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|symbol_type =        <!--emblem, seal, etc (if not a coat of arms)--> Imperial Seal   
|symbol_type =        <!--emblem, seal, etc (if not a coat of arms)--> Imperial Seal   
|symbol_footnote =    <!--optional reference or footnote for the symbol caption-->
|symbol_footnote =    <!--optional reference or footnote for the symbol caption-->
|national_motto =    <!--in inverted commas and wikilinked if link exists--> {{native phrase|ja|積慶重暉|Sekkei Chōki}}
|national_motto =    <!--in inverted commas and wikilinked if link exists--> {{native phrase|ja|積慶重暉}}  
|englishmotto =      <!--English language version of motto--> Accumulate joyousness and stack brightness
|englishmotto =      <!--English language version of motto--> Accumulate joyousness and stack brightness
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|national_anthem =    <!--in inverted commas and wikilinked if link exists-->
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|ethnic_groups_year = <!--Year of ethnic groups data (if provided)-->
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|ethnic_groups_ref = <!--(for any ref/s to associate with ethnic groups data)-->
|ethnic_groups_ref = <!--(for any ref/s to associate with ethnic groups data)-->
|religion =          <!--Religion-->
|religion =          <!--Religion--> 99.1% [[wikipedia:Shintō|Shintō]] ([[wikipedia:State religion|official]])<br>0.9% [[wikipedia:Buddhism|Buddhism]]
|religion_year = <!--Year of religion data (if provided)-->
|religion_year = <!--Year of religion data (if provided)--> 2022
|religion_ref = <!--(for any ref/s to associate with religion data)-->
|religion_ref = <!--(for any ref/s to associate with religion data)-->
|demonym =            <!--Term/s describing those associated with the country/territory (e.g. "Belgian" for the country Belgium)-->  
|demonym =            <!--Term/s describing those associated with the country/territory (e.g. "Belgian" for the country Belgium)-->  
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'''Shirashibetsu''' is an island country located in East Asia, bordering the Pacific Ocean, organized as an absolute monarchy. It comprises 69 provinces (''kuni'') and its capital city is Fujiwara-kyō. Its speedy development of technology and vehicles together with the internal emigration from the camp to the cities ranks Shirashibetsu among one of the most highly developed countries in the world since at least one decade ago.
'''Shirashibetsu''' is an island country located in East Asia, bordering the Pacific Ocean, organized as an absolute monarchy. It comprises 69 provinces (''kuni'') and its capital city is Fujiwara-kyō. Its speedy development of technology and vehicles together with the internal emigration from the rurality to the cities ranks Shirashibetsu among one of the most highly developed countries in the world since at least one decade ago.
 
==History==
 
===The birth of Izanami and Izanagi===
 
Before the formation of the world, when the land was formless like a jellyfish, the first deities came into being at Takamagahara, the High Plain of Heaven.
 
Beginning with three primal kami: Amenominakanushi, Takamimusubi and Kamimusubi, seven successive generations of gods and goddesses came into being, the seventh generation consisting of the male kami Izanagi (''he who invites'') and the female kami Izanami (''she who invites'').
 
===Ama no Nuboko The Jewelled Spear===
 
The older generations of kami assigned Izanagi and Izanami the task of bringing order and structure to the shapeless chaos that was the world. To help them to accomplish this, the couple were given the jewelled spear called Ama no Nuboko.
 
From the Heavenly Floating Bridge, Izanagi and Izanami peered down at the inchoate mass below, not knowing how to begin the work of creation. Finally, they tried stirring the chaos with the point of the spear. As the spear was lifted back up, a drop fell from it, creating the island of Onogoro. Izanagi and Izanami decided to make their home there and built a palace called the Eight Measure Palace. In the very centre of the palace stood a pillar, the Heavenly August Pillar.
 
===Hiruko the Unfortunate Leech Child===
 
Established in their new home, Izanami and Izanagi decided it was time to start a family. They circled the Heavenly August Pillar, Izanagi turning to the left while Izanami moved to the right, so they met each other coming round. In spontaneous delight, Izanami exclaimed, “What a fine young man!” “What a fine young woman!” said Izanagi in response. He then complained that Izanami should have left it to him to take the initiative.
 
