"I have no way of judging the future but by the past" - Patrick Henry, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

May 25th, 2025

2nd Lieutenant Arima Kousei

Fast forward, now here I am, a freshly minted second lieutenant. Along with my wife.

When every new officer obtained their first assignment after branch-specific training, the first order was to send a letter of introduction. Kaori was really helpful when it's time to proofread the letter in terms of grammar, especially with the fact that she and I were about to serve together in the same brigade despite our difference in branch; I got Armor, she got Infantry. A lot of phone call was also in order, to know about important names like the personnel and administration officer, more known as the S-1, as well as the deputy company commander for the company that I am about to be assigned as part of the 11th Tank Regiment, the battalion level unit that I am given place at.

The next step will be by showing up at the designated place. In my case it's Camp Komakado, in the outskirts of Gotemba City at the hills of Mount Fuji, home of two active-duty tank battalions of the 1st Division, 1st and 11th Tank Regiments as well as the 1st Anti Aircraft Regiment.

Meanwhile, Kaori's (and Tsubaki) unit was based in Camp Oomiya in the neighboring city of Saitama where the 1st Division's 1st Cavalry (Reconnaissance) Regiment was also located.

Still around the Mount Fuji area was the Camp Takigahara where the combined IGDF Fuji School was located. Before assignment into regiments, Kaori and I had to pass through this phase under the brigade's School of Infantry and School of Armor and Cavalry respectively.

In some armies such as the Americans and British as well as the old Imperial Japanese Army, a regiment is a unit consist of multiple battalions. However, in post WW2 Japanese ground force a regiment is battalion-sized unit, often over-strength in case of the infantry.

In the sweltering heat of summer, especially with the fact that it's mid-day with sun directly overhead, the journey started. From the headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division "Nerima" in Tokyo where the 11th Tanks was a permanent part of the division's 5th Brigade, enlisted soldiers and officers assigned to the division were marching towards the buses and other vehicles that were about to take them, including us, to be ready for deployment.

We are given 5 minutes to call our family before departure.

Lugging up my loads and withstanding the heat I walked to the officer in charge. He was ticking off names from a bunch of list that he is holding on his clipboard.

"Name?" he asked in the flat tone.

"2/LT Kousei Arima, 11th Tank Regiment, Major."

"Lieutenant Arima, you are to proceed to the bus number 5. 5th Brigade boys and girls are there. And oh, a certain Lieutenant Arima will be glad to see you."

I nodded and proceeded to the said bus, depositing my load onto the baggage hold before getting onboard. It almost packed to the full, about three quarters, a mixed bag of soldiers and officers across the brigade. And you have to know this; the buses used by the GDF looked like the typical civilian overnight long-distance coaches, but it's interior was more spartan and the seats, while it could recline, in general comfort was a secondary priority compared to the seating capacity. A few were lucky to got assigned into civilian coaches of various sizes requisitioned as part of the general mobilization effort while others, mostly enlisted soldiers, were put on into trucks instead.

And just like what the Major hinted at me, someone waved her hands as I walked through the aisle; it was Kaori, she had reserved a window seat for me.

"You are ready?" she asked me.

"Ready when you are."

This is it, Kousei. You and Kaori are heading to the mountains, again...

As the bus were running it's way, I took one last look to the portion of Tokyo visible on my eyes; buildings, tree lines; everything that the bus had passed, knowing that we might never come back to see it again.

Regular notifications and sights of air defense at work on our way there was for most of us, the first taste of war.

In the meantime, another interestng stuff aboard was that many were bringing paperback books to read and those who look at their phones were outnumbered; others were chatting with each other; seeking to know who's who.

"So you got to serve with the same brigade."

"You forget the policy for married officers, Friend A." she chuckled, then she showed me the patch of one of the infantry units of the 5th Brigade; 32nd Infantry Regiment.

"Oh, man, how come I did forget on that!"

"Hey, it's fine. With so many things to learn in a short possible time, sometimes we can forget smaller things. That's why we have platoon sergeants, or when you and I became company commanders later, a deputy commander or XO."

"Exactly."

"Speaking of being a Company Commander later... I want to ask you something." she continued.

"Go on, Kaori." She tucked her hair behind her ear, readjusted her beret, and looked at me.

"Will we continue to serve in the same brigade later on?"

I paused, as my memories went back to the day we received our commissions. First was the moment of our taking of oath ceremony.

