Democratic Kingdom of Kinami (北海領土民主的王国)

The Democratic Kingdom of Kinami (officially 北海領土民主的王国 (*Kinamiryōdo minshuteki oukoku,* lit: The Democratic Kingdom of the Northern Seas Territories), commonly known as Kinami, is an insular country in northernmost Hikto. It’s player is Jompiter.

## Democratic Kingdom of Kinami (北海領土民主的王国)

### Full name

北海領土民主的王国 (lit: The Democratic Kingdom of the Northern Seas Territories)

### Ethnicities

Japanese (63%)
Kinamian (23%)
Caucasian (14%)

### Religion

Officially secular
· Shintoism (46,3%)
· Catholicism (35,2%)
· No religion (16,5%)
· Other/Prefer not to say (2%)

### Government type

Unicameral constitutional monarchy
· King: Hoshita II of Kinami
· Chancellor: Ayami Okita

### Population

14,674,504 (1960 census)

It encompasses an archipielago of 9 islands: Nandaitō (南大島県), Nishimori (西森県), Higashimori (東森県), Yamagatsu (山月県), Hoshimi (星見県), Seizayama (星座山県), Hokkyoku (北極県), Aosuisei (青彗星県) and Hakumi (白海県).

The islands were fist settled by the Japanese Empire in 1146AD. The islands became an independent kingdom in 1198, and became isolated because of location. While pacifist, the Kingdom had a strong army for defense against any kind of invasion that proved useful multiple times throughout the centuries.

## History

### **First settlements (1146-1198)**

The oldest known settlement is from the year 353AD and is believed to be from vikings. However, it wasn’t until the year 1146 that it was colonized by the Empire of Japan. The first settlement was made in modern-day Kaitō and for the following 50 years the empire exploited the massive forests and made mines, but the harsh and unforgiving winters and the remote location made them loose interest. The inhabitants, led by the would-be king Shoto I, proclaimed independence and the formation of the Kinami Kingdom. The Japanese Empire found out years later, as they were paying absolutely no attention to Kinami.

### **Kingdom of Kinami (1198-1882)**

The islands became independent in 1198, and formed the Kingdom of Kinami with capital in Kaitō. Due to the remote location and difficult access, the Kingdom remained mainly isolationist, though it maintained sporadic contact with nordic countries such as Haetonia or Danibitia, as well as with Scandinavia nations, that introduced European culture and architecture into the country. The royal family did not have any blood relations with any of the european Grand Houses, even though union by marriage was attempted a few times by the Bourbons and the Austrias. The Kingdom developed a strong pacifist behavior throughout the years, though it still mantained a military for defense purposes. Most of the population lived in the capital and surrounding areas, with only 35% percent of the total population living elsewhere.

The Kinami Royal Castle (北海王立城) was constructed in 1332, replicating northern european architecture, and since then it has held the royal family. It is in the mountains that surround the capital and has only one access, making it very difficult to invade. However, the royal family went down to the capital almost daily as to not become isolated from their people. This made for a very close connection between the monarch and the people from the city.

While the history of the kingdom is rather uneventful, there are some events of note. The first is 1527-1537 crisis, caused by an extremely harsh winter that left most people without any food, and that lasted 10 long years. The population was reduced to a third, and even the royal family was left without food as Queen Runa I decided to sell the royal family’s riches to feed everyone. The crisis was resolved with the arrival of a warm period and the help of the former Southern Iles. The second event was the invasion attempt by the South Iles in 1601. The Royal Army, led by General Kamiko Hiri, succeeded in warding off the Southern Iles’ forces with minimal losses. The Southern Iles were preparing to attack again but a civil war broke out and the Kinami Kingdom was left alone.

The first university in Kinami, the 海東都国立大学 (Kaitō Public University) was founded in 1711 and contains one of the largest libraries in the world, the 海東都国立大学図書館 (Kaitō University Library), with more than 150 million individual items.

The Kingdom remained unchanged for a long time, as kings and queens go through the throne. This has made for a peaceful country that is centered around the simple things of life. However, in the last two centuries, and because of the founding of multiple universities, it experienced an academic and technological advancement.

In 1881, and because of pressure for the population, that wanted to have a bigger say in the country's politics, King Hoshita II started a constitutional project to stablish a democracy. A Constitutional Assembly was formed and the first Kinami Constitution, commonly called the Kenpo, was written and approved by the king on December 12, 1882.

### **Democratic Kingdom of Kinami (1882-)**

The 1882 Kinami Constitution described a unicameral constitutional monarchy. The legislative power would be held by the Senate, with 242 senators elected by direct vote, the executive power by the Chancellor and the Ministers, elected by the Senate, and the King also had vote within this assembly. The judicial powers would be held by tribunals. Elections were held in January 12nd 1883, a month after the approval of the Constitution.

The country entered the Sino Union in 1930, and led the transition into the Hikto Union, being one of the main participants in it. From 1935 to 1942 Kinami covertly led the Union's oposition to the Kolechian Federation in their conquer of Haetonia. After a few years of stalemate and stagnant conflict, the war was ended.

