The Shores of Land: The Diplomacy of Japan, an Alien Nation

Chapter 63 - Period of Being Popular

Suda Beach is located in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Currently, it is under the management of the Ministry of Defense National Defense Force as Suda Garrison, commonly referred to as the connection area.

Since the Japanese archipelago was separated from the Eurasian continent due to crustal movement about 25 million years ago, it has never been connected by land. However, due to a sudden connection to an alien land through territorial transference, the term "connection area" became widely recognized.

As a result of peaceful resolutions between Japan and the Foreign Land, Suda Garrison functioned as Japan's first border checkpoint, rapidly turning into a tourist attraction. Although those on-site become accustomed to it due to daily exposure, many Japanese have never seen aliens in person.

Despite the media constantly disseminating new information, very few people have seen it with their own eyes. Except for encounters with Ruyle and Erma when they visited Tokyo, seeing aliens in Japan is a rare occurrence. Therefore, people with the means have started coming to Kamisu City.

This has led to the emergence of anti-war groups. Despite the fact that it would have been unthinkable without the proactive involvement of the NDF, people now stood in front of the facility entrance with placards opposing military activities. This about-face, turning from being quiet before the establishment of diplomatic relations to protesting afterward, earned them looks of scorn from society. However, as long as they limit themselves to protest activities without causing hindrance, the NDF ignored them to avoid escalation. Regardless of how disruptive these people may be, protecting them is the primary mission of the National Defense Force.

Lians who operated in the connecting area were aware of the attention they received. When they noticed they were being watched from outside the garrison, they enthusiastically waved and reacted. While direct contact is desired, safety and legal frameworks were not yet in place, postponing the interaction between civilians and the Lians for the time being. Given the complexities surrounding the half-blood issue, contact between the two species must be approached cautiously. However, by the time the border checkpoint was operational, interactions may become commonplace, similar to those with foreigners.

Originally developed as a city with a heavy chemical complex, Kamisu City has the potential for further growth. The city council seized this opportunity, actively lobbying various parties. Initially considered the most dangerous city in Japan at the time of the transference, it became the most promising city in Japan after diplomatic relations were established. In this bustling city, a woman arrived.

"Are you here, Yoichi?" the woman whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Until the establishment of diplomatic relations, the linguistics team to which Haguma belonged was solely focused on the study of the Foreign Land language, specifically the native language of the Kingdom of Illyharan, Martani. The primary goal was to rapidly acquire proficiency in Martani and ensure its transmission to future generations, particularly among the locals. After the establishment of diplomatic relations, the tasks of the language team underwent some changes.

The original focus on "Martani language research" shifted to "research on alien languages." A new learning team was established to increase the pool of individuals capable of taking over interpretation responsibilities from the NDF personnel to civilians. While NDF members in the connection area, having been engaged in interactions since the initial displacement, can speak fluently, their crucial mission is national defense.

Interpreting for the Japan-Illyharan relations is, in a sense, a matter of national defense. However, now that peaceful diplomatic relations have been established, the National Defense Force no longer needs to handle interpretation. Yet, linguists need to conduct research beyond Martani, requiring contributions not only from bureaucrats but also from the private sector. The learning team consists of members with diverse backgrounds, including those with teaching licenses, individuals engaged in translation work, and a mix of NDF personnel and government officials.