I solemnly swear, that I will be faithfully and bear allegiance to His Majesty Emperor Furuhito, His Heirs and Successors, the Imperial State, and the People of Japan. I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, in Person, Crown and Dignity, the independence and borders of the Imperial soil, it's people, and it's wealth, against all enemies foreign and domestic, and will observe and obey all lawful orders of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, and of the General Officers and other officers set over me.

I will defend the honor of a Japanese warrior in peace and war, and to defend the value and every standards of the Imperial Defense Forces.

I will exert myself to discharge the duties of the office in which I am about to enter, with vigor, faith, and sincerety. For peace and freedom of my homeland, even if it cost my life.

As Kaori and I are Christians, there was a final addition for those professing Abrahamic faith. So help me God!

I found myself facing my wife after a moment with our respective parents.

"After this, let's have children... Whatever it takes, Kaori."

"I will, but promise me that you will return alive. Arima-kun." There was a fierceness in her eyes.

I placed a gentle hand on her cheek as he thought back to their time in school, performances, and finally marriage before all hell broke loose. And so, my eyes were on her gray ones. Delicate in frame, but inside I know that it contained a strong woman and a fiery-spirited officer proud with her heritage.

"I promise, Kaori. We'll be back. Both of us. Either after we are hoisting the Nisshoki (1), or come back wrapped in it."

Her eyes dig deep inside.

"And I promise to you, too, Arima-kun. By the way, I have a wish."

" What is it, Kaori love?"

"I want to play my violin in Pyongyang with our flag and the South Koreans fluttering in the wind."

"How about in Beijing?"

"Hong Kong will be more likely, Arima-kun."

"Very well, Hong Kong, I'll looking for a duet there, as there will obviously be a piano for me to play." Not for long, our lips made contact with each other.

So soft, calming, and overall, sweet. Will I able to kiss her again after all of this ends?

"Hello, earth to Kousei?"

I replied. "I wish for that." It's clear as day that I would not willing to accept anything bad happened to her. However, with our possible deployment to Korea or Taiwan, or the ever increasing possibility of an invasion of Japanese soil, anything could happen with the Red Chinese who wanted us to die, you name it; strikes from artillery, ballistic and cruise missiles; sniper; anti-tank missiles; drone and or airstrikes. As we were extensively trained and expected to fight our way through urban areas, the chance went up exponentially.

As we were about to enter the jurisdiction of Saitama Prefecture, moved by subconsciousness, I found myself holding her hands, still with the sensation of a musician rather than combat soldiers.

"To begin with, Kaori" I started. "Yes, we are like cherry blossoms, fragile overall." I pointed at my Armored Corps' black beret, which showed the eponymous national flower of our country imposed on a front-end view of a tank, itself was superimposed on two crossed Japanese long spear - yari, before I gazed at her green colored one which showed the Infantry Corps' two crossed rifles with the same flower superimposed on it. "And sometimes I am still afraid of the future. But I know you want me to fight it."

"Hear this, Kousei." she replied. "You will not die under my watch; remember, my duty and Tsubaki as well as the ground robots are to watch the weak points of the tanks."

"Same as you. In fact, tanks are meant to hit hard, but also to take it. Especially for Watari and I, if any communist hurts Tsubaki but most importantly, you, rest assured, he or she will pay."

"That's what we have to do, Kousei."

And so in the fleeting moments of us being together, I finally her to a prayer. The same prayer that we always evoke back at OCS and the branch schools post-commissioning.

Dear Lord, we are soldiers, protector of the land that You had placed us. Now as Japan is facing it's greatest test ever since it's existence, we pray for Your strength for our arms in battle and Your wisdom to lead those entrusted to us as officers as well as to our higher military and civilian leadership while we do our duty to protect and defend this land and our loved ones behind us, and we look forward to the time when a new day dawns, and we return home to see peace again... Amen.

When it's time for Kaori to disembark to her unit's base in Saitama, the capital of the eponymous prefecture, she gave me this word.

"Know this, with you on my side, I am the happiest woman in the world."

"I will remember that, Kaori."

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It needed a passage through Yamanashi Prefecture for the trip to reach it's end for me, and now I'm back here at Camp Komakado.

Just as I am walking from the regimental HQ where I had just signed in with the regimental S-1 to the Company where I have just been assigned. On the short 100m walk to the Company HQ I passed a Company Commander,

"All the Way, Sir!"

The captain responded. "Welcome, another Second Lieutenant I see."

Nothing special from his reception. I proceeded to sign in at my assigned 3rd Company followed by administrative in-processing works.

