Kozakura Kozakura is an archipelago nation composed of four large islands and dozens of smaller ones , the largest of which stretches fourteen hundred miles from tip to tip . It is a land where constant political power struggles are fought , and the central government in the Imperial Capital only has power within its immediate reach . Political intrigue is common as the great families of Kozakura seek to outmanoeuvre each other in their bid for power and wealth . Geography . An archipelago nation , Kozakura consists of many islands . There are four large islands as well as dozens of smaller ones that make up the entirety of Kozakuran territory . The largest island , which is roughly fourteen hundred miles across its length , is named Shinkoku and is the location for the current imperial capital , Dojyu . It is also the centre of Kozakuran population and culture , and is the most widely settled of the four major islands . The other three islands are roughly the same size , at around two hundred miles across , and are Tenmei ( to the North of Shinkoku ) , and Mikedono and Hinomoto ( both to the south of Shinkoku . ) A group of volcanic islands , Kozakura ' s land masses are generally characterized by steep hills or mountains toward their center , sloping sharply down to wide plains and beaches before meeting the sea . The islands are heavily forested in places , and there is no shortage of wood available for construction . At higher altitudes , forests tend to consist of cedar and pine , and in the lower , more humid areas , bamboo and cypress are more common . To the west of Kozakura are the islands of Wa , a rival nation who has clashed with Kozakura in the past . Across the Sea of Kozakura to the north is the peninsula of Koryo , who have seen themselves victims of Kozakuran ambitions more than once . Politics . The nominal head of government is a hereditary Emperor , who traditionally takes over from his father at a very young age , necessitating the services of a regent to rule in his name . The old Emperor is forced into retirement , but still maintains some influence with a title of Retired Emperor . This means that generally there are three factions in the Imperial Court vying for control . Over the past several hundred years , the position of Emperor has faded in importance and the Shogun has become the " de facto " ruler of Kozakura . The position of Shogun is , however , tainted with much of the same politics and manoevering that affected the Emperor . This results in many Shoguns ascending to the position at a young age , and the need for a shikken , which is a regent for the Shogun . While the Imperial and Shogunate courts still have solid control over the imperial capital and the lands close by , many Daimyos , or local lords , still have near - absolute authority in their own lands and do not defer to the central government . Government . The imperial court abounds with important sounding ranks and titles , but most of these , like the court itself , serve a largely ceremonial function . Little of the work of government is conducted there . The bakufu is the true government of Kozakura . The organization of the shogunal government is explained here , not only to help understand the country , but also because characters who distinguish themselves may be rewarded with a government or military appointment . Even though the bakufu is the true government power , the influence of the court must not be underestimated . The retired emperor , for instance , retains the authority to award provincial governorships . These appointments naturally go to vassals and clans which support imperial interests . Too , imperial favor and the prospect of marriage into that house give the emperor and his court influence in unlooked - for quarters . Although no longer directly involved in most government actions , the imperial court continues to work in its own interest behind the scenes . National Government The shogunal government is based in Gifu , away from the intrigues and distractions of the imperial court at Dojyu . That location was chosen as much for its strategic and tactical positioning as for any other reason . Many adminstrative functions continue to be carried out in Dojyu , however , since the emperors presence and the facilities of state are necessary for much of the business of government . Throughout Kozakura , shugo , or military governors , are the backbone of the shogunal government . Shugo were originally posted in each province to maintain law and order . Appointed from among worthy samurai families , they serve today as both high officials of the bakufu , and as local military governors . The central offices of the bakufu are staffed by shugo drawn from among the shogun ' s ( or the shikken ' s ) retainers , and are important positions in the power politics of Kozakura . First among these central offices is that of Kanrei ( chief administrator ) , traditionally assigned to one among the most powerful of the shogun ' s vassals : the Takenaka , Otomo , or Yamashita clans . It is also becoming more and more common for the chief administrator to be appointed from among the shikken ' s vassals instead . The current chief administrator is Yamashita Yoichi , a vassal of Hojo Kawabuko , with strong ties to the family of regent Takenaka Okawa . Below the chief administrator the most important office is that of Head ( shoshi ) of the Office of Samurai . The shoshi has the responsibility of military planning , discipline , and police protection , and also commands the shogun ' s guard force in Gifu . The shoshi is customarily appointed from one of four shogun - loyal families . Since the close of the Hojo War , the composition of these loyal vassals has changed . The new vassal clans considered appropriate for appointment as shoshi are the Matsuhita , Sato , Tokushime , and Akiyama clans . The office is currently held by Matsuhita Kinnori . The seven clans in line for these traditional appointments form a front line of support for the Hojo house . When they act together , they give the shogun ( or the shikken ) the necessary backing to dominate the rest of his vassals . There is also plenty of opportunity for dissension and infighting as families and individuals jockey for influence and position . Things are not yet stabilized under the Takenaka regency . Other Offices Subordinate to the above offices are several administrative organs . The mandokoro ( finance office ) is responsible for shogunal finances . The monchujo ( document office ) serves as a secretariat and repository of property records . The hyojoshu ( judicial board ) settles disputes , usually over land problems , and determines punishments . The bugyo - shu ( administrative board ) debates and establishes general administrative policy , while the bugyo encompasses miscellaneous functions . Regional Deputies Regional deputies represent the shogun ' s authority outside of Gifu . The post of governor general exists in Dojyu , with subordinate deputy governors ( mokudai ) in each province . Deputy governors have the responsibility of handling the civil government of the province , particularly of the public lands there , and is usually the same person who is military governor of the province . When the offices of military governor and deputy governor are not held by the same person , there is often a conflict of interest between their administrative duties , many of which duplicate each other . Provincial Government Like the imperial government , provincial government is a confusing , factional affair The power struggles at the top between the shikken , shogun , and imperial line are reflected in the official posts and appointments made in the provinces . Each faction usually has at least one representative within a province . The top two positions in a province are the shugodaimyo ( military governor ) , appointed by the shogunal authorities , and the kokushu ( provincial governor ) , who is appointed by imperial authorities . Each has a number of minor officials under him . Provincial government structure echoes that of the bakufu , with similar administrative offices on a smaller scale . " Shugo - daimyo " The shugo - daimyo is the samurai military governor of a province . Most of the territory in the province is held by his family or related families ( hence the title daimyo ) . As shugo , his family was appointed to its post by the shogun of Kozakura . Now the position passes from father to son almost automatically . The shogun could step in and reassign the title of shugo , but seldom does . Such a punishment is reserved for families that threaten the shogun , either through treachery or ambition . The shugodaimyo has wide authority in civilian matters , and local military units are recruited in his name . However , he spends nearly all his time in Gifu , keeping himself at the center of the political scene . " Shugodai " One or more samurai , usually of the same family as the shugo - daimyo , are appointed shugodai , or deputy shugo . These men split their time between the capital of the shogun and the province . Each is responsible for a province or a district of a province . They are appointed to their position by the shugo - daimyo and are accountable to him . The shugodai handles most of the administration of the province and carries reports to the shugo - daimyo in the capital . Immediately under him are a number of offices , boards , and councils that handle the necessary affairs of the province . " Shugo - matadai " The shugo - matadai is the lowest level of shugo , the subdeputy shugo . Player character samurai are sometimes given a shugo post at this level . Shugo - matadai usually belong to the main family , or a branch family , of the shugo - daimyo . In some cases , the position of shugo - matadai is given as a reward for loyal service . The shugo - matadai is responsible for the administration of a district within a province . " Daikan " Daikan are often samurai , the local agents of the shugo - matadai . They collect the taxes and