Uncertain of what to do next, the couple received some advice from two helpful wagtails. In due course, Izanami gave birth to a son, Hiruko, but the child was without limbs and boneless - a leech child. The baby was placed on a boat made of reeds and abandoned to float away to his melancholy fate. Izanami and Izanagi tried a second time, but, once again, their offspring was unsatisfactory.
 
===The Creation of the Islands===
 
Crestfallen, Izanami and Izanagi returned to Heaven to ask the elder kami where they had gone wrong. The gods confirmed Izanagi’s suspicion that Izanami had done wrong in greeting her husband first. It was unnatural for the female partner to take the initiative, which was why their offspring had been misshapen. With this in mind, the couple returned to their palace to try again. This time, when they circled the pillar, Izanagi greeted his wife first, and she responded appropriately.
 
Soon after, Izanami gave birth successively to the islands of Awaji, Iyo-no-futana-shima, Oki, Tsukushi-no-shima, and Tsushima. Last of all, she delivered the largest island, Honshu. The couple gave the land they had brought into being the name of Oyashimakumi, meaning the Land of Eight Great Islands. Following this, Izanami brought forth the smaller outlying islands.
 
===The Birth of Kagutsuchi the Fire Kami and the Death of Izanami===
 
Having given birth to the land, Izanami began to give birth to the kami that would give it shape. In turn, she brought forth the kami of the sea, of the wind, of trees and mountains and other natural manifestations. In giving birth to the kami of fire, Kagutsuchi, she was burned to death, despite her husband’s attempts to save her. As Izanami died, further kami were born from her body. Death and sorrow had also entered the world.
 
Grief-stricken, Izanagi wept and from his tears emanated further kami. Enraged, he cut off the head of Kagutsuchi, whose birth had killed his wife. Further offspring were born from his bloody sword.
 
===Izanagi's Journey to Yomi, the House of the Dead===
 
After grieving for Izanami for a long time, Izanagi became determined to bring her back and set off for Yomi, the Land of the Dead. Eventually, after a long and perilous journey, Izanagi came to a great mansion guarded at the front by fearsome demons. Creeping in through a back entrance, Izanagi found his wife, and there was a joyful reunion. Izanagi begged Izanami to return to the world with him, but she sadly replied that this was not possible as she had taken food while in Yomi. At Izanagi’s entreaty, however, she agreed to go and ask the resident kami if she could possibly go back with him.
 
Before she went, Izanami asked her husband to promise not to go right inside the mansion. He agreed, but after a whole day had passed and she did not return, Izunami could wait no longer and went inside the mansion, looking for her, using a tooth of his comb as a torch.
 
Wandering within the mansion by the frail light of his torch, Izunagi was horrified to come across the body of his wife, now apparent as just a rotten decaying corpse to which a number of recently born thunder-kami were still attached. In revulsion and terror, Izanagi turned to flee, pursued by the spurned corpse of his wife, the thunder kami along with many warriors, and the hag of the House of the Dead.
 
After fighting off his pursuers, Izanagi managed to imprison Izanami in the House of the Dead by rolling up a huge rock to block the way. The entrance to Yomi, covered by the rock, is said to be Ifuya Pass, at Izumo. Thenceforth, Izanami became known as Yomotsu-o-kami, Goddess of the Dead.
 
===The first Emperor: Jimmu Tennō===
 
The first Emperor is known as Jimmu-Tennō and his reign is said to have been between 660 and 585 BCE. However, he did not receive this title until more than 1000 years later when the practice of naming Emperors after their death began. His recorded name according to the ''Kojiki'' and ''Nihon Shoki'', is Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-Hoho-Demi-no-Sumera-Mikoto. His maternal grandfather was Ōwatatsumi god of the sea, and on his fathers side, he was a direct descendant of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun.
 
He set out from his palace at Takachiho thought to be near the modern city of Hyūga, with the intention to conquer all of the country on behalf of the "Gods of Heaven and the Earth". After leaving Takachiho, he made his way through the Haya-suhi Gate (the more literal translation is Quick Suck Gate on account of the fast currents) otherwise known as the Bungo Channel, between northern Tsukushi-no-shima and neighboring Iyo-no-futana-shima.
 
