Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you - Pericles

Nerima, Tokyo, 2017

"I have something to show you, son."

"What is it, Father?"

"Something that related to an event that forever transformed our nation, that Dad believe you are now will be able to understand in full," told Takahiko Arima to his son, Kousei Arima. He led Kousei to the house's basement, where old goods were stored. Kousei's attention was aimed at a wooden trunk, below it was a table with a small Japanese flag on it.

For years when it's time to reorganize the house, I often asked Dad what that trunk is all about and the flag, and he told me that I would understand it when you are about to become an adult. Yesterday I am now 17, and with a loving girlfriend on my side with the same passion for music, I am now ready. Mum is also getting better each day and has long since been in remission from brain cancer.

"Dad, are you about to talk about Senkaku Islands War in 1999?"

"Just wait." The elder Arima pull on a key, and the opened trunk revealed a set of uniforms that Kousei recognized as belonging to a maritime officer.

"You once served in the Maritime Defense Force?" This is going to be an unforgettable father and son moment, thought Kousei as his father guided him to sit down on the nearest chair.

"Yes, I was. That began when I finished college in business administration; For a while, I was unemployed with many of my applications were rejected thanks to my average grade. Of course, I don't want my life to be like that, especially as I am the only child and my parents - your late grandparents - want me to have stable job as soon as possible. And so, for that and also our family's honor, I looked for any opportunities and that's when I found the back then-the Self-Defense Force and soon applied for the Maritime Officer Candidate School in Etajima. Some called me desperate, but that's what I did."

"Go on, dad"

"Surprisingly, I was accepted to the short-service course. Thus began my service as an officer, as my plan was to build an experience that surely will be helpful for me to seek other employment later on."

"Uh huh..."

Kousei watched as Takahiko pulled out a photo album and opened it to a photo with many people wearing white uniforms. "This is me, second from the left front." Then, he pointed out another photo below, showing a Japanese warship. 

"This is where I was assigned, the JDS (Japanese Defense Ship) Shimakaze (DDG-172). She is still sailing today but no longer as a frontline destroyer; instead, she is now a training ship with the name of Kamikaze (TV-3521), while the name Shimakaze itself is now resides in an Amatsukaze-class DDG-186 (1)." 

Japanese destroyer Shimakaze (DDG-172)

"How was your experience at sea, dad?"

"In Defense service, there was no day without physical exercise, especially in the Kaijou Jieitai or currently the Teikoku Kokka Kaijou Boeitai (Imperial Maritime Defense Force). We are an island nation as you have learned ever since elementary school, and that means, we must have a strong navy to defend its seas." He started. "Many thought that like those who had come and gone before us, we'll pass all of these without events that will require us to use force. Alas, it happened."

Things were escalating quickly.

"Tell me what happened, dad."

"It started in 1995, five years after I was commissioned, Taiwanese President Lee-Teng Hui visited the United States. Something that the People's Republic of China greatly opposed. People said that integrating the country into international trade in general might help them slowly embrace democracy... well, back then the Chinese subsequently conducted a series of missile tests, and later a naval and air power demonstration near Taiwanese territorial waters and EEZ. That time was also when China began to slowly build up its claim at the South China Sea and here in Japan, the Senkaku Islands."

"What is the next part?"

"Such curiosity indeed..." After a deep exhale, the smiling Takahiko continued. "In 1996, the Taiwanese were to have their general election with President Lee in the lead in the run-up. The Beijing regime decided to have another set of missile testing just before the election, and live firing exercises. Overall, the provocation only served to earn Lee-Teng Hui and his pro-independence platform a majority in Taiwanese government. Then come the 1997 crisis that hit everyone. I was immensely grateful that I have a stable source of income, even was able to marry your mum in 1998, while many of my friends that I know back at my school days up to college with better jobs were either got laid off or permanently fired; few even took their own lives."

"Things were exacerbated with a new war in Kosovo which diverted America's European allies if you remember your history lesson at school."

