To Our good and loyal citizens and subjects of the Emperor,
It is with the dawning of this new year that a bright new future for Our Empire is heralded - A future marked by the beginning of a new era. Over the past few years a great change have taken place in Our Empire, with the Chōsen peninsula becoming an integral part of Our Nation. With Nihon and Chōsen as one, by the will of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, Our Empire has been restructured and will henceforth be known by a new name, Daito; The Great East. A new name for Our Empire, encompassing both the Islands of Nihon and the Chōsen peninsula, will encapsulate this new unity between the once separated Imperial Race which have finally come together as brothers and equals. This idea of unity and harmony is perfectly showcased within Our new national flag which unites the rising sun of Nihon with the trigrams of Chōsen, showcasing the movement and harmony of Our Empire.
Though the circumstances were harsh and complicated last year in wake of the London Stock market crash, the new government of Our Empire has already made great strides towards rebuilding Our economy. However, We still have a way to go if We are to truly unlock the glorious potential of Our Empire. There is no mistaking that the new year 1915 will be a year of continued struggle, a year in which We will face a sea of changes. With the guidance of the Emperor and the spirits of Our Imperial ancestors We shall work diligently to usher in a golden age for all of Our Empire and people. This year we should in particular ensure that the sectors of agriculture and construction hold the torch of innovations, as it is with these that We may truly grow as a nation bettering Ourselves and the standards of living for all of Our people.
Not all news is good news however. Although Our Empire is making great strides towards a bright and glorious future, the people of Europe have become embroiled in a bitter war that has already claimed thousands if not millions of lives.
Nothing is more precious for Our people than peace, but it is not something that can be achieved if We simply wish for it. We can never just sit back with folded arms and see the dark clouds of colonialism hovering over Asia. Just as We would defend Our country's sovereignty, peace and dignity so too must Our people stand up for Our brothers in Asia who to this day suffer under the oppression of the West. It is by promoting the great ideals of independence, peace and friendship throughout Asia that We can safeguard Asian peace and security and promote a common prosperity for the whole of the Asiatic Race. Asia is one; from the islands in the pacific to the Asian continent and the Indian ocean and, though it is divided by distance, not even the snowy barriers or ocean waves can interrupt for one moment the common dream of all the people to regain a glory stolen and once more take pride in the region’s rich history and culture. This is why, in accordance to the Emperor’s will, the people of Our Empire shall strive towards this great task and ideal by working harmoniously in making manifest Our national dignity.
It is to achieve this goal that Our Empire will, now as in in the future, strive to expand and develop relations of friendship and cooperation with all the countries that respect Our sovereignty, and are friendly to Us and Our ideas of independence, peace and friendship. In particular, We wish to strengthen the cooperation with Our fellow Asian countries. It is to this end that We extend the hand of friendship to Our neighbors in China and Siam - Both of whom have stood against Western imperialism; China through their valiant efforts in their revolutionary struggle to regain their national dignity and Siam though their staunch efforts to remain independent despite encroachments on all sides.
Through last year's struggle We clearly demonstrated that Our strength and commitment are a force none can check, and should we remain committed to enhancing our national dignity and honour, this year We will pave the way to a bright future for Our Empire!
-Inukai Tsuyoshi, Prime Minister of the Empire of Daito.