He stayed for a time in the area around Fukuoka and Ōita before moving on to establish the Palace of Ye near Hiroshima. Next he came to the land of Kibi,  where he stayed for about three years in order to prepare and gather supplies.
 
Finally, he landed in Naniwa, and proceeded east towards Yamato. As they reached Mount Ikoma, Naga-Sune-Hiko, the ruler of Yamato, gathered all of his forces and engaged the Emperor in battle.
 
The Imperial forces were soundly defeated, so Emperor Jimmu ordered the retreat. It was his belief that he could not win any battle if he marched toward the east as this would cause insult to his ancestor, the Sun Goddess. So he resolved to make his way around the Kii Peninsular and attack Yamato from the opposite side. With the Sun Goddess at his back, he was sure to be victorious.
 
They began to march south through Osaka, hoping to find another way in to the fertile plains of Yamato. Progress was slowed however as Emperor's brother had been struck in the elbow by an arrow during the battle. It is thought that they stopped for a time in the village of Amami in the far south of Osaka.
 
From Amami, they headed west towards the coast, but the condition of the Emperor's brother continued to deteriorate and he eventually died somewhere in the vicinity of the town of Izumisano. Once they reached the coast, they boarded boats to take them around the tip of the Kii Peninsular and eventually landed in the Kumano region.
 
==Climate==
 
Shirashibetsu has a humid continental climate (Köppen: ''Dfb'') with short warm summers and long cold winters. The rainiest month is June, with an average of {{convert|196.2|mm|in}} in 8.1 days, but the rains are evenly distributed all year round. The warmest month is August, with a mean of {{convert|19.9|C|F}} and highs around {{convert|23-26|C|F}} however, in many zones the heatwaves are very frequent. The coldest month of the year is January, with a mean of {{convert|-3.4|C|F}} and temperatures ranging from {{convert|-9.6|C|F}} to {{convert|2.7|C|F}}.
 
