It's been said that government is like fire; too much and you burn everything down, too little and you might freeze to death. With Prince Shotoku's passing, the imperial court in Japan has started to get a little fire-y, so it's up to some determined cats to reign it in with the Taika reform.
since they had gotten too long 
and it was bothering them.
pues tan largas les molestan!
já que estavam incomodando
há tanto tempo.