Western Kozan

Official language(s)
 Capital
 Currency
 Established
 Disestablished
 Fate

**Western Kozan** (西方(せいほう)鉱山(こうざん), **Seihō Kōzan**?) is a geographical area of Kozan and was the common English name for the **Democratic Kingdom of Western Kozan** (西方(せいほう)鉱山(こうざん)国民(こくみん)主(しゅ)的(てき)王国(おうこく), **Seihō Kōzan-koku Minshu-teki Ōkoku**?), which existed from 1703 to 1867. It was described as a communist state and consisted of territory that was occupied by the Socialist Party of Kozan, the country's ruling political party. Like Eastern Kozan at the time of its founding, it was an absolute monarchy but with a socialist regime. It was established in 1703 and until its abolishment on November 9, 1867, the country had been ruled by an absolute monarchy and the Socialist Party of Kozan. The flag of Western Kozan would also later go onto be the party icon of the contemporary Socialist Party of Kozan in the time following the dissolution. Due to the area bordering Japan to the west, it is also the only area in Kozan to have a predominantly Japanese-speaking population, with Japanese being the sole official language. However, citizens cannot drive into Japan through Kozan as Kozan drives on the right-hand side of the road while Japan drives on the left.

The economy was stagnated to meet the needs of the Tokugawa Shogunate, its important ally in Japan. In addition, it was also state-owned. In 1867 during the wake of the Meiji Restoration, numerous social, economic, and political forces in Western Kozan saw the weakening of the Tokugawa Shogunate, its communist rule, and the establishment of a more democratic and liberal government. As a result, the monarchy fell and voted to dissolve into Eastern Kozan, forming a fully sovereign state in the unified Federal Kingdom of Kozan while inheriting the communist kingdom's former provinces. Geographically, it was bordered by Japan to the west and Eastern Kozan in the east. Internally, its capital was Horudika Canal where the current monarchy of the Federal Kingdom of Kozan lives.

## History

### Pre-Edo Period

Japanese migrants first settled in Western Kozan during the Heian and Kamakura periods. Many youkai-borns who were fleeing Japan settled here.

### Edo Period

Many youkai-borns who settled in Eastern Kozan fled to the western part of the country following persecution. This was especially true after the Sengoku period which involved a series of bloody civil wars in neighboring Japan. Following the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, many Japanese flocked to Western Kozan in search of new opportunities.

#### Building of the Great Hakurei Divide

The shogunate enacted the Sakoku edict in 1635, closing the border and unannounced, many Japanese and Western Kozanese workers began building a barrier to keep their people in and build political stability. They had built the Great Hakurei Divide to separate the two countries. As a result, travel from Japan to Kozan became strictly regulated, and nobody was allowed to enter unless they met strict requirements, and those who didn't risked their lives as border guards were ordered to shoot and kill anyone who attempted to cross illegally.

Initially, the border only covered the tip of present-day Horudika Canal, until another loophole in Hokkaido allowed people to cross into Kozan without the fear of being shot and killed.

#### Establishment of the Democratic Kingdom of Western Kozan

Queen Yukari, a powerful youkai-born leader, settled at the tip of Western Kozan and established the Democratic Kingdom of Western Kozan. While the Federal Kingdom of Eastern Kozan was a free and democratic society, Western Kozan was a state-owned socialist society.

## Politics

The Democratic Kingdom of Western Kozan was an absolute monarchy. When the kingdom was established, the building of socialism was the first step in the newly established kingdom, and extended ties to the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan as a way to build stability and consolidation. The ruling political party, besides the monarchy, was the Socialist Party of Kozan. It eventually transformed into a full communist party while expelling democratic influence from Eastern Kozan.

The flag of the Democratic Kingdom of Western Kozan consisted of a crimson red background with an eye outlined in yellow. The horizontal ends consisted of hammers while the vertical ends consisted of sickles. Inside the iris of the eye is a cross with four yellow stick people, meant to represent the alliance of workers, peasants, and intelligentsia.

### Monarchy and royal family

The monarch held the executive powers, while legislative functions were given to the Socialist Party and judicial functions were given to Western Kozan's Supreme Court. The ruling Yakumo dynasty dominated Western Kozan's political system, allowing them to control most of the kingdom's posts and be involved at all levels of government.

## Culture

Western Kozan's culture was influenced by the ideas of Eastern Kozan's traditions alongside traditional Japanese ideas with a mix of communist thought. However, as with any socialist or communist society, most of Western Kozan's culture were limited by censorship standards inspired by the Tokugawa Shogunate's Sakoku policy.

## Appearances

* *Chuhou Joutai: The Middle State of War* (first mentioned)
* *Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess* (mentioned only)