oversee the public lands . Their duties are similar to those of the jito . Unlike the jito , daikan are not bound to a single estate . Jito . Jito are land stewards who supervise activities on both public and private lands . They are samurai representatives of the shugo - daimyo to each estate in the province . They oversee the collection of taxes and the implementation of edicts . They are often in conflict with the civil officals and non - shugo landowners . Kokushu . The kokushu , or civil governor , has virtually no power in the province and thus spends most of his time in the capital . Nearly all his duties have been assumed by the shugo - daimyo . However , as governor he is entitled to a certain amount of the taxes from all public lands , provided that the shugo - daimyo can be convinced to give up this tax money . " Mokudai " The mokudai , or deputy governor , actually lives in the province . There he exerts what little authority the civil governor has . While theoretically in control of all public lands , these are more often managed by the jito of the shugo - daimyo . The mokudai is supposed to protect the interests of the governor , emperor , and the people . However , with no authority , he can do little more than file formal protests and rubber stamp documents . Indeed , his main purpose is to give official approval to the actions of the shugo - daimyo for the sake of appearances . " Seal bearers " Seal bearers assist the deputy governor in the detais of administration . The position has no power and very few duties . As such , it is given as a reward to local men in the province , especially those not favored by the shugo - daimyo . Factions . Hojo Todahiro and Supporters Hojo Todahiro lives in exile in Iewara on the island of Kanshu . He plots to regain his position as shogun and depose the Takenaka clan from power . Foremost among those who supported him in the war were the Tanomitsu , Kashigawa , Oezuki , Todo , Mashikuni , and Yamabe clans . Of these , the Kashigawa and Tanomitsu traditionally held high posts in the bakufu , but even these honors offered no protection following their defeat . The Tanomitsu , once the most powerful of the shogun ' s supporters , have suffered the most . Their leaders were executed , their families exterminated , and most of their holdings confiscated or burned to the ground . Those who survived have fled to shoen in remote provinces , or accompanied Hojo Todahiro into exile on the island of Kanshu . The Kashigawa clan are Hojo vassals ; most of these nobles joined Todahiro when he went to Kanshu . Other loyalists were stripped of properties and tax benefits by the shikken , and have withdrawn to provincial estates . The Mashikuni clan is now allied with Takenaka Sugawaro ' s camp , the Northwest Takenaka . Mashikuni Kakuji , former shugo - daimyo of Sudai Province and Hojo ally , has given up on seeing Todahiro become shogun . He will go to any length to avenge the loss of his clan ' s properties to the shikken , even if this means supporting a Takenaka . Court Nobles The Ikeda and Takegai clans supported Hojo Todahiro ' s claim as shogun , seeing him as the only legal heir to the position . Imperial connections have protected them from Takenaka Okawa since he became shikken , but there is barely concealed hostility between these two factions . Head Councilor of State ( Daijo - Daijin ) Takegai Uezami communicates with the banished Hojo Todahiro regularly through spies and more conventional messengers . The Yashima and Nakasendo clans have been wooed over to Takenaka Okawa through tax benefits and land gifts . The Yashima provide military support to the shikken , while the Nakasendo intrigue and spy for him at court . The Ashigi and Motonari clans support Takenaka Sugawara as described under The Emperors . The Emperors Emperor Gonijo enjoys his religious functions in office , and would gladly retire to a temple . He has no interest in affairs of state . However , his father , the Retired Emperor Gokammu , hopes to restore the office of emperor to true political power . This is a grand dream , but highly unlikely , as it would require defeat of the shogun , and of all lords who have any hope of becoming shogun or shikken . Some court nobles support the retired emperor in his plans , especially the Ashigi and Motonari . Gokammu views the division between the Takanaka brothers as being to his advantage , and his court allies help him exploit this . Appearing to favor Takenaka Sugawara , they work through spies and quiet intrigue to widen the rift in the Takenaka clan . Takenaka Okawa and the Southwesten Families Shikken Takenaka Okawa plans to force Hojo Kawakubo to marry , produce an heir , then retire , leaving Okawa in power as shikken . He has not yet openly conflicted with his half - brother Sugawara , but if he goes through with this plan , it is only a matter of time before a Takenaka War erupts . Reset with political intrigue and sometimes small rebellions , Shikken Takenaka Okawa relies heavily on the