| SHIMAJIRO TODAY |
Shimajiro’s #1 News Source, Nationwide and Internationally!
Established in 1912, and rebranded in 2025, Shimajiro Today is a privately-owned weekly news service that delivers the most engaging and relevant news stories out of the Empire of Shimajiro. More to come!
IDAINARU NENDAI-KI ISSUE
25 January 2025
Princess Asuka: “It’s about time we were all a little bit nicer to eachother”
PRINCESS Asuka, the Princess of Seikan, has expressed a sentiment of compassion and togetherness in a recent interview since her coming out in November.
The princess, who came out as bisexual in November 2024, has faced a great amount of media scrutiny and minor public backlash ever since the fact, causing a rift between the monarchy and other various institutions in the country. But in a recent interview, Asuka remains steadfast in wanting love, care, and compassion amongst everybody in Shimajiro, and it appears the country agrees.
“I think it’s about time we were all a little bit nicer to eachother,” the princess said on Friday, “We’re more than just our sexuality, the colour of skin, or our nationality. We’re all family here. Shimajiro has always been a place of love and I hope to ensure it says this way for centuries to come.”
The princess remains ever popular amongst the people of Shimajiro, particularly amongst younger, more liberal generations. The princess also expressed her enjoyment of the rising S-pop genre, praising S-pop group Popcorn during their recent run in beloved national talent show GZTSS.
“A massive congrats to CHIBIMETAL, I can’t wait to see them representing Shimajiro globally in the next Urthvision. I also absolutely loved the various performances Popcorn did throughout the entire show; a massive well done to all contestants. I look forward to hearing more music from them in the future!”
Aozora metal band CHIBIMETAL chosen to represent at next Urthvision
You loved them, and you selected them! Aozora-born CHIBIMETAL have been voted as Shimajiro’s top pick for the next edition of URTHVISION.
The band made their first appearance on Gōkana zenkoku-teki sainō shō (GZTSS) in November, and the audience and judge panel were immediately hooked to their on-stage extravagance, eccentricity, and overall love of the heavy metal genre. Despite a close tie with S-pop group Popcorn in the semi-finals at the end of 2024, CHIBIMETAL proved themselves in the grand final of the beloved talent show last Saturday and have subsequently been elected by viewers all across the nation to represent Shimajiro at the next Urthvision. We look forward to seeing this Aozora-based band rock down the roof worldwide!
Seikan street food scandal: 1 dead and dozens more left seriously ill after eating at beloved Seikanese street food restaurant
ONE man in his 40s has died and another twelve have been left seriously ill after eating at the infamous Seikansukōpion street food diner in Southern Seikan.
Two weeks ago, multiple people were hospitalised after experiencing symptoms of extreme fever, projectile vomiting, and extreme dizziness, and investigation by hospital staff discovered that all had dined at Seikansukōpion that same night. In the coming weeks, dozens more were hospitalized after eating at the street food restaurant and tonight, subsequentlty, one man has died.
“We are extremely sorry to hear that somebody has passed away as a result of this virus,” police spokesman Yamato Iwasaki said in an interview tonight, “Please be assured that our investigation will only become more intense from this point forward and we will be sure to update the public with any further information.” Iwasaki urged anybody who felt ill after eating at the restaurant to admit themselves to a doctor immediately.
As a result, the restaurant has been closed temporarily pending an ongoing police investigation, however reports suggest that the restaurant may be forced to now shut its doors forever.
IDAINARU NENDAI-KI ISSUE
26 January 2025
Former chancellor Shinsuke Mizuno interviewed at populist rally
FORMER Chancellor Mr. Shinsuke Mizuno was spotted and interviewed at a populist rally last night organised by the Change The State group calling for the dissolution of the monarchy.
Mr. Mizuno, who is known for his difficult relationship with the Emperor during his tenure as Imperial Chancellor, was interviewed by INK during last night’s rally, swathed by vast waves of protestors and rally attendants grumbling about Kotei Daishin’s poor health and “continued fumbling” of certain issues.
