexus emerges. It's a win-win situation for them. But the common man who voted the political leaders to power and whose money is being used to give paychecks to bureaucrats are cheated and at the receiving end of this corrupt ecosystem. So whose government is it anyway?

Are they only available to duke or higher?

Your 11-minute Friday report in 2757 words.

##grandmaster Aronian confirms departure / Chess officials respond / Disagreements over chess schools and aid / "Reforms to restore Armenia's position as chess superpower"

Levon Aronian released a message saying 2020 was a difficult year for him, and that the government failed to provide the needed resources and attention for the development of chess in the past year, "after limited support in 2019". He praised Serj Sargsyan for "years of personal dedication and support, which was important for achieving success."

Aronian criticized certain "self-establishing" chess officials "who know nothing about chess" for their "chaotic and destructive" policies, and said that the Sports Minister and Prime Minister did not dedicate enough time to listen and address his concerns.

"I have not been able to convey to them the simple truth that I am asking for state support, not for me personally, but for the opportunity to serve and bring glory to the homeland."

Aronian claims the lack of funding was linked to an assessment that his "potential was waning", despite him "defeating powerful players."

Full: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1044589.html

Education/Sports Minister Dumanyan to reporter: It is the athlete's right to leave. I am very sorry that Aronian made such a decision. I highly appreciate his chess achievements. We are all proud of his achievements. He represented Armenia. I will be happy if he reconsiders the decision.

I am surprised that he made such a decision. I can assure you that based on the data I have, there is no official obligation to Aronian that the Ministry has not fulfilled or refused to fulfill. It will be very good if he changes his decision and stays in Armenia with us. We will continue to rejoice in his future achievements and be proud.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1044648.html , https://factor.am/342564.html

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan is a Parliamentary committee official tasked with chess/sports issues. He thanked Aronian for representing Armenia. He believes Aronian's accusations, about "officials who know nothing about chess", was directed personally at him. He referred to some of the accusations as "false and a lie".

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan: we will hold a press conference to answer questions soon. But I can respond to one of Aronian's accusations right now, about the chess being ruined since 2018. There is criticism about the closure of schools.

I'd like to note that soon, as a r