{{Weather box    <!-- Infobox begins -->
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| location    =  <!-- Mandatory field, location the climate data was taken, usually an airport. --> Fujiwara-kyō International Airport
| temperature colour = 
<!-- Record high temperatures -->
<!-- Note that record temperatures should only be used when the data period is of the greatest length possible. -->
| Jan record high F  =  | Jan record high C  =
| Feb record high F  =  | Feb record high C  =
| Mar record high F  =  | Mar record high C  =
| Apr record high F  =  | Apr record high C  =
| May record high F  =  | May record high C  =
| Jun record high F  =  | Jun record high C  =
| Jul record high F  =  | Jul record high C  =
| Aug record high F  =  | Aug record high C  =
| Sep record high F  =  | Sep record high C  =
| Oct record high F  =  | Oct record high C  =
| Nov record high F  =  | Nov record high C  =
| Dec record high F  =  | Dec record high C  =
| year record high F =  | year record high C =
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =  | Jan high C  =  2.7
| Feb high F  =  | Feb high C  =  4.8
| Mar high F  =  | Mar high C  =  5.2
| Apr high F  =  | Apr high C  = 11.7
| May high F  =  | May high C  = 17.8
| Jun high F  =  | Jun high C  = 24.7
| Jul high F  =  | Jul high C  = 25.4
| Aug high F  =  | Aug high C  = 26.9
| Sep high F  =  | Sep high C  = 23.2
| Oct high F  =  | Oct high C  = 17.5
| Nov high F  =  | Nov high C  = 11.2
| Dec high F  =  | Dec high C  =  4.5
| year high F =  | year high C =
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =  | Jan mean C  = -3.4
| Feb mean F  =  | Feb mean C  = -0.8
| Mar mean F  =  | Mar mean C  =  0.6
| Apr mean F  =  | Apr mean C  =  8.1
| May mean F  =  | May mean C  = 13.6
| Jun mean F  =  | Jun mean C  = 18.7
| Jul mean F  =  | Jul mean C  = 18.9
| Aug mean F  =  | Aug mean C  = 19.9
| Sep mean F  =  | Sep mean C  = 15.4
| Oct mean F  =  | Oct mean C  = 10.3
| Nov mean F  =  | Nov mean C  =  5.4
| Dec mean F  =  | Dec mean C  =  1.6
| year mean F =  | year mean C =
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =  | Jan low C  = -9.6
| Feb low F  =  | Feb low C  = -6.5
| Mar low F  =  | Mar low C  = -3.9
| Apr low F  =  | Apr low C  =  4.6
| May low F  =  | May low C  =  9.5
| Jun low F  =  | Jun low C  = 12.8
| Jul low F  =  | Jul low C  = 12.5
| Aug low F  =  | Aug low C  = 13.0
| Sep low F  =  | Sep low C  =  7.7
| Oct low F  =  | Oct low C  =  3.2
| Nov low F  =  | Nov low C  = -0.3
| Dec low F  =  | Dec low C  = -1.2
| year low F =  | year low C =
<!-- Record low temperatures -->
<!-- Note that record temperatures should only be used when the data period is of the greatest length possible. -->
| Jan record low F  =  | Jan record low C  =
| Feb record low F  =  | Feb record low C  =
| Mar record low F  =  | Mar record low C  =
| Apr record low F  =  | Apr record low C  =
| May record low F  =  | May record low C  =
| Jun record low F  =  | Jun record low C  =
| Jul record low F  =  | Jul record low C  =
| Aug record low F  =  | Aug record low C  =
| Sep record low F  =  | Sep record low C  =
| Oct record low F  =  | Oct record low C  =
| Nov record low F  =  | Nov record low C  =
| Dec record low F  =  | Dec record low C  =
| year record low F =  | year record low C =
<!-- Minimum wind chill -->
| Jan chill  =
| Feb chill  =
| Mar chill  =
| Apr chill  =
| May chill  =
| Jun chill  =
| Jul chill  =
| Aug chill  =
| Sep chill  =
| Oct chill  =
| Nov chill  =
| Dec chill  =
| year chill =
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour =  <!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colours, "none" for no colours, remove this line for blue colouring. --> green
<!-- IMPORTANT: use only one unit type! -->
| Jan precipitation inch  =  | Jan precipitation cm  =  | Jan precipitation mm  =  58.1
| Feb precipitation inch  =  | Feb precipitation cm  =  | Feb precipitation mm  =  71.6
| Mar precipitation inch  =  | Mar precipitation cm  =  | Mar precipitation mm  = 114.2
| Apr precipitation inch  =  | Apr precipitation cm  =  | Apr precipitation mm  = 110.1
| May precipitation inch  =  | May precipitation cm  =  | May precipitation mm  = 147.6
| Jun precipitation inch  =  | Jun precipitation cm  =  | Jun precipitation mm  = 196.2
| Jul precipitation inch  =  | Jul precipitation cm  =  | Jul precipitation mm  = 185.5
| Aug precipitation inch  =  | Aug precipitation cm  =  | Aug precipitation mm  = 124.1
| Sep precipitation inch  =  | Sep precipitation cm  =  | Sep precipitation mm  = 163.9
| Oct precipitation inch  =  | Oct precipitation cm  =  | Oct precipitation mm  = 147.1
| Nov precipitation inch  =  | Nov precipitation cm  =  | Nov precipitation mm  =  83.6
| Dec precipitation inch  =  | Dec precipitation cm  =  | Dec precipitation mm  =  66.6
| year precipitation inch =  | year precipitation cm =  | year precipitation mm =
 
| rain colour  =  <!-- Enter "green" for green rainfall colours, "none" for no colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
 