Southwestern Takenaka for support . He uses but does not trust his allies , the imperial Yashima and Nakasendo clans . Aside from these families , he puts his faith in only four clans in Kozakura . They are the most powerful clans in the land , besides the Takenaka and Hojo . The Yamashita and Otomo are shogunal vassals , and bound to support Okawa because of his blood relationship to Hojo , at least until Hojo reaches 18 . The Matsushita and Sato clans have strong marriage ties to the Southwestern Takenaka , and have dutifully honored their obligations to their relative , the shikken . Takenaka Sugawara and the Northwestern Families Sugawara unhappily moved aside for his brother at the close of the Hojo War , recognizing the expediency of having a relative of the shogun become shikken . Nevertheless , the northwestern Takenaka and their allies continued to intrigue against the shikken to benefit their favorite , Sugawara . Now that the shikken ' s regency is drawing to a close , it has become apparent that Takenaka Okawa will not readily step down from power . Assured of help by imperial allies and Northwestern Takenaka supporters , Sugawara plans to fight to help the shogun come to power . Sugawara will gladly depose his half - brother , whom he regards as an incompetent regent . Among his important vassals and allies are the Tokushime , Akiyama , and Mashikuni clans , the imperial Ashigi and Motonari clans , and Katsuhara Omitsu , the powerful bamboo spirit shugo - daimyo of Dosaki Province . Society . Kozakuran society is a caste hierarchy . At the highest level are the samurai caste . This should not be confused with the samurai class - the word samurai can be used in two different contexts . The samurai caste are the nobles of Kozakura and responsible for the administration of the provinces and the nation . In addition to this , the samurai are organized into families , and these families are further subdivided into clans . The families tend to act in union to advance the aims of their family , but it is not unheard of for a family to schism over an issue . This is more common in the larger families , and the repercussions of this struggle can affect the entire country . Beneath the samurai caste are the clergy , who serve as priests in the various temples . Clergy are technically outside the caste system , but in practice they have tremendous influence over public policy . Many nobles enter the clergy specifically in order to bring a certain temple community in line with their family ' s aims . The clergy welcomes people from all walks of life , including retired samurai , sons of peasants , widows , and so on . The majority of the population is made up of the peasants , who are divided into several groups . The farmers tend to be the backbone of the land , and are also organized into families in the same way as the samurai caste , with the head of family responsible for collecting rent and taxes . Craftsmen have variable status depending on their craft , their skill , and their renown . Merchants , socially , including moneylenders are found at this level , though they may have some control over the other members of the peasant class economically . The lowest of the peasant class are the entertainers , including actors , singers , and musicians . Below even the peasants are the outcasts , who perform duties that are considered dishonourable , unclean , or forbidden . Outcasts are quite literally cast out from the rest of society . All the other castes treat them with contempt , and contact is generally avoided . They are considered nonpeople , and marriage between an outcast and anyone else would be seen similar to a marriage to an animal . The trades that are filled by outcasts include executioners , butchers , tanners , and morticians . Ninja The most noteworthy ninja clan in Kozakura are the Konishi , a family which has served opposing factions simultaneously for years . Traditionally they accept contracts both from court nobles and from the shogun and his relatives . They are perfectly content to be hired by those who are likely to be victims the very next week . Konishi Ieyasu , clan head , particularly enjoys the irony of this situation , and subtly influences politics by choosing when to complete assignments ( such as executions ) . A younger but highly efficient family is the Uji clan , which has worked for the Takenaka and other powerful nobles over the past century . Clan head Uji Toyo does not find it acceptable to work both for and against the same employer . Two years ago he politely withdrew his family ' s services to the shikken , since the Uji have been retained on a long - term basis by Takenaka Sugawara to do work targeted against the shikken and his allies . Takenaka Okawa has not yet discovered this , although he suspects ninja actions against him . The Irridescent Peacock Society Though most wu jen lead solitary existences , many are in service to masters and some perform work for a fee . Since a large number of wu jen gathered for these