"I remember that, Dad. About the disintegration of Yugoslavia and how it created a crisis and even genocides in the Balkans."

"That's it... and on the other side, Russia was one of the countries hit hardest by the crisis and its desperate government sold a large number of advanced military equipment particularly to China. Meanwhile, as the Chinese's own economy got affected by the crisis later on, their leaders believe that they had a good opportunity to further test the water. They were aiming for a 'concession' by the world powers and divert their people from the hardship at home. The world was expecting another provocation against Taiwan or even a straight-up invasion, but we were wrong once again."

"The immediate cause of the war - things that some politicians, the media, as well as a good number of influencers nowadays tend to downplay as a mere incident, remember that, son - was an outright occupation of Senkaku Island by Chinese activists. When the Coast Guard was sent to check things out and make them leave, one of their vessels was fired upon by a Chinese warship beyond the horizon. It was a miss. However, the mere act of firing means that all hell had broken loose."

He continued. "I was on duty on the Shimakaze as a weapons officer."

"What is a duty of a weapons officer, dad?"

"My duty was to supervise, operate and maintain all weapons; guns, torpedoes, and guided missiles onboard the Shimakaze. Oh where I left things off?"

Kousei replied. "When the report of Chinese attack came in."

"Yes... Our naval squadron was the first to encounter Chinese planes and ships that ambushed us while we covered the retreat of the Coast Guard vessels. I can't forget the explosion and the scream of pain when one of our ship Shirayuki was hit and then sunk. In the meantime, the so-called activists were turned out to be Chinese special forces."

"Later along with ship engagements, we also did our part in downing Chinese bombers heading straight for mainland Japan... somehow in their leaders mind, they thought that a successful strike on Home Islands might strike fear for us. Added with infiltrators, they nailed some, particularly in Osaka and Nagasaki using their bomber aircraft and ballistic missiles, the latter was surprisingly effective thanks to Russia who accelerated their own development after the collapse of the USSR in the name of keeping itself afloat. However, it only serve to compound their mistake, as the Americans came to our assistance which turned the tide along with UN pressures. We won, but things will never be the same, as you have seen today, my son, about how the government had consistently spend high on defense like the Americans with strong support from the people and how His Majesty the Emperor got increased executive power as the result hence the name "Imperial State". Something that is necessary in this world... in the memory of two-hundred and twenty lost lives, many were civilians, from the unprovoked Chinese aggression."

"Earth to Kousei?" asked Takahiko as his eyes went on his son, eyes widened, his face ashened.

"I don't know what to say, dad. Even when every August 10th, from kindergarten to Okutsu, we celebrated the Kokka Shuken no Hi - National Sovereignty Day. Remember when I got dressed as a sailor in primary with Tsubaki as well?"

Takahiko replied. "Yes."

"...and listen to those who fought."

"Indeed. Many schools nowadays invited my comrades in arms to give few words when that day come."

"Also, as I got deep into piano, memorial concerts. Especially back in Okutsu."

"That's right."

"After all this time, I still can't believe Dad had seen all this. I am proud of your service, Dad."

"Thank you so much, my son. The story ends with the resulting demobilization that saw my service contract finally ended when it hit ten-years mark, which was the reason why I am now working in a bank."

"One last thing.... son. The good thing came from that war is that our people got higher political consciousness, they know that survival is the must, hence participation is the way to ensure our government actually do what has to be done to keep this country forward..."

"Dad, Kousei"

"It's Mum, the dinner is ready," 

"Just in time, come on," replied Takahiko as he finished putting the uniform and photo album back to its place.

......

A/N: rdcastillo24 af_Schutze95 Thanks to consultation with another online friend I decided to show a prologue about a conflict in this alternate universe!

(1). Thanks to a better state of demographics in Japan (while kenshusei or foreign workers remain accepted), Japan had substantially larger number in terms of combat vessels including Aegis destroyers.