| Jan rain inch  =  | Jan rain cm  =  | Jan rain mm  = 
| Feb rain inch  =  | Feb rain cm  =  | Feb rain mm  = 
| Mar rain inch  =  | Mar rain cm  =  | Mar rain mm  =
| Apr rain inch  =  | Apr rain cm  =  | Apr rain mm  =
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| Oct rain inch  =  | Oct rain cm  =  | Oct rain mm  =
| Nov rain inch  =  | Nov rain cm  =  | Nov rain mm  = 
| Dec rain inch  =  | Dec rain cm  =  | Dec rain mm  = 
| year rain inch =  | year rain cm =  | year rain mm =
<!-- Snowfall -->
| snow colour  =  <!-- Enter "green" for green snowfall colours, "none" for no colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
<!-- IMPORTANT: Do NOT use snow depth information in the snowfall area! These are 2 different kinds of data! -->
<!-- IMPORTANT: use only one unit type! -->
| Jan snow inch  =  | Jan snow cm  =  | Jan snow mm  = 29
| Feb snow inch  =  | Feb snow cm  =  | Feb snow mm  = 15
| Mar snow inch  =  | Mar snow cm  =  | Mar snow mm  =  0
| Apr snow inch  =  | Apr snow cm  =  | Apr snow mm  =  0
| May snow inch  =  | May snow cm  =  | May snow mm  =  0
| Jun snow inch  =  | Jun snow cm  =  | Jun snow mm  =  0
| Jul snow inch  =  | Jul snow cm  =  | Jul snow mm  =  0
| Aug snow inch  =  | Aug snow cm  =  | Aug snow mm  =  0
| Sep snow inch  =  | Sep snow cm  =  | Sep snow mm  =  0
| Oct snow inch  =  | Oct snow cm  =  | Oct snow mm  =  1
| Nov snow inch  =  | Nov snow cm  =  | Nov snow mm  =  14
| Dec snow inch  =  | Dec snow cm  =  | Dec snow mm  =  23
| year snow inch =  | year snow cm =  | year snow mm =
<!-- Snow depth -->
| snow depth colour    =  <!-- Enter "green" for green snowfall colours, "none" for no colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
<!-- IMPORTANT: use only one unit type! -->
<!-- IMPORTANT: Do NOT use snowfall information in the snow depth area! These are 2 different kinds of data! -->
| Jan snow depth inch  =  | Jan snow depth cm  =  | Jan snow depth mm  = 
| Feb snow depth inch  =  | Feb snow depth cm  =  | Feb snow depth mm  = 
| Mar snow depth inch  =  | Mar snow depth cm  =  | Mar snow depth mm  = 
| Apr snow depth inch  =  | Apr snow depth cm  =  | Apr snow depth mm  = 
| May snow depth inch  =  | May snow depth cm  =  | May snow depth mm  = 
| Jun snow depth inch  =  | Jun snow depth cm  =  | Jun snow depth mm  = 
| Jul snow depth inch  =  | Jul snow depth cm  =  | Jul snow depth mm  = 
| Aug snow depth inch  =  | Aug snow depth cm  =  | Aug snow depth mm  = 
| Sep snow depth inch  =  | Sep snow depth cm  =  | Sep snow depth mm  = 
| Oct snow depth inch  =  | Oct snow depth cm  =  | Oct snow depth mm  = 
| Nov snow depth inch  =  | Nov snow depth cm  =  | Nov snow depth mm  = 
| Dec snow depth inch  =  | Dec snow depth cm  =  | Dec snow depth mm  = 
| year snow depth inch =  | year snow depth cm =  | year snow depth mm = 
<!-- Average number of precipitation days -->
| unit precipitation days =  <!-- If entering the average number of days, then the unit requirement should be used, because this varies between countries. E.g. 0.01 in, 0.2 mm. -->
| precip days colour      =  <!-- Enter "green" for green colours, "pastel" for pastel colours, "none" for no colours, remove this line for blue colouring. Affects rain and snow days as well -->
| Jan precipitation days  = 3.1
| Feb precipitation days  = 5.4
| Mar precipitation days  = 4.1
| Apr precipitation days  = 4.0
| May precipitation days  = 6.5
| Jun precipitation days  = 8.1
| Jul precipitation days  = 7.6
| Aug precipitation days  = 7.4
| Sep precipitation days  = 7.3
| Oct precipitation days  = 5.0
| Nov precipitation days  = 3.3
| Dec precipitation days  = 3.1
| year precipitation days =
<!-- Average number of rainy days -->
| unit rain days =  <!-- If entering the average number of days, then the unit requirement should be used, because this varies between countries. E.g. 0.01 in, 0.2 mm. -->
| Jan rain days  =
| Feb rain days  =
| Mar rain days  =
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| year rain days =
<!-- Average number of snowy days -->
| unit snow days =  <!-- If entering the average number of days, then the unit requirement should be used, because this varies between countries. E.g. 0.1 in, 0.2 cm. -->
| Jan snow days  = 9.1
| Feb snow days  = 8.0
| Mar snow days  = 3.0
| Apr snow days  = 0
| May snow days  = 0
| Jun snow days  = 0
| Jul snow days  = 0
| Aug snow days  = 0
| Sep snow days  = 0
| Oct snow days  = 0
| Nov snow days  = 1.5
| Dec snow days  = 6.8
| year snow days =
<!-- Average daily % humidity -->
<!-- If entering the average daily % humidity, then the humidex table should be used. -->
| humidity colour =  <!-- Enter "green" for green humidity colors, "pastel" for pastel humidity colours, "none" for no colours, remove this line for blue coloring. Affects afternoon % humidity as well -->
| time day        =  <!-- The time of day the humidity was measured at. Affects afternoon % humidity as well -->
| daily          =  <!-- Enter "Y" if the humidity is for the entire day. Affects afternoon % humidity as well -->
| Jan humidity    = 61
| Feb humidity    = 62
| Mar humidity    = 67
| Apr humidity    = 72
| May humidity    = 78
| Jun humidity    = 85
| Jul humidity    = 86
| Aug humidity    = 84
| Sep humidity    = 85
| Oct humidity    = 81
| Nov humidity    = 74
| Dec humidity    = 65
| year humidity  =
<!-- Average monthly sunshine hours, monthly totals are preferred, and will produce colours, but percentages are accepted. -->
| Jan sun  =
| Feb sun  =  <!-- For February only if the source gives daily hours, please multiply by 28.25, not 28 -->
| Mar sun  =
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| year light=
<!-- Average percent of possible sunshine. Number of daylight hours already factored into this number. Note that since this is possible sunshine, nighttime hours should not be included in this calculation. Will produce colours. -->
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<!-- Average daily UV index -->
| Jan uv  =
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}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