“It has and always will be the elected governments and representatives who make the change in this country, never the institution the greedishly feeds off the people,” Mr. Mizuno stated, “This country would be better off with an elected head of state and I intend on making that incredibly clear in my upcoming book, which I will be releasing later this year.”
Incumbent Chancellor, Sayuri Fujimura, has since made her thoughts on the situation very clear after an interview this morning:
“Mr. Mizuno is a sick man who couldn’t manage his own government, let alone his own personal relationship with the Kotei,” Mrs. Fujimura stated earlier this morning, “It is the role of the elected government and indeed the legislature to act as the voice of the people to the monarchy, it’s the very thing we are elected to do. Might I remind him that the electoral alliance that I lead very much proves that. The same alliance that removed him from office nearly 4 years ago.”
Current FPP leader of the opposition, Kazuya Igarishi, has refused to comment on the situation. He suspended Mr. Mizuno from the party in 2023.
IDAINARU NENDAI-KI rebrands to “Shimajiro Today”
We are incredibly pleased to announce that we have merged with various other newspaper services to form a brand new news service and will henceforth be known as “Shimajiro Today”! Expect greater coverage of news and events across all of Shimajiro from today onward.
Nakabayashi: I will not put the needs of our elderly aside
FIRST DEPUTY CHANCELLOR Kazuyuki Nakabayashi has said today that he would “not put the needs of (Shimajiro’s) elderly aside” in a defiant statement against the government’s plan to cut back on winter fuel payments.
Chancellor Sayuri Fujimura’s has faced the growing problem of slowly rising inflation in the last few months, with the inflation rate reaching 5% in December. In January, a bill was put forward in the Imperial Diet by Minshutō legislators to enable the government to cut back on its funding for heating homes through fuel and gas prices. At the time, Chancellor Fujimura supported the move as an “unpleasant, yet necessary measure” in order to bring inflation back under control. However, today, Fujimura’s coalition partner in the WOTP Party seems to have stated that they are unwilling to back the bill.
In a statement put out on Monday, Mr. Nakabayashi, who is otherwise supportive of Fujimura’s more liberal government, noted the concerns surrounding elderly people during the winter period and fact that it is imperative that they be able to heat their homes. Mrs. Fujimura rebutted, stating that the move wouldn’t and shouldn’t restrict people from staying warm over the last few weeks of winter, and said the move came at a good time as the “country slowly crawled into spring”.
The statement comes after growing concerns that the coalition between the Democratic Party and Will Of The People Party, which has otherwise seemed strong since its formation in 2020, has been slowly crumbling after disputes over education funding in 2023. Deputy Chancellor Nakabayashi has told Shimajiro Today that he will be encouraging his party to vote however they please when the bill is put to vote on Wednesday 19 February 2025.
Two dead after 14 February stabbing in Yamatino
A MAN, 47, and a woman, 43, have both sadly passed after 3 days in hospital as a result of a stabbing that took place in Yamatino on Friday night. The couple were reportedly celebrating twenty years of being together. Yamatino Metropolitan Police say that their investigation is still currently ongoing but the suspect is still currently at large. They are reportedly on the hunt for a middle-aged blonde man of Shimanese origin, who was last seen on CCTV on Yanishi Street in Western Yamatino. Police are encouraging the Yamatino public to stay vigilant and cautious at night. It is believed the stabbing may have been religiously motivated.
Seikansukōpion street diner forced to close after nearly sixty years of operating
Seikansukōpion, a famous street diner located in the central business district of Seikan, has been ordered to close by authorities after nearly sixty years of operation after dozens were left critically ill and one man even passed away after dining at the restaurant in late January. Thankfully, others left ill have now been released from hospital.