reasons in Dojyu , some of the evil - aligned ones eventually banded together in the highly secret Irridescent Peacock Society . The society regulates magical practices among its members , and offers training , protection and aid to members in need of such assistance . Because such a group of wu jen acting in concert can be tremendously powerful , the group ' s existence is kept secret : ignorant of the society , samurai lords cannot feel their power is threatened by it . The society has secret recognition signs , dangerous tests for prospective joiners , and is organized in cells with limited membership . During times of warfare , the services of wu jen are in much demand , and there is greater opportunity for personal rewards in the upheaval of strife . Recognizing this , the society supports the return of Hojo Todahiro to Kozakura , since they see this as the quickest route to open warfare . In the meantime , the society does what it can to encourage the outbreak of conflict , each wu jen working independently to create chaos for any convenient faction . For example , a society member may rot the crop in a clan ' s rice paddies , then leave " evidence " that an opposing clan did it . Some wu jen have even assassinated samurai lords or their relatives , leaving the clan to assume it was the work of an enemy family . Yakuza The peddlers and gamblers of this country were not organized into yakuza families until recently , when a few ambitious criminals from Wa saw opportunity to expand their operations in Kozakura . Yakuza families here are still loosely organized and growing , concentrating their activities in gambling , the protection racket , and the fencing of stolen goods . Families of special distinction have not yet come to light , and there is much opportunity for ambitious yakuza adventurers to shape and create an organization from scratch . Religion . The humans of Kozakura tend to belong to one of two major religions : either the Eight Million Gods or the Way of Enlightenment . The former is a rough collection of ancient practices devoted to a variety of nature spirits , and the latter is a religious practice brought from Shou Lung and devoted to guiding its practicioners to spiritual perfection . It is normal for a kozakuran to be recognize and participate in the practice of more than one shrine or school of thought . Those who dedicate themselves to the pursuits of only one religion tend to be priests , monks , shukenja , and sohei . The korobokuru of Kozakura worship a pantheon of animal spirits . Sometimes , their heroes are elevated mythically to the state of half - animalistic demigods . Temples and shrines care little for the secular disputes among the samurai . They usually support nobility which favors their particular temple or sect , and work against those who do them injury . However , two temples have demonstrated secular interests during the current unrest . The retired former emperor Gobidamu is now a monk at the Temple of Kanchairyu on Mt . Ichi . That temple fought for Hojo Todahiro , and now supports Takenaka Sugawara , as Retired Emperor Gokammu has quietly requested . Similarly , former Shogun Hojo Kamuri ( great - grandfather of Hojo Kawabuko ) is a monk at the influential northern Temple of Namikami This fierce group supports Kawabuko ' s succession , and has " persuaded " many samurai in the northern provinces to stand behind him as well . History . " Note : Dates in this article are given using the Kozakuran year . There was an inconsistency in the source material between module OA4 and the Kara - Tur Boxed Set ; the Kozakuran year may be DR + 183 ( OA4 ) or DR + 73 ( Boxed Set ) - this inconsistency was resolved by the Grand History of the Realms , confirming that the Kozakuran year is indeed DR + 73 . It is also worth noting that the Kozakuran records are not kept solely by year , but rather by cycle / year , with each cycle being 60 years . For example , 5 / 16 would be the sixteenth year of the fifth cycle , or year 255 . This can be complicated for the layperson to keep straight , so for ease , the year alone is used here . " The history of Kozakura prior to year 1 is largely fogged by mythology and origin legends ; it is generally acknowledged by Kozakuran historians that there was no central system of government prior to keeping a calendar . Year 1 on the Kozakuran calendar was marked by the ascent of Emperor Mori of the Akimatsu family to the position of Emperor . His claim to the throne was said to be supported by the gods in displays of divine power . He lay his claim based on the support of many of the other families , which had been won through military might and a system of diplomacy that was largely based on strategic weddings of Akimatsu family women into other clans . Emperor Mori originally held court and centered his government in the city of Fukama , in Shizume Province , home to the ancestral lands of the Akimatsu family . As time went on , the Akmitasu Emperors took control over the fertile Dai Plain in Kodo