Latest revision as of 17:42, 3 September 2024

Shirashibetsu
しら標津国
Shirashibetsu-koku
Flag of Shirashibetsu
Flag
Imperial Seal of Shirashibetsu
Imperial Seal
Motto: 積慶重暉 (Japanese)
Accumulate joyousness and stack brightness
Japan (orthographic projection).svg
CapitalFujiwara-kyō
34° 31′ 0″ N, 135° 48′ 0″ E
Largest cityEdo
Religion
(2022)
99.1% Shintō (official)
0.9% Buddhism
GovernmentUnitary absolute monarchy under Daijō-kan (de facto)
• Empress
Amaterasu II
• Shogun
Fujita Naganori
LegislatureNone (Rule by decree)
Establishment
February 11, 660 BCE (660 BCE-02-11)
Area
• Total
377,975 km2 (145,937 sq mi)
• Water (%)
1.4
Population
• 2022 estimate
124,214,766 (11th)
• Density
332/km2 (859.9/sq mi) (24th)
Gini66.5
very high
HDI0.986
very high
CurrencyKwong (JPK)
Time zoneUTC+9 (JST)
Driving sideleft
Calling code+71

Shirashibetsu is an island country located in East Asia, bordering the Pacific Ocean, organized as an absolute monarchy. It comprises 69 provinces (kuni) and its capital city is Fujiwara-kyō. Its speedy development of technology and vehicles together with the internal emigration from the rurality to the cities ranks Shirashibetsu among one of the most highly developed countries in the world since at least one decade ago.

History

The birth of Izanami and Izanagi

Before the formation of the world, when the land was formless like a jellyfish, the first deities came into being at Takamagahara, the High Plain of Heaven.

Beginning with three primal kami: Amenominakanushi, Takamimusubi and Kamimusubi, seven successive generations of gods and goddesses came into being, the seventh generation consisting of the male kami Izanagi (he who invites) and the female kami Izanami (she who invites).

Ama no Nuboko The Jewelled Spear

The older generations of kami assigned Izanagi and Izanami the task of bringing order and structure to the shapeless chaos that was the world. To help them to accomplish this, the couple were given the jewelled spear called Ama no Nuboko.

From the Heavenly Floating Bridge, Izanagi and Izanami peered down at the inchoate mass below, not knowing how to begin the work of creation. Finally, they tried stirring the chaos with the point of the spear. As the spear was lifted back up, a drop fell from it, creating the island of Onogoro. Izanagi and Izanami decided to make their home there and built a palace called the Eight Measure Palace. In the very centre of the palace stood a pillar, the Heavenly August Pillar.