In a statement released on Monday, the Greater Seikan Metropolitan Police said: “After a lengthy investigation conducted in cooperation with various health inspection services and authorities, we have concluded that, unfortunately, it is in everybody’s best interests that the
Seikansukōpion restaurant located on Aganashi Boulevard in Central Seikan be forced to cease operating for the forseeable future.” It was reportedly discovered that the restaurant was not up-to-par with health regulators’ standards and had been falsifying recent health inspection reports.
The public, especially those who enjoyed dining at the restaurant, were reportedly saddened yet relieved at the restaurant’s closure. It was discovered that the bacteria causing the illnesses was Clostridium perfringens, and in turn caused food poisoning viruses such as norovirus and salmonella. According to health reports, the restaurant had been suffering from terrible hygiene regulations as early as 2011.
Princess Asuka meets CHIBIMETAL
Princess Asuka (right) and CHIBIMETAL (left)
PRINCESS Asuka met Shimajiro’s Urthvision act, CHIBIMETAL, in a private meeting held at the Imperial Palace of Seikan today.
The royal princess of Seikan supposedly called the kawaii metal group in to wish them the very best of luck and to tell them how much of an inspiration they are to her; and it appears the feeling is mutual! Su-metal, the lead singer of CHIBIMETAL, told Shimajiro Today what an honour it was to meet the Royal Princess today.
Princess Asuka has said that she intends to watch Urthvision this time around with great interest, particularly with this edition being Shimajiro’s debut to the long-running music festival. In an interview, she praised the diversity of the sound, and the ingenuity of all the acts involved up to this point.
“I love Urthvision!” stated the Princess, “It’s great. There’s nothing I love more than cosying up at the Palace and celebrating all of the musical acts. And they are truly wonderous, some beautiful songs have been submitted in the past, and CHIBIMETAL is no different. I’m very much looking forward to watching them perform at this years’ ceremony, and I hope they know I will be cheering them on at the top of my voice! Maybe they’ll hear me, all the way over in the Tawusian Cape!”
Crown Prince Hikari set to marry Sumire Moriyama in April ceremony
Crown Prince Hikari (left) and Sumire Moriyama (right)
THE Imperial Palace of Seikan has tonight announced that the royal wedding between his highness, Crown Prince Hikari, and singer-songwrite Sumire Moriyama, is to take place on Saturday 5 April 2025.
In a press release on Saturday night, the Imperial Palace announced that it was “delighted” to be hosting the event outside of Seikan, taking place instead in the city of Tatsumiyama, a city that holds a very close and special connection to the royal family.
Crown Prince Hikari, who proposed to the singer-songwriter in June 2023, is reportedly incredibly excited to marry his one true love, and to work together for a brighter future for Shimajiro.
Several countries from around the world are due to recieved invitations to the Crown Prince’s wedding, which is expected to be televised. It would be the second televised royal wedding in Shimanese history, after the current Emperor, Daishin’s, marriage to Princess Natsumi of Shimajiro in 1991, and the first to take place outside of the capital of Seikan. Sumire Moriyama is set to become Princess Sumire of Shimajiro.
GOVERNMENT PASSES BILL TO CUT FUEL FUNDING
DESPITE the protests of First Deputy Chancellor Kazuyuki Nakabayashi, the government has successfully passed the Fuel & Heating Payments Bill as of yesterday, now cutting back executive spending on fuel for heating and various other amendities as the country heads towards warmer temperatures.
Shimanese Minister of Finance, Shigeru Morikawa, today announced the government’s initiative to continue supporting the elderly over the coming months through diverting funding to private charities and companies that supply alternatives, but went on to state that the move was necessary for the government to focus on other priorities.
Deputy Chancellor Nakabayashi has reportedly said that he is growing “increasingly frustrated” with Chancellor Sayuri Fujimura’s ministry, and it appears that he is growing more and more likely to pull his party, the Will Of The People Party, out of its electoral alliance with the Democratic Party due to disputes over the last 2 years.