The clerk told me. "You are lucky, Lieutenant. Today you'll meet your company commander."

Looking from stories from the US Army which the old JGSDF and subsequently IGDF was primarily modeled after, it's time to run the numbers. One. You are not entitled for a good reception. Especially in wartime like this, with tightened security and more often, double-checking for any raids and espionage by Chinese fifth columnists, further restriction on internet access, as well as keeping unidentified and hostile drones out from the base by any means necessary. You'll get a good one in a good unit and from good Leaders, but that can be personality and day of the week dependent.

Welcome to reality. Even good leaders have bad days, which my experiences at the OCS and Armor Leadership Course at Fuji had confirmed. Even good units have a few bad Leaders. And I can be such bad leader if I am not careful. On the other hand, and this is the number two, every decent Brigade/Regiment/Company MUST give newly arrived officers a positive reception to the unit. They know it is important. But, all that good intention might not amount to much at the moment when you salute your first Company Commander on the sidewalk, like what I had seen first-hand here.

I am lucky when I found myself face to face with my assigned company commander, Captain Goto Kawashima.

"Second Lieutenant Kousei Arima, reporting for duty! Banzai!"

"Banzai, Welcome and carry on, Lieutenant!"

Overall, he's quite friendly while not that "special" which mean. "You are ordinary, but I will look to work with you." It helped by the fact that Kaori and I had made sure that the part of our respective receptions that were controllable to be in the tip top shape for a positive experience, which is the number three and arguably the most important, like by showing up ready for physical fitness check for record, as well as to have copies of our papers in triplicate.

From the company commander came the time to meet my own platoon. And that's where I finally saw Watari again after months in training; he's done his time in Fuji School earlier alongside Tsubaki after 6 weeks of basic.

"Sir."

"Private Ryouta... at ease." My best friend put down his hand, and he proceed to speak. "Sir. Sergeant Kashiwagi want every new arrivals to meet him, immediately."

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"You three will belong to 1st Platoon of the 3rd Tank Company. Most of the crew there are regulars and old timers, so listen to everything that they say."

My seniors in OCS as well as Kaori and Tsubaki had had told me about what we should expect, but both Watari and I won't be rested until we actually passed through it.

Sergeant 1st Class or Ittou Rikusou Teru Kashiwagi motioned for the three new men to stop. He looked to me, "Wait here, sir." He then walked off around a corner.

"What's all that about?" asked Watari on the other draftee, Private Keizo Kousaka.

"Don't know. You think he's bringing the platoon to us?"

I cleared my throat, "No, I don't think so. All three of us are new. But I know that the first order of business was the platoon sergeant to meet all of us personally - along with few more new draftees...."

The SFC had returned with another sergeant first class, much junior in terms of time-in-grade, while probably in his early-to-mid thirties, which like almost everyone in this camp, was wearing the black beret of the IGDF Armored Corps. "Sir, this here is Sergeant First Class Minato Hiroyuki, the Platoon Sergeant of the 1st Tank Platoon. Minato, this is your new Platoon Leader, 2/LT. Arima Kousei."

A genial grin came out from me along with a sure nod. "2/LT Arima Kousei. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sergeant."

Minato returned the handshake firmly. I gave the older man a quick blink, this sergeant's palms felt so ragged, they were dry and calloused. Much expected for an old timer, just like my instructors back in the Armor School.

"Sergeant First Class Hiroyuki Minato, pleasure to meet you, sir."

Kashiwagi then looked to the two privates. "Minato, these two men are new arrivals, Privates Ryota, and Kousaka."

I watched as both enlisted draftees stood tall, at attention as if they were being inspected by a general.

"Private Ryota Watari, Sergeant."

"Private Keizo Kousaka, Sergeant."

That got a rise out of the platoon sergeant, "Uh, at ease, boys. Don't need to be so formal out here. Welcome to 1st Platoon, glad that you're with us." He looked up at me, and then turned to Kashiwagi, "Hey, Ichi-ban (First or Top), I hate to bug you on this, but-"

Kashiwagi nodded, "I know, Minato. I know. Ryota, Kousaka, come with me, I'm going to introduce you to the rest of 1st Platoon."

The privates looked towards Minato, and he gave them a friendly nod and motioned them to follow the Top. The three men rounded the corner, now leaving Kousei and Minato alone. Kousei blinked when he realized what was happening. This was it, the fateful meeting of the Platoon Leader and the Platoon Sergeant.

"Wanna take a seat, sir?" Minato asked cordially, extending his hand out to a café table and chairs.