Hiruko the Unfortunate Leech Child

Established in their new home, Izanami and Izanagi decided it was time to start a family. They circled the Heavenly August Pillar, Izanagi turning to the left while Izanami moved to the right, so they met each other coming round. In spontaneous delight, Izanami exclaimed, “What a fine young man!” “What a fine young woman!” said Izanagi in response. He then complained that Izanami should have left it to him to take the initiative.

Uncertain of what to do next, the couple received some advice from two helpful wagtails. In due course, Izanami gave birth to a son, Hiruko, but the child was without limbs and boneless - a leech child. The baby was placed on a boat made of reeds and abandoned to float away to his melancholy fate. Izanami and Izanagi tried a second time, but, once again, their offspring was unsatisfactory.

The Creation of the Islands

Crestfallen, Izanami and Izanagi returned to Heaven to ask the elder kami where they had gone wrong. The gods confirmed Izanagi’s suspicion that Izanami had done wrong in greeting her husband first. It was unnatural for the female partner to take the initiative, which was why their offspring had been misshapen. With this in mind, the couple returned to their palace to try again. This time, when they circled the pillar, Izanagi greeted his wife first, and she responded appropriately.

Soon after, Izanami gave birth successively to the islands of Awaji, Iyo-no-futana-shima, Oki, Tsukushi-no-shima, and Tsushima. Last of all, she delivered the largest island, Honshu. The couple gave the land they had brought into being the name of Oyashimakumi, meaning the Land of Eight Great Islands. Following this, Izanami brought forth the smaller outlying islands.

The Birth of Kagutsuchi the Fire Kami and the Death of Izanami

Having given birth to the land, Izanami began to give birth to the kami that would give it shape. In turn, she brought forth the kami of the sea, of the wind, of trees and mountains and other natural manifestations. In giving birth to the kami of fire, Kagutsuchi, she was burned to death, despite her husband’s attempts to save her. As Izanami died, further kami were born from her body. Death and sorrow had also entered the world.

Grief-stricken, Izanagi wept and from his tears emanated further kami. Enraged, he cut off the head of Kagutsuchi, whose birth had killed his wife. Further offspring were born from his bloody sword.

Izanagi's Journey to Yomi, the House of the Dead

After grieving for Izanami for a long time, Izanagi became determined to bring her back and set off for Yomi, the Land of the Dead. Eventually, after a long and perilous journey, Izanagi came to a great mansion guarded at the front by fearsome demons. Creeping in through a back entrance, Izanagi found his wife, and there was a joyful reunion. Izanagi begged Izanami to return to the world with him, but she sadly replied that this was not possible as she had taken food while in Yomi. At Izanagi’s entreaty, however, she agreed to go and ask the resident kami if she could possibly go back with him.

Before she went, Izanami asked her husband to promise not to go right inside the mansion. He agreed, but after a whole day had passed and she did not return, Izunami could wait no longer and went inside the mansion, looking for her, using a tooth of his comb as a torch.

Wandering within the mansion by the frail light of his torch, Izunagi was horrified to come across the body of his wife, now apparent as just a rotten decaying corpse to which a number of recently born thunder-kami were still attached. In revulsion and terror, Izanagi turned to flee, pursued by the spurned corpse of his wife, the thunder kami along with many warriors, and the hag of the House of the Dead.

After fighting off his pursuers, Izanagi managed to imprison Izanami in the House of the Dead by rolling up a huge rock to block the way. The entrance to Yomi, covered by the rock, is said to be Ifuya Pass, at Izumo. Thenceforth, Izanami became known as Yomotsu-o-kami, Goddess of the Dead.

The first Emperor: Jimmu Tennō

The first Emperor is known as Jimmu-Tennō and his reign is said to have been between 660 and 585 BCE. However, he did not receive this title until more than 1000 years later when the practice of naming Emperors after their death began. His recorded name according to the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, is Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-Hoho-Demi-no-Sumera-Mikoto. His maternal grandfather was Ōwatatsumi god of the sea, and on his fathers side, he was a direct descendant of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun.

