Asami
Banned
The point is to... drive a wedge in that ideology. But a Korean princess could work... theoretically.
- Status
The point is to... drive a wedge in that ideology. But a Korean princess could work... theoretically.
Yeah, true, but at the same time, there's xenophobia, or at least disdain on the other side....
Come to think of it, shame the US doesn't have royalty....
Asami
Banned
I'd be completely okay with Hirohito marrying an American socialite. It'd be funny. Let me do something...
Oh, I'd be for it.
Ideally someone from the South, because the reaction THERE would be fucking worth all the hassle it'd cause them.
I like Roosevelt because it'd likely be good for relations between Japan and America.
OTL, Crown Prince Eun, who received the title of "King Yi of Korea," married Princess Masako Nashimoto of the Miyake Imperial cadet family, so Hirohito marrying Princess Deokhye might be feasible.
19. Empress from the East
Asami
Banned
東からの皇后
19. Empress from the East
A discussion about United States-Japan relations in the 20th century cannot be expanded upon without talking about the Roosevelt family. Through out the 20th century, they have played an instrumental part of the Japanese-American relationship. Starting with President Theodore Roosevelt's oversight of the Treaty of Portsmouth which concluded the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan and America have had an enigmatic relationship. In many ways, Japan was a threat to the ambition of the United States--they shared an ocean, and both wanted to be the unrivaled controller of said ocean.
The events of the 1920s, and the profound effects they had on the future of the United States and Japan provided a framework that built the Cherry Blossom Partnership we celebrate today. The United States of America had re-elected Theodore Roosevelt as President of the United States in 1920, and had, with it, pledged a philosophical dedication to Roosevelt's odd form of 'progressivism' and 'populism'. His Tides of Change speech had given way to a reorientation of the American axis to the friendship of Berlin, London and Tokyo in a common cause against the spectres of communism and fascism. His death in 1923 at age 64 was a saddened one, and many were disheartened that the man whom had helped rebuild the American international presence after a devastating period of isolationism could leave them before finishing his job.
Similarly, later that same year, Roosevelt's successor, Henry Cabot Lodge, died. With the Vice Presidency vacant, the United States presidency defaulted to another man. Charles Evans Hughes, another noted Progressive and Republican, succeeded to the Presidency of the United States. Japanese-American relations had been at an all-time high through this period, and Hughes secured his own independent term of office in the 1924 election, obliterating the Democratic candidate chosen to compete against him. Hughes continued the cooperation policies with Japan, particularly during the rise of the Sternberg Khanate which endangered peace in Asia-- Japan was allowed to move freely without objection, so long as they continued to serve the policies of anti-communism and pro-constitutional democracy.
Of course, the late 1920s came as a great changer for America and Japan's dynamic. Emperor Hirohito and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, the daughter of then-Governor of New York Franklin Delano Roosevelt, had become acquaintances in 1923 after he had sent a letter to the then-17-year-old woman and her parents, expressing his deepest sorrows at the demise of such a great and magnificent man. Anna had penned a response on the behalf of her parents, and the two kept in contact for some time when Hirohito could permit himself to respond to her letters. In 1927, Hirohito extended an invitation to the Roosevelt family to visit Japan. While not a diplomatic trip, the Emperor wanted to strengthen ties to America, so he figured one of the most powerful political families, and one of the most obvious future Presidents would be a fantastic fit for improving Japanese-American relations and improving the view of Japan in foreign eyes.
Franklin, Anna and Eleanor were conducted around parts of Japan, shown some of the more beautiful parts, before meeting with Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi and the Emperor. The Emperor had been increasingly agitated by the large numbers of annoying traditions restraining him from doing his best job to serve Japan. It was here that the Emperor began one of his most socially controversial things. Anna and Hirohito had many animated conversations through out the week tour of Japan, with the young woman enjoying the sights, and the Emperor enjoying having an intellectual conversation for once. While traditions could not be deposited and overthrown in a day, the Emperor had many ideas on how to slowly unwrap the detachment of the Emperor from the rest of the nation.
