Harmonize OOC Community

A: Technically, this wasn't asked directly in the ask-box, but it seems to be a source of trouble, so I'm going to do my best to answer it here.

The defining trait of Harmonize society is NATIONALISM, not conservatism. Conservatism plays a role due to the nature of Japanese nationalism, but it is very important to note here what exactly the society of Harmonize agrees on and doesn't agree on.

Harmonize society has become more nationalistic due to increased perceived threats from China and North Korea. Such fears exist in present day Japan as well, and are behind a lot of current nationalist feelings within the country today. For many nationalists, Article IX of the Japanese Constitution prevents them from defending themselves, instead forcing them to rely on other countries, such as the United States:

ARTICLE 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. (2) To accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

In the Harmonize canon, Article IX remains in force, but it is under attack by nationalist forces. The United States has been convinced to leave Okinawa entirely, no longer holding a military base there, something many pundits consider a step towards Japan upgrading its “Self-Defense Forces” into a full-fledged army for the first time since World War II, which would require the abolition of Article IX. Once widely accepted by Japanese, public opinion on Article IX is currently very mixed. It is highly possible/probable that, if things continue as they are, Article IX would be revoked in the near to mid future in Harmonize canon.

This nationalist fervor is essentially what is agreed upon by a large amount of Japanese society. The question of Article IX, and what should be done about it, is a fairly accurate way to determine where someone's politics stand. Even those who believe it should be preserved, however, are fearful of the threat of North Korea and China. Racism and xenophobia in Japan are not new concepts, and to some extent, a belief in the superiority of the Japanese people has existed in some form or function since the colonial days. It is only now, though, becoming more allowable in the mainstream to express such sentiments, though how acceptable it is is a matter of question and locality.

This new nationalist sentiment means that Chinese and Koreans, never looked upon truly positively in Japanese society, are now treated with open disdain by many citizens. It also means that other foreigners, and even half-blooded Japanese, will face derision from an increasing number of people in society. In a society that places value on being Japanese, those individuals who are most easily identifiable as not being Japanese are the ones who are most likely to face scorn or derision. Chinese, Koreans, and full-gaijin are generally not considered Japanese, and thus, there is little effort made to assimilate them, even now. In many ways, they stand outside the society that many believe the more conservative elements of Japan are trying to create.

It is important to note, however, that the nationalists in power have only been in power for ten years by the time Harmonize begins. Furthermore, as of the beginning of Harmonize, the laws of Japan look little different from how they were when the nationalists took power. There are no de jure discriminatory measures taking place, and foreigners are not being systematically persecuted, for example. While nationalist fervor has determined the party in power, and is interrogating how the country acts on the world stage, it is society itself where the vast majority of cultural conservatism is arising, albeit with some tacit backing from elements in power.

Q: Okay, you've told us about the nationalist politics of Harmonize Japan. How culturally conservative is it?

A: This question is a bit more complex. As noted above, Japan has united itself against external threats, under the banner of being Japanese. This nascent “new nationalism,” however, has led to a lot of questions along the lines of “What is Japan? What is being Japanese?” These questions are not as easily or uniformly answered as the questions above. While dislike and distrust of Koreans and Chinese are fairly commonplace, as is a desire to more firmly exert the country on the international stage, the cultural and social implications of the nationalist movement are harder to pin down.

Certainly, many of the conservatives in government preach and encourage tradition in many areas. However, surprisingly little of what they preach and encourage has been codified into law. There are many reasons for this - “Good Wife, Wise Mother,” for example, while a cause many conservatives support, is simply not possible for all members of society due to reasons financial and otherwise. At the same time, though, it is encouraged due to Japan's declining birth rate and need for population growth. Conservative views and philosophy finds its way into many speeches of politicians, but practicality dictates that much of their views are portrayed as lofty ideals for a perfect Japan, and not to be mandated in the present.

For this reason, most of the pressure that those who do not fit in to Japanese society face come from their fellow citizens, and not the Japanese government directly. Discrimination, such as it exists, is de facto and not de jure. There are, for example, no laws discouraging women from entering the workforce, though there may be public campaigns from organizations encouraging them to be good wives and wise mothers. Demonstrations against foreign corporations may be organized, but the government itself would never openly condone such actions – indeed, foreign workers are needed in a society with a negative birth rate. Much of the discrimination against “undesirables” is very passive-aggressive in nature, especially as society still struggles to determine what exactly the new normal is and what boundaries can or should be crossed or left alone.

While many people are swept up in nationalist fervor (and indeed, such nationalists have existed on the Japanese stage continuously), there exists a fair amount of disagreement on just what form that fervor should take. It is one thing to vote for politicians who promise to keep you safe in the face of potential Chinese and Korean aggression and support an increase in national pride, it is another to determine just what that means to society as a whole. Many older Japanese support more conservative societal norms, certainly, but there are also many older Japanese who worry about a more conservative social direction.

Q: That's all well and good, but how does the setting effect my character's day-to-day life?

A: The obvious answer is “it depends,” but I suppose that's a pretty bad answer for an FAQ, now isn't it?

The most important thing that I can tell you is that the more your character is obviously not Japanese, or the more they rock the boat, the more likely they are to have negative experiences with society in general.

Therefore, foreigners and half-Japanese cast members are likely to experience hostility from some they meet in the form of dirty looks and improper comments. This may occur in Chitoku (though it is strictly forbidden by the school charter and will be punished harshly if discovered), but is considerably more likely to occur outside of the school's halls in Kobe proper, especially among older or more conservative members of society.