He set out from his palace at Takachiho thought to be near the modern city of Hyūga, with the intention to conquer all of the country on behalf of the "Gods of Heaven and the Earth". After leaving Takachiho, he made his way through the Haya-suhi Gate (the more literal translation is Quick Suck Gate on account of the fast currents) otherwise known as the Bungo Channel, between northern Tsukushi-no-shima and neighboring Iyo-no-futana-shima.

He stayed for a time in the area around Fukuoka and Ōita before moving on to establish the Palace of Ye near Hiroshima. Next he came to the land of Kibi, where he stayed for about three years in order to prepare and gather supplies.

Finally, he landed in Naniwa, and proceeded east towards Yamato. As they reached Mount Ikoma, Naga-Sune-Hiko, the ruler of Yamato, gathered all of his forces and engaged the Emperor in battle.

The Imperial forces were soundly defeated, so Emperor Jimmu ordered the retreat. It was his belief that he could not win any battle if he marched toward the east as this would cause insult to his ancestor, the Sun Goddess. So he resolved to make his way around the Kii Peninsular and attack Yamato from the opposite side. With the Sun Goddess at his back, he was sure to be victorious.

They began to march south through Osaka, hoping to find another way in to the fertile plains of Yamato. Progress was slowed however as Emperor's brother had been struck in the elbow by an arrow during the battle. It is thought that they stopped for a time in the village of Amami in the far south of Osaka.

From Amami, they headed west towards the coast, but the condition of the Emperor's brother continued to deteriorate and he eventually died somewhere in the vicinity of the town of Izumisano. Once they reached the coast, they boarded boats to take them around the tip of the Kii Peninsular and eventually landed in the Kumano region.

Climate

Shirashibetsu has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb) with short warm summers and long cold winters. The rainiest month is June, with an average of 196.2 millimetres (7.72 in) in 8.1 days, but the rains are evenly distributed all year round. The warmest month is August, with a mean of 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) and highs around 23–26 °C (73–79 °F) however, in many zones the heatwaves are very frequent. The coldest month of the year is January, with a mean of −3.4 °C (25.9 °F) and temperatures ranging from −9.6 °C (14.7 °F) to 2.7 °C (36.9 °F).

Climate data for Fujiwara-kyō International Airport
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 2.7
(36.9) 		4.8
(40.6) 		5.2
(41.4) 		11.7
(53.1) 		17.8
(64.0) 		24.7
(76.5) 		25.4
(77.7) 		26.9
(80.4) 		23.2
(73.8) 		17.5
(63.5) 		11.2
(52.2) 		4.5
(40.1) 		14.6
(58.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −3.4
(25.9) 		−0.8
(30.6) 		0.6
(33.1) 		8.1
(46.6) 		13.6
(56.5) 		18.7
(65.7) 		18.9
(66.0) 		19.9
(67.8) 		15.4
(59.7) 		10.3
(50.5) 		5.4
(41.7) 		1.6
(34.9) 		9.0
(48.3)
Average low °C (°F) −9.6
(14.7) 		−6.5
(20.3) 		−3.9
(25.0) 		4.6
(40.3) 		9.5
(49.1) 		12.8
(55.0) 		12.5
(54.5) 		13.0
(55.4) 		7.7
(45.9) 		3.2
(37.8) 		−0.3
(31.5) 		−1.2
(29.8) 		3.5
(38.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 58.1
(2.29) 		71.6
(2.82) 		114.2
(4.50) 		110.1
(4.33) 		147.6
(5.81) 		196.2
(7.72) 		185.5
(7.30) 		124.1
(4.89) 		163.9
(6.45) 		147.1
(5.79) 		83.6
(3.29) 		66.6
(2.62) 		1,468.6
(57.81)
Average snowfall mm (inches) 29
(1.1) 		15
(0.6) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(0.0) 		14
(0.6) 		23
(0.9) 		82
(3.2)
Average precipitation days 3.1 5.4 4.1 4.0 6.5 8.1 7.6 7.4 7.3 5.0 3.3 3.1 64.9
Average snowy days 9.1 8.0 3.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.5 6.8 28.4
Average relative humidity (%) 61 62 67 72 78 85 86 84 85 81 74 65 75
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