The Emperor approached Franklin Roosevelt with a proposal to pursue a relationship with his daughter, stating that he believed that Anna was a very beautiful woman, but beyond that, he reasoned with the Governor, there were political benefits to this romance. While socially, there would be dismay from both sides, Japan and the United States could foster even better relations, and share the Orient with each other as equals, rather than as two nations competing to mutual demises... as well, he would consider helping his father-in-law should he need it on the occassion, a 'tit-for-tat' exchange, in many ways.
Anna, for her part, in her diaries, wrote well about her interest in the 26 year old Emperor, stating that he 'had a classical charm that she'd not seen in many men', but held 'deep reservations about the formalities, the responsibilities and the horrendous backlash of being in a relationship with a monarch', and stated that 'she had no doubt she would be deeply unqualified to be an Empress of all things'. After the Emperor approached her, the two began to see each other in a romantic sense in mid-1927. She stayed in Japan for a long-term period during this time, and, before long, word got to the office of the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Inukai was a reformer in many ways, and had loathed the 'old order' of the Choshu and Satsuma domains and their imperial-hang-em-high methods of doing things. He approached the Emperor with concerns in the autumn of 1927, asking him if he was certain this was the right course--there were many other potential candidates for Empress, domestic or foreign. He even suggested a Korean princess to win the loyalty of Korea over. The Emperor expressed to the Prime Minister his frustration over the amount of control that the genrou and conservative base of the elite had over the monarchy, and that he wanted to be his own man. The Emperor, ironically, found himself in a similar situation to that of the Emperor Puyi--a man with so many rigid rules and controls around him, and a desire to be individual for once. Of course, unlike Puyi, the Emperor took his role as the spiritual leader of the nation, and the head of the grand system that was the Empire very seriously, where as Puyi did not.
Many of the genrou, particularly the non-liberal ones, objected to the idea of an American Empress at the first revelations, and it didn't take long before Hirohito and Anna Roosevelt's mutual attraction hit the newspapers both in Japan and the United States. For Franklin Roosevelt, he received numerous harangues from Democrats, particularly Southern ones, for his daughter's 'racial muddying' and many feared his future would be sullied by the 'slant-eye'. Domestically, Japanese media did not know how to approach it. Many conservatives condemned it as 'western influence' and therefore bad, but many constitutionalists simply shrugged and offered up the reasoning of 'the Emperor is his own just and wise man. He makes decisions, let him make them.'
Anna, for her part, had been spending 1927, 1928 and now 1929 learning Japanese, participating in Japan's cultural traditions as a foreign resident. When the news broke and she began to receive death threats in 1929, Emperor Hirohito ordered military protection for her, and made a public speech, approaching many topics, including his choice for a potential bride. Many commoners didn't care that much, but had appreciated the Emperor's attempt to appeal to the hearts of the people, and the rare and heart-touching gesture that the divine man would be so deeply enthralled by her that he would speak directly to his people to defend her.
Those that had met the possible bride had expressed that she was a kind woman, if a little head-strong. Despite objections from Southern Democrats in the United States (whom feared that Hirohito would use FDR as a 'puppet for Japanese interests', or were being the racist degenerate sort about the 'yellow man having his way with a white woman') and from many elements of the genrou, the Emperor went forward and proposed marriage to Anna.
The two married in a ceremony in January 1930, with Anna converting to the Shinto religion and being enthroned on the same day. Taking up the name Tamako, she was enthroned as Empress Tamako, and took her place as Empress Consort. As Empress, she developed a great stride towards public works and charity, with the intent of helping eradicate hunger and poverty amongst Japan's lower classes. Later in her life, she would become a patron of organizations dedicated to help end burakumin discrimination.
The two took no time to consumate their marriage, with their first born child, Princess Michiko, celebrating her birth on April 11th, 1931.
And despite his worries, Franklin Roosevelt's career was not nearly as on the rocks as he thought it was.
