Ashihara

Toyoashihara no Mizuho no Kuni (豐葦原の瑞穗の國, Lit. "Country of Lush Ears of Bountiful Reed Plains"), or colloquially just Ashihara, is a large island country exposed to intense weather and harbours four seasons, with a climate that ranges from subarctic in her northernwesternmost regions and subtropical in her southeast.

Ashihara's government is seeing the beginnings of a parliamentary structure, and is currently experiencing friction between new and old blood as society enters an industrial age.

Etymology
The name Toyoashihara no Mizuho no Kuni is a learned name from the Earthen Kami, who bestowed this knowledge to early humans on the island.

History
Main article: World History

For a more comprehensive timeline of events, please see World Timeline.

Prehistoric History to the Enlightenment Era
Modern civilization in Ashihara finds its roots in three major groups which settled on the islands: The hunter-gatherer Miwa from the south, the agriculturalist Nita from the northwest, and the seafaring Azusato from the east. Around the year 300 the Miwa absorbed the Nita people to form the Shuzora Empire, while the Azusato would begin to develop early forms of Onmyodo.

Around the year 402, clans which refused to function under imperial rule would migrate further northeast. The eruption of NORTH VOLCANO further caused these clans to scatter, splitting them between clans which chose to stay within the unrelenting north, the Nagikari people, and those who would push eastwards. The clans which moved towards the east encountered the Azusato, with whom they had a civil war from the years 578-600 which was later resolved through a political marriage. They would form the Toyosaki clan.

The Nagikari remained hostile and elusive to much of greater Ashihara until the modern day, while the Shuzora and Toyosaki maintain an amicable relationship. A central economy started to form through the use of gold coins, and central Ashihara began seeing more settlements as trade routes between the two great civilizations emerged.

The 300 Year War
A war which spanned the years 925 to 1428, the beginning of the 300 Year War was marked by the murder of Toyosaki-no-miya Yorinari Taishi. Although the war was largely described as a fight between the Shuzora of the west and the Toyosaki of the east, later years would have warrior class families establish a larger foothold as a political power separate from these two clans. Ashihara during this time did not have a centralized government and was largely divided into smaller territories.

In the year 1004, infighting within the Shuzora clan led to the demise of the main family. The victor of this infighting renamed themselves as the Asatera clan, and owing to their military might and ingenuity, they dominated much of greater Ashihara. In the year 1428 the Asatera would claim victory of the war. The Toyosaki clan was reduced to some few members, with very few records of the once eponymous clan left behind.

Modern Day
Ashihara, now unified under the Asatera Imperial Family, rapidly went into an age of political reform. Gone was the warrior class, citizen registries are established to get a hold of Ashihara's population, and the House of Representatives is created. In the year 1700 Ashihara began seeing heavy industrialization, marking the beginning of Ashihara's Industrial Revolution.

Geography
Ashihara is an island country with a total of 18 known islands, one of which is mainland, greater Ashihara. There are three known volcanoes in mainland Ashihara.

At the heart of mainland Ashihara are the three great lakes, within the reach of the appropriately named Mitsu-umi Region.

Climate
The north sports temperate summers and terribly cold winters with heavy snowfall, particularly amidst the mountains. [ DESCRIBE EAST] The west and southernmost areas of Ashihara record humid and hot summers and mild winters. The lowest recorded global temperature was - 35 C, and its highest was 40 C.

Environment
Ashihara sports lush forests and a highly diverse range of both flora and fauna.

Due to the industrialization of city centers, there is a rising concern over the impact industrial pollution may have on the environment.

Government and Politics
Main article: Government

Ashihara's government consists of the Imperial House and the House of Representatives, and is headed by her Radiance the Emperor. The Nakatsukasasho oversees all civil matters and policy-making as discussed within the Imperial Court.

Administrative Divisions
Ashihara is divided into seven distinct regions, with a total of 124 prefectures.

Economy
Before the introduction of standardised currency, grain was used as the main means of transaction. If it was not grain, dry goods such as textiles or pottery were used. Early Toyosakis considered manual labour to be the lowest form of payment for rendering goods or services. This was in stark contrast to the Shuzora, who considered farmers and other forms of manual labour the foundation of the Imperial House.