Akito Minami, a WOTP Member of the Imperial Diet, today said that backbench members of the party in the House of Representatives are growing more and more concerned about the state of the relationship between WOTP and the Democratic Party.
Should the WOTP Party eject themselves from the coalition, Chancellor Fujimura could be forced to call a snap election, however it’s looking like it could increasingly go within her favour, with her Democratic Party leading at least 14 points over Deputy Chancellor Kazuyuki Nakabayashi’s WOTP Party. The Free People’s Party is predicted to fall behind to third place should an election occur this year.
BREAKING
SHIMAJIRO TODAY BREAKING NEWS
28 February 2025
Imperial Chancellor set to hold “crucial” press conference at noon
IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR Sayuri Fujimura has announced that she is set to hold a “crucial” press conference in Seikan in an hour’s time at noon, supposedly regarding the future of her government.
The announcement comes following growing concerns that the alliance administration between the Democratic Party and the Will Of The People Party has completely deteriorated. Various ministers, both of the Democratic and WOTP parties, were seen entering and exiting the Chancellor’s Head Office in Seikan this morning.
We will give live updates of what the Chancellor has to say later today at noon.
BREAKING
SHIMAJIRO TODAY BREAKING NEWS
28 February 2025
“My commitment is to my country first”: Chancellor Fujimura DISSOLVES alliance government and calls snap election
CHANCELLOR SAYURI FUJIMURA has announced that she has booted the Will Of The People Party out of the governing coalition government, sacking First Deputy Chancellor Kaz Nakabayashi, and effectively ending her alliance-led majority government.
In a shock statement made during a press conference just now, Chancellor Fujimura cited that “tension had become too high” and that she “no longer found efficiency in governing alongside WOTP”, announcing that next Wednesday would mark the final session of the House of Representatives before it is dissolves in order to make way for an election in April.
During her statement, Fujimura expressed a desire to move forward, alone, as the Democratic Party finds soaring success in polling. She has subsequently announced a snap election for 17 - 20 April later this year, so as to not conflict with the wedding of Crown Prince Hikari.
SENIOR members of the WOTP Party, including party leader and now former First Deputy Chancellor Kaz Nakabayashi, are reportedly outraged and prepare to “run a fierce and ruthless campaign” against the Democratic Party.
Chancellor Fujimura envisioned a brand new era for Shimajiro, one where the nation is free to reach out internationally, build itself up, and recover from the last 50 turbulent years. She openly expressed a desire for Shimajiro to join the United Nations of the Auroran Continent, and has announced this as her first key policy point if she were to win the snap election.
“My commitment is to my country first,” the Chancellor declared, “Not my party, or the other parties who have tried so relentlessly to set me back these last four years. Now is the time we take a stand. Now is the time to vote Democratic. Let’s get Shimajiro back on track.”
Another key WOTP official to go from Fujimura’s alliance government is now former Minister of Foreign Affairs Etsuko Kobayashi, who has expressed frustration with the Imperial Chancellor’s “stubborn” attitude, and pledges he will back his leader, Kazuyuki Nakabayashi, to challenge Fujimura’s premiership in the upcoming elections.
This year marks perhaps the most exciting election campaign in recent history, and the stakes are even higher than ever before. However, with the Democratic Party soaring with a near 20-point lead in polling, it’s looking like at this point, it’ll be a comfortable landslide victory for Sayuri Fujimara. Only time will tell.
SHIMAJIRO TODAY ISSUE
1 March 2025
Kazuya Igarashi: “This is the time to get the FPP back on track”
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, and Leader of the Free People’s Party Kazuya Igarashi, has today made a speech kicking off the FPP’s campaign heading into the 2025 election.
In a speech made on Saturday morning, Mr. Igarashi outlined the significance of the election for not only the country, but especially the Free People’s Party, which was ousted from power under chancellor Shinsuke Mizuno in 2021.