Province in order to better maintain the position of emperor - this plain was one of the largest rice - producing regions in the Kozakuran islands . They continued the tradition of intermarriage with other clans in order to cement their power , and in 514 , they moved the imperial capital to Dojyu on the Dai Plain in order to have a closer economic foundation for their power base . As a result of the constant expansion of the Akimatsu family , eventually several branches split from the Imperial line . Most of these cousins sought to control the Emperor through marriage to one of their own daughters , and attempting to manipulate succession to put a child Emperor on the throne . In these cases , the regent to the Emperor ( sessho ) could often take power over the court by controlling appointments , land grants , and taxation . The Honda clan proved to be the most successful at this manipulation and they effectively ran the country through this system of sessho until 1119 . Over the course of Imperial power , provinces grew more isolated and uncontrolled by the central authority - the landowning families far from court tended to fend for themselves , as help from Doyju took a long time to get , and the to arrive . As a result , the provincial families funded their own soldiers for protection and tax collection , and developed an independent attitude . This led to the growth of a military class , and the fact that many landholding lords developed their own private armies ( and fighting skills ) contributed to the eventual downfall of the Akimatsu Emperors . The Tenmu war began in 1108 , and was fought between several of these warrior - lords ( daimyo ) in the provinces as each family sought to claim what others had , in order to expand their own holdings . The courtiers at Doyju attempted to intercede , but by this point their influence over the provincial families was all but gone , and they had little choice but to let the war run its course . In 1119 , when the dust had settled , it was the Hojo family who emerged as the most powerful . Seizing their opportunity , they forced Emperor Showaji to grant their family head Hojo Tademashi the title of Shogun , or great warlord . From this point on , the real power in Kozakura lay with this military leader , though the Emperor continues to hold his position to this day . In 1120 , the Shogun set up an alternate government center called the bakufu in the city of Gifu . While technically still inferior to the emperor , the shogun controlled the military . He still maintained a careful pretense of obedience to the will of the emperor , however , because the common folk believe in the Emperor ' s divine right to rule . In 1242 , the office of Shogun became hereditary under the rule of Emperor Ijo . Unfortunately , this led to the same kind of political manoevering and machinations that haunted the Imperial Line eight centuries before . In recent years , the Hojo War was fought between 1415 and 1421 , a battle between branches of the Hojo family to determine who would succeed to the shogun ' s throne . Hojo Todahiro fought supporters of his infant son , Hojo Kawabuko , and lost . In 1422 , the nine - year - old Kawabuko was installed as shogun with his maternal grandfather , Takenaka Okawa as regent . Around 1458 , as the Spellplague was ravaging Kara - Tur , Kozakura became embroiled in a civil war . Several factions in the nation went to war with each other and bandits raided the homesteads of the peasantry . Political History The way Kozakura is governed and the politics that control it seem strange to many outsiders . To understand the government of Kozakura , it is helpful to understand how the system developed . Akimatsu Rise to Power . Local government and politics began with the Akimatsu clan and the Emperor Mori . The rise of the Akimatsu family was accomplished by skillful use of military might and diplomacy , especially marriage alliances . Through these marriages , the Akimatsu wed their daughters to the powerful nobles of other clans , then maneuvered and worked to see that the children of these marriages assumed control of the other clans . The Akimatsu gained tremendous influence through such maneuvers . However , the Akimatsu clan was never able to create a strong tradition of imperial authority . Too much of their control relied on the cooperation of allied families , who had to be rewarded with titles , offices , and land . Alone , the Akimatsu lacked the might to defeat their enemies . " Economic Base " The imperial capital of Fukama was initially situated on ancestral Akimatsu lands in Shizume Province , but the royal clan eventually dominated the fertile Dai Plain in order to maintain the position of emperor . From that power base , they gave lands to branches of their own family , to cadet families ( lesser families related to their line ) , and allies . Over time , their daughters married into more outside clans , cementing the bonds of further alliances . This eventually resulted in the capital