Currency was introduced to Ashihara in the 6th century when gold was discovered by the Toyosaki. Gold coins, named Gankin, were primarily used by the Toyosaki in transactions throughout the 6th century, it wouldn’t be until the 7th century that currency would start seeing use in the western part of Ashihara when NAME HERE, a priest scholar who visited the Toyosaki brought back the idea of using gold coins for barter. It was also around this time, in the year 700, that common trade routes started to emerge.

Around the year 925, a civil war broke out which divided Ashihara largely into two. Most wars of the period were short and localised, although they occurred throughout Ashihara. By 931 the entire country was further engulfed in wars that would last 300 years. Rather than disrupting the local economies, however, the frequent movement of armies stimulated additional revenues from customs and tolls. Due to many factors, such as avoiding the front lines and avoiding fees, polite society shifted to the southern region, which no daimyō had been able to control, and towards Ashihara’s southern shores. Economic developments and the desire to protect trade achievements brought about the establishment of merchant and artisan guilds.

Paper money began to see use throughout this feudal period in the form of feudal notes, promissory slips of paper which indicated some amount of gold. Symbols of regional monarchs were often stamped on these feudal notes, indicating their place of origin and to whom one should expect gold from. These notes were only usable within the domain which it was issued, and it wouldn’t be until the Asatera’s government reforms where these bills would then be replaced with centralised currency.

After the Shuzora family was overthrown and the war came to an end in the middle of the 15th century, the Asatera began an era of cultural reform. This saw the rise of new industries in every sector across the board, most notably agriculture, textile and mining.

New industries brought labour rights into question, and strikes and riots which clamoured for workers’ rights started to become more commonplace. Currently, Ashihara is seeing the beginnings of a capitalist society.

Members of the Isshin Renritsu Kubun are religiously exempt from having to pay for anything. In light of this, the Isshin Renritsu Kubun provides its members with all of their daily necessities. A humble lifestyle is compulsory, and indulgences would be from big-hearted charity. However, members may choose to trade holy items for another holy item with the Onmyoryo’s affiliates, such as collegiate shrines should they need it.

Aesthetics
Principles behind design and architecture throughout Ashihara always place an emphasis on giving Kami respect and making use of natural materials. Simplicity is a cornerstone concept behind the aesthetics in Ashihara’s culture. Spaces are large and flexible; rooms and public spaces are not typically given a single function. Fabrics were painstakingly made by hand and were meant to last generations.

However, these principles behind the aesthetics of Ashihara’s culture would start to see change during the onset of the industrial revolution.

The Arts
Common cultural arts include tea ceremonies, poetry, painting, calligraphy, ikebana, rakugo, noh theatre, kagura, bunraku, kabuki, and gagaku. While many of these artistic forms in real life have gender-informed subtypes (such as kabuki’s onnagata), these do not exist within the world of Ashihara. People of all genders partake in the arts.

Common themes among public perception are centred around family, bonds and the relationship between people as individuals or as a society. Dramas are a staple.

Folk music is very common, as both a means of oral history and praising the Kami. As of the 1650’s, many of Ashihara’s common folk became college-educated and publishing saw a surge in popularity. Land-owning clans were reporting an increase in civil disobedience and satirical criticism using literature, arts and theatre coming from ordinary people.

As of the current day, art in Ashihara is strongly influenced by consumerism and advertising by industries.

Cuisine
Rice is a staple, but carbs also come in the form of bread or noodles. Fish is the most common protein, however other types of meat are also consumed. Tsukemono, pickled vegetables, are also a common side dish. Soybeans are commonly used in a myriad of foods or sauces (soy sauce, tofu, mirin, and natto). Tea is a common beverage that is drunk both casually and in important ceremonies.

Prior to the 300 year war, dietary restrictions were much more strict. The consumption of meat other than fish was considered to be unclean. This mindset would change as a food shortage arose during the war, which also saw the invention of bread and bamboo rice due to their convenience for the war effort.

Calendar
One year is 12 months with 372 days. Each month has 31 days. Each month is approximately 2 and a half weeks, with each week having 12 days.