The events of the 1920s, and the profound effects they had on the future of the United States and Japan provided a framework that built the Cherry Blossom Partnership we celebrate today. The United States of America had re-elected Theodore Roosevelt as President of the United States in 1920, and had, with it, pledged a philosophical dedication to Roosevelt's odd form of 'progressivism' and 'populism'. His Tides of Change speech had given way to a reorientation of the American axis to the friendship of Berlin, London and Tokyo in a common cause against the spectres of communism and fascism. His death in 1923 at age 64 was a saddened one, and many were disheartened that the man whom had helped rebuild the American international presence after a devastating period of isolationism could leave them before finishing his job.
Similarly, later that same year, Roosevelt's successor, Henry Cabot Lodge, died. With the Vice Presidency vacant, the United States presidency defaulted to another man. Charles Evans Hughes, another noted Progressive and Republican, succeeded to the Presidency of the United States. Japanese-American relations had been at an all-time high through this period, and Hughes secured his own independent term of office in the 1924 election, obliterating the Democratic candidate chosen to compete against him. Hughes continued the cooperation policies with Japan, particularly during the rise of the Sternberg Khanate which endangered peace in Asia-- Japan was allowed to move freely without objection, so long as they continued to serve the policies of anti-communism and pro-constitutional democracy.
Of course, the late 1920s came as a great changer for America and Japan's dynamic. Emperor Hirohito and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, the daughter of then-Governor of New York Franklin Delano Roosevelt, had become acquaintances in 1923 after he had sent a letter to the then-17-year-old woman and her parents, expressing his deepest sorrows at the demise of such a great and magnificent man. Anna had penned a response on the behalf of her parents, and the two kept in contact for some time when Hirohito could permit himself to respond to her letters. In 1927, Hirohito extended an invitation to the Roosevelt family to visit Japan. While not a diplomatic trip, the Emperor wanted to strengthen ties to America, so he figured one of the most powerful political families, and one of the most obvious future Presidents would be a fantastic fit for improving Japanese-American relations and improving the view of Japan in foreign eyes.
Franklin, Anna and Eleanor were conducted around parts of Japan, shown some of the more beautiful parts, before meeting with Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi and the Emperor. The Emperor had been increasingly agitated by the large numbers of annoying traditions restraining him from doing his best job to serve Japan. It was here that the Emperor began one of his most socially controversial things. Anna and Hirohito had many animated conversations through out the week tour of Japan, with the young woman enjoying the sights, and the Emperor enjoying having an intellectual conversation for once. While traditions could not be deposited and overthrown in a day, the Emperor had many ideas on how to slowly unwrap the detachment of the Emperor from the rest of the nation.
The Emperor approached Franklin Roosevelt with a proposal to pursue a relationship with his daughter, stating that he believed that Anna was a very beautiful woman, but beyond that, he reasoned with the Governor, there were political benefits to this romance. While socially, there would be dismay from both sides, Japan and the United States could foster even better relations, and share the Orient with each other as equals, rather than as two nations competing to mutual demises... as well, he would consider helping his father-in-law should he need it on the occassion, a 'tit-for-tat' exchange, in many ways.
Anna, for her part, in her diaries, wrote well about her interest in the 26 year old Emperor, stating that he 'had a classical charm that she'd not seen in many men', but held 'deep reservations about the formalities, the responsibilities and the horrendous backlash of being in a relationship with a monarch', and stated that 'she had no doubt she would be deeply unqualified to be an Empress of all things'. After the Emperor approached her, the two began to see each other in a romantic sense in mid-1927. She stayed in Japan for a long-term period during this time, and, before long, word got to the office of the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Inukai was a reformer in many ways, and had loathed the 'old order' of the Choshu and Satsuma domains and their imperial-hang-em-high methods of doing things. He approached the Emperor with concerns in the autumn of 1927, asking him if he was certain this was the right course--there were many other potential candidates for Empress, domestic or foreign. He even suggested a Korean princess to win the loyalty of Korea over. The Emperor expressed to the Prime Minister his frustration over the amount of control that the genrou and conservative base of the elite had over the monarchy, and that he wanted to be his own man. The Emperor, ironically, found himself in a similar situation to that of the Emperor Puyi--a man with so many rigid rules and controls around him, and a desire to be individual for once. Of course, unlike Puyi, the Emperor took his role as the spiritual leader of the nation, and the head of the grand system that was the Empire very seriously, where as Puyi did not.