being moved to Dojyu on the Dai Plain in 9 / 34 ( 514 ) , in order to keep better contact with the actual property and economic foundation of the imperial court and the Akimatsu clan . To consolidate their land - holding position , the Akimatsu launched a series of campaigns against the korobokuru , who still held large portions of the islands . The land captured in these campaigns was dispensed to loyal families or added to their own territories . " Child Emperors and Regents " In time , the policies of the Akimatsu worked against them . After the first several decades , the family became quite large and split into several branches . Although only those from the main family line could become emperors , the other branches sought to control the emperor , usually through the marriage of a daughter to the emperor or one of his sons . The child of such a marriage could be named emperor and the child ' s maternal grandfather , often acting as regent ( sessho ) , could effectively control the court . This became the most powerful position in the imperial court , controlling most appointments , land grants , and tax immunities . The family most successful at this ploy was the Honda clan , and a long line of Honda regents were the power behind the throne in an almost uninterrupted string until their influence was broken by the Hojo clan in 1119 . " Retired Emperors " With the naming of an underage emperor , the old emperor , his father , was forced to retire , often after a difficult power struggle . With time , this retirement became a tradition , and the powerful office of the retired emperor was established . A retired emperor was usually in his twenties or thirties , regents instead of the emperor ' s grandfather . " Temples and Shrines " Temples also grew in power as they were granted lands by emperors , regents , retired emperors , and other nobles . Religious leaders connected to powerful families seldom hesitated to employ the power of their temples to further their families ' interests . The favor was returned by daimyos and court members who aided their secular relatives . Religious disputes were often settled by armed troops of warrior sohei , raised to protect an order ' s interests . The practice of retired noblemen and widowed noblewomen entering a monastery encouraged entire clans to support the cause of a temple they were previously indifferent to . Temples benefited from endowments and gifts made by the faithful , becoming wealthy landholders in their own right . This economic clout gave the religious sects political influence as well , reinforced with private military might separate from the samurai heirarchy . From low - key political influence to armed warfare in the streets of the capital , religious sects became a power to be reckoned with . " Capital Politics " The politics of the capital were complicated and demanded all the attention of the nobles . Indeed , to be forced to travel more than 20 or 30 miles from the capital was a terrible banishment . The provinces were regarded as the home of the uncultured and inferior and very little attention was paid to the clans in the provinces . Forced to manage without assistance from Dojyu , provincial families grew in armed strength and landholdings , while the power of the Akimatsu and the other nobles of the court eventually weakened . With growing agitation from religious and provincial factions , court nobles lacked both the trained troops to win battles and the landholdings necessary to finance their enterprises . More and more they called upon provincial families related to their line . These families , in return for more land and rights , provided military muscle . " Military Class " The rising military class first took form as bushidan , powerful local individuals who banded together in large military cliques to take control of state lands in the provinces . The leaders of the bushi were mostly descendants of former district governors , holders of military commissions , and managers of family estates who had been sent out to the provinces from the capital . Many were younger sons of nobles for whom suitable positions could not be found at court . At the top of the military heirarchy which thus took form were the daimyos , the local landholding lords . They were served in turn by samurai , who had the wherewithal to equip themselves with mounts and good armor , and by the lower - ranking zusa , the common footsoldier , refered to today by the generic term bushi . " The Shogunate " While the imperial court remained blind to the danger presented by the increasingly powerful provincial families , the new military class recognized that the imperial court was weak and in disarray . One family , the Hojo , precipitated the Tennu War , breaking the influence of the Honda regents at court , and forcing the emperor to grant their family head the title of shogun , or warlord , in 1119 . Hojo Tademashi became the first shogun of Kozakura , establishing his shogunal government , the bakufu , at Gifu in 1120 . Although of a lesser rank than the emperor and the sessho , Hojo had the advantage of military might behind him , and became the real ruler of Kozakura . However , the careful pretense was maintained that the shogun obeyed the will of the emperor . This continues to be necessary since the common folk believe the emperor is descended from the gods and is himself divine . Even today , only daimyos of the proper bloodline , related to the emperor ( however distantly ) , can be shogun . The title must also be bestowed by the emperor himself . While this is a mere formality , it means that only those who control the emperor can become shogun . With the establishment of the shogunate , the military class became essential to maintenance of civil government in the capital . Samurai maintained security , and became an indispensable part of court politics . The court was and remains a cultural center , and this era saw the rise of the warrior - courtier to power . Foremost among these warrior - courtiers and closest to the shogun in power were the kenin , the shogun ' s retainers who were men of proven loyalty , usually daimyos with their own followings of samurai . These kenin were supported with perquisites from the shogun : letters of confirmation and recognition of their landholdings ( hence ensuring their economic status ) , honorary places in processions and state functions , and honorary appointments . However , if a kenin failed to live up to the standards expected of him , his title was given to someone more deserving , " Hereditary Shogunate " Kozakura is quite large , and even the shogun could not control all of it . His power base was the same as that of the early emperors : a collection of families and loyal clans . These included the main family line , various branches and cadet families , and allies . None of these alone were sufficient to maintain control or defeat the others . Retaining real power required a careful balancing act . In the reign of the Emperor Ijo , 1242 , the office of shogun became hereditary in the Hojo clan , passing from father to son or grandson . With this came all the ills and maneuvering that haunted the imperial succession . Other families used marriage politics to dominate the shogun , the Takenaka family being the most recently successful in this . Children too young to govern were given the title of shogun , resulting in the creation of shogunal regents , or shikken . Today the position of shogun is on its way to becoming what the As a result of the Hojo War , a battle for succession to the shogunate , Hojo Kawakubo was named shogun in 1422 . Takenaka Okawa became his shikken , and that remains the state of affairs today . The political and military climate in Kozakura is fraught with tension . Recent events have been country . Samurai and adventurers will find plenty of opportunities to help or hinder one faction or the other under the current circumstances . The significant event which has shaped today ’ s problems in Kozakura is outlined below . The Hojo War Shogun Hojo Kikutake died in a fall from his horse at the age of 37 in 1415 . His son , Todahiro , was only 17 , rather than the legal age of 18 . Hojo supporters disagreed over who was to become regent ; the issue was complicated by the fact that , if Todahiro ' s two - year old son were to be made shogun , the shikken would be in power considerably longer than if Todahiro assumed the position . The dispute quickly grew into a question of which Hojo to support for the position of shogun , and the powerful families of Kozakura became divided along those lines . Once war commenced , the bitter fighting raged on for six bloody years . When it was over Todahiro had lost . His eight - year - old son , Kawabuko , became shogun , and Hojo Todahiro was banished from Kozakura . Kawabuko ' s maternal grandfather Takenaka Okawa , was appointed shikken , but this has angered and alienated families who favored his half - brother Takenaka Sugawara , the capable and popular general who commanded the pro - Kawabuko forces but who has no blood tie to the office . This has created a rift between the so - called northwestern and southwestern branches of the Takenaka clan . Okawa is supported mainly by the southwestern Takenaka , whose estates are concentrated in Fukudo , Naga - ido , and Naredo Provinces , and their allies . Sugawara is supported by the northwestern Takenaka , whose estates are concentrated in Dosaki , Iwari , and Sanyo Provinces , and their allies . Now , nine years after the close of the Hojo War , Takenaka Okawa has been unable to unify the country , or completely strip his enemies of power . Tensions and unrest mount as the now seventeen - year - old shogun grows closer to legal age , a time when the shikken would have to step down from his position of power . Behind the scenes . Like Wa , Kozakura is modeled after but where Wa is modeled after Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate , Kozakura would be Japan between the Kamakura and Sengoku periods .