"Sure, sounds good."

Then I felt it, the damp sensation on my legs. This is more like a job interview than a reception; not even when I got face to face with the Captain, yet Minato looked totally composed.

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"You come from a good family, don't you, sir?"

How did he... "My dad took good care of us. He did well in his job."

"Yeah? What did he do?"

"He was a bank employee, retired as an area manager, but before that, he spent 10 years in the Navy on short service commission."

Minato nodded, "So your father once fought in 1999, yes?"

"That's correct, sergeant." Then Minato replied. "A good number of us here were sons and daughters of 1999 war veterans, however, we never had a banker's son in this platoon. Interesting."

"So, what did your dad do?"

"Car factory. Toyota Honsha Plant, sir."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Twenty years, he did that. From ordinary worker, to foreman, and thanks to the opportunity for him to pursue further education, he ended up a safety manager."

"That's a hardworking job. And I am sure your father did his with excellence."

"Absolutely... So, where are you from, sir?"

"Oh, uh, Nerima, Tokyo."

"Well, just another Tokyoite then, nothing wrong with that. Anyway, where have you been to outside Shuto-ken?"

"My dad was actually from Numazu, in Shizuoka. But from high school, he lived in Tokyo. Sometimes, he took me fishing to Numazu in the summers if I got no competition schedules."

"Ah, yeah. I remember, your file had shown that you are a piano teacher, and won a lot of competitions when you were younger, sir, while your wife played the violin."

"That's a truth. Back to my father, after retirement, he's now back at his childhood home."

"Good to hear. As you know, being part of the Nerima Division, most of the boys and girls here in the 11th are from Shuto-ken and the surrounding prefectures, you name it; Shizuoka, Ibaraki, Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, even the outer islands under Tokyo. On the other hand the Third Company got three people from Tohoku region, two from Kansai, and one is an Ainu from Hokkaido."

"Seriously, sergeant? All the way from Hokkaido?"

"In Lieutenant Horokeu's case - he is the 2nd Platoon leader - he already lived in Tokyo when he entered the NDA (National Defense Academy of Japan). However, you won't be able to miss him."

"So where are you from, Sergeant?"

"Oh, I'm from Ibaraki. To be exact, Toukai, Naka District. One of this country's nuclear city. When I hit eighteen, as my marks were considered average and despite my dad's encouragement for me to try to pursue a college degree, I decided to get a job in a convenience store near my house instead, and to my surprise, I was accepted."

"I see, How long were you doing that for?"

"Two years, sir."

"Did you like it?"

"I did, actually. Someone have to do that kind of job anyway. A bunch of people would be griping their asses off with the pressure, especially in case of customer's complaints, or having to do a graveyard shift, but I enjoyed the hard work, and my parents did appreciate my choice later on. What did you do for work before you become a piano teacher?"

"Well, Sergeant. I fell in love in teaching piano when one of my competitive rival at junior high school's little sister came at me. My own piano mentor, Mrs. Seto Hiroko also helped me in this one. It was during a time when finances are quite tight, with my mum battling brain cancer. But it also time when I met my wife at the same school. With us sharing the same passion for music, we became couple."

"Oh, my. I don't know that, sir. Did your mother - "

"My mother? She was cured eventually, thank God for that."

"Yokatta... now where I leave things... Oh, after that, what did you do in high school, in college, other than competition? Did you still teach piano?"

"Teaching was my calling, and so I continue to do it part time with my mentor, while keep competing and do recitals and paid concerts, until college."

"Anyway, what high school do you from? Any chance that you attended a musical high school?"

"Yes, Sergeant. Okutsu University Affiliated High School, it has a strong emphasis on the arts, then the College of Music itself. Majoring in Musical Composition."

"I presume that your wife followed the similar path with you, isn't it?"

"That's correct, while she started it at college."

Minato was nodding softly with a polite smile. I wondered if he really cared about my background. Oh God, I hope he didn't think I was bragging...

He decided to move along, and I told him. "I can see why they made you a platoon sergeant, as you got cited twice with 1st Class Citation for Excellency in Maneuver."

"Thank you, sir. Anyway, just for you to know, that I enlisted in 2010. Looking for new challenge was my reason to change career."

"I feel confident knowing my platoon sergeant was one of the best tank commanders in this regiment."

Minato made an approving grunt. "So, sir, how did you get in the service?"

"Well, as you might already know, with the war comes home, I got drafted, then my wife followed me to the service."

