Government

Ashihara is headed by her Radiance the Emperor and the House of Representatives. The system of government is a parliament in the making.

Political verdicts are brought to the Nakatsukasasho, the Ministry of Central Affairs, which regulates the ministry of justice, education, civil security, and other relevant ministries pertaining to its citizen's needs. Though Nakatsukasasho includes the Ministry of Defense, which oversees the imperial army and navy, it has not seen relevant use outside of civil security and disaster aid since the warring states era. Critique of the obsolete Nakatsukasasho and peerage reform has been simmering within progressive circles since civil revolts began in 1882, starting with a grassroots revolt that formed in PREFECTURE 58, and progressive parties lobby for a fair government.

The House of Representatives
A collection of clan members to work in service of the Imperial Clan and undertake public duties. The House of Representatives holds the Nakatsukasasho and decides which bills and legislations are passed.

The Nakatsukasasho
The Nakatsukasasho consists of a left ministry that governs socio-cultural affairs and a right ministry that manages economic and juridical matters.

Highest Positions in the Nakatsukasasho
Though civilians are able to work their way up to a position in either ministry without their heritage branching from a notable root clan, they are unofficially restricted to posts within their prefecture.

Kazoku
A household’s social status in Ashihara is deeply steeped in the presence, or lack of, aristocratic ancestors. An ordinary citizen is often able to trace their “original” ancestor back to the status of village headman, samurai, warlord, feudal domain lord, court noble, royal prince, or emperor. Stories of subsequent family downfall (to explain their present commoner status) are heard more often than those of ascension from bottom to top.

The credence given to the Imperial line and the subsequent peerage finds its roots in these notions of ancestry. What determines a household’s current eschelon is defined primarily by the highest possible office held in the imperial court.

The positions available to someone of high status will depend on their placement in the Kazoku, as defined by the Kazoku-rei. The Kazoku-rei is a system which places houses of import into five distinct ranks:

Koshaku (公爵)

This rank is composed of the clans closest to the Imperial family. This includes:
 * O-asatera-uji
 * Akeshina-no-miya
 * Minawata-ke
 * Ayanishi-ke
 * C Libs
 * D Traditionalists

Koshaku (侯爵) 2 electric boogaloo
 * Offshoots of the former Toyosaki Clan
 * O-meguyoku-uji
 * O-toyotobanashi-uji
 * O-sugisato-uji

Hakushaku (伯爵)
 * Jinke
 * The Nagikari, on technicality
 * Warrior Families allied with the Asatera Clan

Shishaku (子爵)

Members of this rank are established families who contributed to the founding of Ashihara’s central government.
 * Branch families of allied warrior families
 * Other warrior families
 * Famous artisan families
 * Old blood politicians
 * Monetarists

Danshaku (男爵)

Members of this rank are distinguished families who found their footing in Ashihara’s government following the industrial revolution. These families would include:
 * Non-imperial Shrines
 * New-age politicians
 * Lawyers
 * Doctors
 * Professors

Onmyoryo
Main Article: Onmyoryo

The Bureau of Divination, colloquially known as the Onmyoryo, is a branch of the Nakatsukasasho responsible for the regulation of fortune-telling, spellcraft, astronomy, enforcement of religious laws, and approval of Shikigami for traditional use, otherwise called Onmyodo. The Onmyoryo receives its assignments from the Nakatsukasasho after a civil incident cannot be solved through civil means.

Jinke
Main article: Jinke

Jinke are the hereditary households in charge of the imperial and government-mandated shrines. Jinke typically enshrine past emperors or imperial family members and are considered a faction of the House of Representatives, in service of Her Radiance the Empress. The Jinke are not to be confused with Shikike, which are cadet branches of a clan in charge of performing ceremonial duties.

The San-meike
Main article: The San-meike

The San-meike is the collective term for the three families that oversee the grand shrines of the Zōka sanshin. As overseers of destined events and due to their powerful disposition as root shrines, the San-meike have always been counted as meritorious retainers to the House of Representatives, thus they are counted as Jinke.