Mr. Igarashi, who has led the party since April 2022, cited a much needed movement for change across Shimajiro. However, his messages and his ideas haven’t fared particularly too well with voters as of recent, with the FPP predicted to fall behind into a third party position behind the Will Of The People Party, early polling is suggesting.
“We are facing an era of Shimajiro that is growing increasingly polarized,” Mr. Igarashi stated, “We need a shake up. We need a good moderate, centre-left ground on which we can establish a basis of positive human relations and keep things moving on from there.”
Kazuya Igarashi is perhaps one of Shimajiro’s more moderate yet divisive figures, being the successor to the colourful Shinsuke Mizuno, who has criticised the government’s decision to call a snap election, saying it “gives the far right a platform on which they can unleash absolute chaos.” Mr. Igarashi, who suspended Mr. Mizuno from the party in 2023, stated that Shinsuke Mizuno “no longer represents party policy and we request that he therefore be ignored, for the sanctity of our people and our party.”
However, it appears that Mr. Mizuno has amassed quite a large following of his own. He has suggested creating his own left-wing populist party, one which he envisions to be the “true left-wing opposition in Shimajiro.”
SHIMAJIRO TODAY ISSUE
3 March 2025
Chancellor Fujimura to make new cabinet appointments ahead of election
Chancellor Sayuri Fujimura has announced that she is going to be making some key new cabinet appointments this evening, ahead of the general election.
Key cabinet positions that remain open include the position of First Deputy Chancellor (last held by WOTP leader Kaz Nakabayashi), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Justice. Mrs. Fujimura has invited several members of her party into her head office in Seikan, and we are expecting to hear of these appointments in the next few hours.
Chancellor Fujimura has said that these appointments may or may not be temporary depending on how the next few months fare, appointments made today may stick around for when Mrs. Fujimura reshuffles her cabinet in April, if she is to win the election.
On top of this, the WOTP party has announced it intends to release its manifesto at the start of next week, on Monday 10 March. Various campaigns, rallies, and speeches have already ocurred across the country, held by each of the many parties involved in this election campaign. Polling wise, the gaps typically seem to be getting smaller, however the Democratic Party seems to be maintaining its strong lead over the Will Of The People Party in early polling. It appears it could be a tight call between WOTP and the Free People’s Party in terms of which party will be the main opposition to the government.
Stay wish Shimajiro Today for full coverage of the 2025 Shimanese general election campaign, including the election, from the evening of Thursday 17th until the early hours of Monday 21st April 2025.
Polls open at 9am on Thursday 17 April 2025, and will close at 10pm on Sunday 20 April 2025.
SHIMAJIRO TODAY STANDARD ISSUE
6 March 2025
Fujimura’s top picks: Midori Saitou and Ren Uchiyama to join cabinet
Midori Saitou (left) and Ren Uchiyama (right)
CHANCELLOR Sayuri Fujimura has announced two new cabinet picks for her administration heading into the 2025 election.
Midori Saitou, a Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives since 2011, is set to become the successor of Kaz Nakabayashi as First Deputy Chancellor when she meets with the Chancellor later this evening.
Ren Uchiyama, one of the most experienced politicians in modern-day Shimajiro, is set to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
More minor cabinet picks are to come, but these two new appointments mark a major shift in administration policy as a means to replace members of the WOTP party that had served in cabinet as a part of their alliance with the Democratic Party.
Chancellor Fujimura today called to empower Shimanese women in government, and she believes her two new picks for two of the most influentual positions in the Shimanese government exert this efficiently. The decisions have been met with praise from voters, with over 67% of respondents saying they strongly support Fujimura’s new cabinet members.
Stay with Shimajiro Today for full coverage of the 2025 Shimanese general election campaign, including the election, from the evening of Thursday 17th until the early hours of Monday 21st April 2025.
Polls open at 9am on Thursday 17 April 2025, and will close at 10pm on Sunday 20 April 2025.