"Continue. It's an interesting fact about your wife, through. Such devotion. Something that is in short supply nowadays."

"She is, Sergeant. The draftsmen learned about our background, and then directed both of us straight to OCS. We went through the 12 week program, and now we are 2nd Lieutenants."

Minato's face solidified, and his presence was enough to keep me awake. "Just like all platoon sergeants facing a new officer, I must ask this question. Why are you here, sir?"

"Wh-What?"

"Why are you here? Why are you in the Army? Why are you in the Armored Corps? You're a college graduate, your father's a banker, you came from money if you got into college, I bet you probably could have skipped the Draft... Out of all the branches in the Army you could have chosen, like, Quartermaster, Military Police, Signal Corps, or to make things better, Adjutant General, with your passion to music. I don't know... why the Armored Corps? Why are you here, Lieutenant?"

Unhesitatingly, I put on a defense. "As I have told you before, Sergeant, before my father worked in a bank, he served 10 years in the Navy and seen direct combat in 1999. Before you ask me why not Navy, the draftsman had sent me straight to Army service. You have the point through." I continued. "I was blessed with a lot of opportunities, and I could have avoided combat roles entirely. But... I can't explain it, but I had a gut feeling that by being assigned here, I can do the most good here, somehow. Just like my father at that time. I have to I figure it may be the same reason you join the Big Steel Family upon you finished basic, Sergeant. Whatever your reason, I'm pretty sure you had a gut feeling that this was where you belonged."

"To be honest" Minato's face remained unchanged, his gaze never faltering. "If I am people in charge of assigning new officers back at Ground Force HQ, I will directly send you and your wife to the Adjutant General's Corps, Lieutenant. Your musical talent could have been doing a lot more in supporting the frontline grunts like me and everyone here, and the people of Japan, compared to you being up here. However," he exhaled "But, you're here now, sir. You are now part of the Big Steel Family and it can't be changed. Welcome to the 1st Platoon, sir."

The senior NCO held his hand out to me, the greenhorn; an American originated term for a newly minted officer. I replied by shaking it, "Oh, uh, thank you, Sergeant."

"Just like you held your piano students to a high standard, that's what I will do at you."

"Anyway, how high exactly in case of here? So I don't disappoint."

"First Lieutenant Daichi Kanagawa."

"Who's he?"

"Your predecessor, sir."

Oh man... "Oh, okay. Uh, what happened to him?"

"He's alive and he's fine. He was promoted to Captain and got reassigned to command a company of the reserve 28th Tank Regiment due to its previous company commander got kicked out for bad conduct, thanks to his guilty conviction of assault. Much more, he did that under the influence... what a waste, never mind.... High command thought that transferring many long-service regulars will help bring the activated reserves up to speed, either as replacements or as a whole unit, as well as expansion of training capacities nationwide."

"Back to him, Captain Kanagawa is particularly strict on maintenance and physical... That's the standard I have for you."

My father did his part well, now I have to do as good as he as well as that said Lieutenant.

"Thank you for being upfront with me, Minato."

"No problem, sir. It's tough, but looking at you, I believe you can do that."

"Thank you, sir. Now, hear this, Sergeant. I'm new. I'm green. I don't desire to change the rules around in this platoon, especially when I don't know things, yet. This is your platoon, but I'm leading it. And with your permission, I want you to help me in that. I expect to lead these men and women in battle, and I need your help for that. I expect my role is to give orders and to ensure they are safe. And I expect that when I give orders in front of the troopers, you back me on those orders. If you disagree, you may offer me advice, but not in the way that damages my standing in front of the men. Behind closed doors, you can openly disagree with me. But not in front of the troopers. That is my role in this platoon, Sergeant."

Minato nodded, his face never changing. "I agree with that. I ain't the type of guy to blast an officer in front of the boys and girls. I have my subtle ways about it. But if you are totally wrong-which I pray to the Lord Buddha you never will be - and you choose not to listen to me, I will nail your ass to the wall, sir."

"I... understand, Sergeant. I'll try not to let you down."

"Yeah. That's what I like to see... Want to meet the crew?"

"Yes, Sergeant."

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A/N:

(1). Official name of the Flag of Japan, but it's more known in the country as the Hinomaru.

(2). Ichi-ban or First in this story is a Japanese take (fictional) of "Top", an American military slang for First Sergeant or in case of Japan,  Sergeant 1st Class or Ittou Rikusou with long service period who served as senior-most non-commissioned officer (sergeants) and an advisor to the commanding officer in a company level unit.