Shogunate of Shikoku-Kanto:
The Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi sat on the Chrysanthemum Throne, the throne of the Japanese people, the great throne of the united Shogunates of Shikoku and Kanto, arisen from small city-states to a grand empire. With the clang of steel on steel, the mighty Samurai of the Shogun trained outside, with boys becoming men, and, for the first time, girls becoming mighty warrior women. In a break of tradition, the Shogun had, much to the chagrin of his Advisor and constant nagging from his wife, decided to allow a small group of 10 teenage girls into the Palace to train as Samurai. They would train for a decade, until the final ritual were they would become not women, but Samurai Warriors, great soldiers of the Shogun. The Great Shogun watched as a messenger ran up to the Palace, and one of the female Samurai was asked by her trainer to deliver the message to the Shogun, as fast as possible. She ran inside, bowing before the Shogun. "Oh mighty Shogun of Shikoku, Kanto, and the Japanese people, chosen by the gods and just ruler of the United Shogunates, a message is sent for you from the Dutch, men of Europe, of the Far West". The Shogun simply raised an eyebrow before speaking. "You may rise, chosen of the Josei Samurai. You as well are chosen by the gods for a great task, of being the first of the Josei Samurai. I can only hope you prove yourself worthy. What is this message from the men of the Dutch lands? Is it for trade, or war?". The Josei Samurai, named Aino, rose, before answering. "I will prove my country and family proud, and bring honor to my family name and the Great Shogun, fifth of the mighty Tokugawa. The Dutch men speak of trade. They wish for our ports to be opened to Dutch trade. If I may input my personal opinion...". She waited for the Shoguns approval, and when he nodded, she continued. "The Dutch have a mighty navy, and we do not. We could work out an agreement with them in exchange for some things: the Japanese would open their ports to Dutch trade and agree to support the Dutch colonial effort, and in exchange the Dutch would help the Japanese build a navy in the style of Europe, and allow us to claim the islands of New Japan(Philippines) for the Shogunate. This would allow Japan to expand to a favorable extent, and give us a base for future colonization". The Shogun nodded, and added something he deemed important. "I want another letter sent to the Ainu State as well. An alliance proposition. A mutual defence pact, against threats our two nations may face". The Josei Samurai nodded, running out to tell the messenger what to write. With the clang of steel on steel, the Josei Samurai once again began to train.
To the Dutch Republic:To the Most Honorable Willem van Outhoorn, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies,
His Majesty, the Great Shogun of Shikoku and Kanto, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi accepts your proposal for a trade agreement, with a couple of added clauses. Shikoku-Kanto has no navy, and we desperately need one to protect our island nation from attack. Shikoku-Kanto wishes for, in exchange for the opening of Japanese ports to trade, that the Dutch help us build a navy styled after Europe. We also wish for Dutch permission to set up a colony on the islands of New Japan, what the Spaniards call "The Philippines". I expect your response soon, great nation.
To the Ainu State:To the leader of the Ainu Peoples,
The Mighty Shogun of Shikoko-Kanto would like to propose an alliance between our two nations for the mutual defense of the Japanese Island Archipelago. This alliance would benifit out two nations because of the dual threats of China and Europeam Colonialism. I expect your response soon, great leader.
Note: The messages to the two nations originally were in boxes, but due to conflicts with the application coding, the boxes around the messages were deleted.