10 Hooks and Rumours for Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0.’s Pacific Rim

This list has ten hooks and rumours that can be heard about Japan. Whether or not they are true is up to the GameMaster. They can be used as background colour or as potential adventure hooks.

1. Fujiwara is one of the biggest banks in Japan and beyond, and it’s rumoured that recently they have been financing the accumulation of shares in foreign megacorps by Japanese companies, or perhaps on their own behalf. This is increasing the influence that Japan has over the world’s markets.
2. It’s rumoured that Japanese megacorps are “encouraging” their employees to vote for specific candidates for the Diet, and most suspect that’s because such candidates are completely owned by the corps in question, allowing them to increase their power over the government.
3. Jinboku Tenno, the 128th, is the current reigning Emperor of Japan, and because she is barely a teenager, she has a Regent, her cousin, Kazuraki-no-Miya Kunihito. There are rumours that the Regent would prefer if Jinboku Tenno never became Emperor, leaving them in charge, and giving the Arasaka great sway over Japan’s leadership.
4. Kiroshi has a joint design firm with Kenjiri in orbit. It’s rumoured that recently there have been attempts to steal designs from the joint firm, and that as a result the two companies have tightened up security a lot, already higher thanks to being in orbit.
5. Monoblades are, in theory, only used in Japan as industrial equipment, with only a few exceptions. It’s rumoured that street gangs have started stealing industrial blades in order to reshape them into weapons to use in combat which, although clearly improvised, are still deadly.
6. The current reigning Emperor of Japan, Jinboku Tenno, is the only linear descendant of the House of Tenno. Given that she’s young, she has no heirs as yet, and it’s rumoured that jockeying is going on amongst those most likely to inherit if she dies without an heir. Should one of the potential emperors gain enough backing, it may well be that Jinboku Tenno’s days would become numbered.
7. The Diet-appointed Minsters of Japan have little idea as to what’s going on in their own Ministries, and it’s rumoured that some are trying to change that. However, given the power of the Ministries, and connections to corps who are perfectly happy with the current order, such attempts are likely doomed to fail.
8. The goal of the Imperial Household in Japan is to make the Tenno family a form of public entertainment and propagate Imperial history, which may be lacking in truth. Given that their duties are similar to those of the managers of a media corp, it’s rumoured that the Imperial Household is starting to spread into such.
9. The Japanese are impressed by a good, heroic tragic death, and this seems to be the end game of many gangers and cyberpunks who battle the System. Some have even claimed that many of these are actually set in place by the powers that be, intended to make much sound and fury without ever achieving anything of note.
10. With the current Emperor of Japan, Jinboku Tenno, being the only linear descendant of the house of Tenno, there is pressure on her to have children as soon as possible. That time is not yet, given that she inherited the throne at only 13, but it’s said that machinations are already underway to find a consort for her as soon as she is of age.

D10: Pacific Rim Rumours: Japan is unofficial content provided under the Homebrew Content Policy of R. Talsorian Games and is not approved or endorsed by RTG. This content references materials that are the property of R. Talsorian Games and its licensees.