As far as general social interaction is concerned, teenagers engage in the same sorts of activities that they do in the present day (or in Persona 3 & 4, if you'd rather). As long as they don't appear outwardly to be walking down the path to nailhood, society is unlikely to bother them. Perception is everything. Of course, the above points are relevant – an interracial couple out on a date will likely have to endure significantly more trouble from more conservative-minded folks than a couple of two native Japanese would.

“Fitting in” to the Harmonize society isn't particularly complex. It involves doing what one is told, not rocking the boat, and working towards/becoming a cognizable, productive member of Japanese society. How far you stray from this basic idea likely determines how much you get yelled at. 

Q: We read some about how girls are treated compared to guys, but how are both genders treated as children? As students? What are the different expectations? How are boys treated differently? What expectations are put upon their shoulders as children? As students? As adults?

A: It is important to remember that the conservative movement has only been in power for ten years. As such, societal attitudes have shifted in some areas, but much of what “new Japan” will look like is still in flux.

The cast members of Harmonize were alive anywhere from five to eight years before the government took power. How they were raised likely depends on the respective opinions of their families. It is those younger than them who are beginning to face the brunt of being raised in a society more focused on traditional values. The “Chitoku Generation,” to coin a term for our cast, likely has faced wild variance based on locality, their family, and who they interact with in regards to how they are looked at. Elements of society may side-eye, say, a woman who goes into the workplace, but those elements do not yet constitute a majority, or even a plurality.

The most pressing expectation for children of both genders is to fit in. A woman who works for a living might be side-eyed by some of the most traditional, but will be generally far more accepted than a foreigner, or a hikkikomori, etc.

As far as Chitoku Academy is concerned, it bills itself as teaching “the best and brightest” of Japanese society. Its students are expected to go on to good universities after graduation, and become successful, productive members of society. Perhaps oddly, given the ties to an increasingly conservative Japanese government, the Academy itself is likely one of the least likely institutions to push a young female student towards life as simply a housewife and mother.

Q: Are certain cultural festivals greater in relevance under this conservative government? Are the Youth/Boys/Girls Day given greater status? We hear how society is more conservative and we all know about Good Wife, Wise Mother, but what is the official line for women still holding some political power and jobs? Are there hardliners and hardline parties who think they shouldn't be working at all, etc?

A: All Japanese holidays are given greater relevance under the current regime, as celebrations of the Japanese identity. Some particularly deemed more important than they once were are Coming of Age Day (treated as a symbolic step to adulthood), National Foundation Day (the anniversary of the day the first Japanese emperor was crowned), and the newly created Veteran's Day (December 7th), in honor of the country's war dead, and a day on which many politicians visit the controversial Yasuniku Shrine.

The official government line in regards to women in power and the workplace is neutral. There are those in government, of course, who advocate that women stay at home in traditional roles, but Tokyo is often quick to point out these are the opinions of individual politicians. As much as many would like a total return to “Good Wife, Wise Mother,” the reality is that the declining Japanese birthrate, a problem for decades, means that the Japanese economy is not in a position to turn down those women who wish to continue entering the workforce. This is one of the many factors that have stayed the hands of the most hardline of the conservatives in power (along with a lack of necessary votes). For this reason, Good Wife, Wise Mother is increasingly seen as an ideal for those who can properly support doing so, as opposed to something that is being mandated.

There are, of course, hardline factions and individuals who believe that in “modern” Japanese society, a woman's place is in the home, but these factions are on the margins even in terms of the conservative movement, if only for practical reasons.

Q: What do students have to do to get expelled? Does expulsion procedure change in that regard when they have the Potential or are an actual p-user?

A: Expulsion from Chitoku Academy is a serious measure, not taken lightly by staff. Perhaps purposefully, the Chitoku handbook does not elaborate on specific acts that may get on expelled, instead settling on the vague “conduct severely detrimental to Chitoku Academy students, staff, or the institution itself.” In theory, all students are subject to the same guidelines.

It is important to note that many of the activities that could get one expelled from Chitoku Academy are also likely to get one in trouble with the police or the government. Enterprising troublemakers (Persona users included) would do well to think about their actions before trading one set of problems for a far more serious one.

Q: Personae stop working once the users reach a certain age. 18, right? Are there government steps to try and get around this, like the pills Strega used? [This might be a spoiler?] Would this be something pressing mentally on the 3rd years? Something the adult staff would pay attention to/look out for? Would pills be an interesting thing to explore, and all their consequences?

A; Classified information at this time. I can say that some of this will be addressed in due time.

Q: What exactly are the entrance exams? What sort of physical tests did people have to pass? What are the actual elements involved? How do they discover if somebody has the Potential? What test discovers that? Is it only after these tests that people with the Potential are found?

A: The Chitoku Academy entrance exams consist of a written, physical, and psychological portion. The written exam is a fairly typical standarized test consisting of multiple choice and essay questions in the fields of math, science, Japanese history, and Japanese language. The physical exam consists largely of a simple doctor's visit. Often, the school will accept the results of a recent physical performed by a family physician. The psychological portion consists of a series of questions answered by a student, meant to resemble a more typical written examination.

Any information regarding how Chitoku determines the Potential is classified information at this time.</lj-cut>