In the southernmost portion of Japan, a young captain leaned his Type 4 rifle onto his shoulder as he smoked a cigarette within the courtyard of the Satsuma Clan's castle. The man's appearance was unkempt, as his mid length black hair ran ragged down to his neckline. His unshaven face gave this officer the look of a rogue, which was complimented by his uniform that had been tattered and stained beyond repair.
This man was named Tsugaru Akihiko, and he had been among the ranks of many young peasants who found themselves conscripted into the Armed Forces of the Japanese Empire. Unlike many of his peers, Tsugaru had showed great ingenuity in the field, and had even earned himself a battlefield commission as he fought against the enemies of Japan.