In 1947, protests arose in Kaitō and other important cities in Kinami to make a new Constitution that would give the people more power. The movement, led by one Mikato Aona, got bigger by each passing day. The inaction of the government was later revealed to be due to the illness of King Hoshita, who passed away on the night of March 31st, 1953. A traditional funeral was held, and no protests were convocated after that. From the Kaitō Sunrise Newspaper:

> *"Late this night, the Royal Castle opened for the first time in almost a year to release the tragic news: King Hoshita II of Kinami has died of pneumonia. The king's grave illness was not disclosed to the public, amidst protests for more representation in the government, as to not worsen the situation.*
>
>

> *Crown Prince Karos personally made the announcement, and then had to leave the stage as he was tearing up. Chancellor Ayami Okita, one of the deceased King's closest friends, announced that the moratorium will be public but the burial will only be for family an close friends. She also announced that the coronation of the Crown Prince will be in two months time, to allow for the traditional 40 days of mourning."*
>
>

And from the Kinami Independent Newspaper (北海無所属新聞):

> *"After the 24 hours of mourning in the castle, and the traditional お通夜 ceremony (where the family and friends gather in the morning before the funeral and spend the night with the funerary monument, eating, driking and remembering the deceased), the funeral procession, as per tradition, came down from the Kinami Royal Castle at midnight and passed through Kaitō in it's way to the sea. No protesters were heard during the funerary procession, but almost all the population of Kaitō and lots of people from all over Kinami were there. The deceased king was put in the floating funerary pyre, along with flowers, letters from loved ones and gifts, and was sent to the sea, where it burnt, returning his ashes to the sea and his spirit in the form of smoke to the stars. No photos were taken of the pyre as to respect the deceased."*
>
>

King Karos I of Kinami was crowned on May 5th, 1953. In his first speech as King, he announced that "big changes were coming to Kinami." This was made reality a few months later with the approval of the Kinami Constitution of 1954, that declared a Direct Democratic Monarchy, in which laws would be approved by referendum. The Congress was dissolved. Other important new measures include dfree healthcare for all Union citizens and visa holders and the creation of the Education Commitee.

## Geography

### **Nandaitō (南大島県)**

    南大島県 (Nandaitōken, lit: the Big Southern Island) is the main island of the Kinami Republic and the first one to be colonized by the Japanese Empire. It's capital is Kaitō (海東). Other important cities are Kawaguchi (川口町) and Ishimori (石森町).

It was the first island to be discovered and colonized by the Japanese and since then it has been the central island of the Kingdom. The Royal Castle and the Government are in Kaitō. Moreover, its proximity to Savia and Kromelia has made it into one of the trade centers of the Kingdom.

The center of the island is filled with the Hakumine Range (白峰山脈), one of the biggest in Kinami. Kaitō is located in the easternmost side of the range.

### **Nishimori (西森県)**

西森県 (Nishimoriken, lit: the Province of the Western Forest) is the island east of Nandaitō. It's capital is Kobayashi (小林市). It is called Nishimori because 70% of it is covered in forests. It is, along with Higashimori and Seizayama, one of the main sources of lumber of Kinami.

### **Higashimori (東森県)**

東森県 (Nishimoriken, lit: the Province of the Eastern Forest) is the island east of Nishimori. It's capital is Ryokuya (緑野市). In the same way as Nishimori, it is mostly covered in forests, hence its name.

While it is a great source of lumber, its main specialty is fabrication, as it is the industrial center of Kinami.

### **Yamagatsu (山月県)**

山月県 (Yamagatsuken, lit: the Moon Mountain province) is the island east of Higashimori. It's capital is Kaimon (開門市), and another importan city is Kasumimori (霞森町).

The proximity to Kromelia made Yamagatsu one of the main trade centers of Kinami, with most activity centered around the Kaimon Port. It is also one of the islands with more fishing produce.

The name of the island comes from the fact that almost all year round the Moon aligns with the Tsukimine Mountain's peak when watching from Kaimon.

### **Hoshimi (星見県)**

星見県 (Hoshimiken: the province of star-seeing) is the island north of Yamagatsu. It's capital is Hoshimoto (星本市). The island takes its name from the fact that it is the place with the clerest sky in Hikto, and perfect for star-seeing. That is why Hoshimi is the home of the Hoshimi National Telescope (星見国立望遠鏡), on top of Shitasei Mountain (下星山).

The island also has an incredibly diverse ecosystem, and most of it, especially in the west, is protected by the Government.

## Politics

### 1954の北海領土民主的王国憲法 (Constitution of The Democratic Kingdom of the Northern Seas Territories of 1954) (summary)

#### Article 1: PREFACE

*· The sovereignty of Kinami resides on the people of Kinami*

*· Kinami is a democratic and liberal state that defends human rights, justice, equality and political freedom*

*· Kinami's form of government is a Direct Democratic Monarchy*

*· Head of State is the King, and Head of the Government is the Chancellor*

*· Kinami's national and official language is Japanese*

#### Article 2: NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

*· Separation of powers: legislative, executive and judicial*

*· Legislative: direct democracy, practiced by referendums*

*· Executive: Chancellor, elected every 4 years, and Ministries, elected by Chancellor*

*· Judicial: tribunals, elected by random pickings from census*

*· King has law proposal powers, and represents the State internationally*

#### Article 3: REGIONAL SEPARATION AND GOVERNMENTS

*· Kinami is divided into 9 islands: Nandaitō (南大島県), Nishimori (西森県), Higashimori (東森県), Yamagatsu (山月県), Hoshimi (星見県), Seizayama (星座山県), Hokkyoku (北極県), Aosuisei (青彗星県), Hakumi (白海県)*

*· Each island has its own regional government for matters concerning said island*

#### Article 4: RIGHTS

*· Human rights and no death sentence*

*· Right to intimacy, privacy, freedom of ideas and opinions, creation...*

*· Juditial equality for all citizens*

*· Free healthcare for all Union citizens and visa holders*

*· Education is the same nation-wide, and managed by an Education Committee of all school and university professors*

#### Article 5: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

*· Kinami is part of The Hikto Union*

*· Treaties can be made with anyone as long as they are approved through referendum*