Many of the genrou, particularly the non-liberal ones, objected to the idea of an American Empress at the first revelations, and it didn't take long before Hirohito and Anna Roosevelt's mutual attraction hit the newspapers both in Japan and the United States. For Franklin Roosevelt, he received numerous harangues from Democrats, particularly Southern ones, for his daughter's 'racial muddying' and many feared his future would be sullied by the 'slant-eye'. Domestically, Japanese media did not know how to approach it. Many conservatives condemned it as 'western influence' and therefore bad, but many constitutionalists simply shrugged and offered up the reasoning of 'the Emperor is his own just and wise man. He makes decisions, let him make them.'
Anna, for her part, had been spending 1927, 1928 and now 1929 learning Japanese, participating in Japan's cultural traditions as a foreign resident. When the news broke and she began to receive death threats in 1929, Emperor Hirohito ordered military protection for her, and made a public speech, approaching many topics, including his choice for a potential bride. Many commoners didn't care that much, but had appreciated the Emperor's attempt to appeal to the hearts of the people, and the rare and heart-touching gesture that the divine man would be so deeply enthralled by her that he would speak directly to his people to defend her.
Those that had met the possible bride had expressed that she was a kind woman, if a little head-strong. Despite objections from Southern Democrats in the United States (whom feared that Hirohito would use FDR as a 'puppet for Japanese interests', or were being the racist degenerate sort about the 'yellow man having his way with a white woman') and from many elements of the genrou, the Emperor went forward and proposed marriage to Anna.
The two married in a ceremony in January 1930, with Anna converting to the Shinto religion and being enthroned on the same day. Taking up the name Tamako, she was enthroned as Empress Tamako, and took her place as Empress Consort. As Empress, she developed a great stride towards public works and charity, with the intent of helping eradicate hunger and poverty amongst Japan's lower classes. Later in her life, she would become a patron of organizations dedicated to help end burakumin discrimination.
The two took no time to consumate their marriage, with their first born child, Princess Michiko, celebrating her birth on April 11th, 1931.
And despite his worries, Franklin Roosevelt's career was not nearly as on the rocks as he thought it was.
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An American Empress, huh? And a Roosevelt, nonetheless! Seeing as a historic alliance seems to be on the horizon, that will be an interesting change to history. And with FDR as the Emperor's father in law, if he becomes president like in OTL, the relationship will become even closer. It will be very interesting to see where this goes.
So the little princess'(Anna's) english nicknames from her American classmates could be Michy or Mitch(could be derogative).
Well, this IS supposedly a historic document. It has to be made professionally, no matter how accurate the more 'crude' term would be.
Also, may I point out that this whole thing is highly irregular. And I don't see progressives going for this. Remember, this was the age when progressives believed that Eugenics was a good thing.
Asami
Banned
At this end, the Roosevelts and Hirohito are largely ignoring the protests of those whom are opposing it (mostly institutional and anti-Roosevelt Democrats for FDR and the genrou and militarists for Hirohito)
For FDR, he sees it as a major political coup de grace if he can manage to make it so--Having Japan by the testicles in the form of your daughter having the ear of the Japanese Emperor makes diplomacy and dealings far easier, as we are well aware that an American woman would be a little... headstrong in the 'submissive shut up and look pretty' culture of Imperial Japan.
Hirohito, on his side, has found a romantic interest in Anna's personality, while also seeing the practical benefits of having an American for a wife-- protection from a potential war with the US, guaranteed 'favoritism' from the Roosevelt family (whom he knows are powerful operators in the United States. Just wait until he hitches one of his daughters to a Kennedy. Kidding, ofc.
) and weakens the militarists by removing the huge talons-ready eagle from their side.There will be some consequences for this, but stranger things have happened in history!
- Status