Ariseo

The Empire of Ariseo アリ瀬尾帝国
Flag Imperial Coat of Arms
Motto: "永遠に咲きなさい、私の帝国" "Bloom Forever, My Empire"
Anthem: "Imperial Anthem of Ariseo"
Location	Map of Ariseo
Capital and largest city	Hyeangseul
Official languages	Teihyogengo
Recognised national languages	Xinminese, Uulkythian, Shanirin
Recognised regional languages	)
Ethnic groups (1612)	65.4% Arinese 23.7% Xinminese 4.40% Uulkyth 3.14% Shanirin 3.36% Other
Demonym(s)	Arinese
Government	Unitary Parliamentary Semi-Constitutional Monarchy
• Empress	Subaika
• Prime Minister	Miyazaki Noriyuki
Legislature	Imperial Parliament
• Upper house	Imperial House of Peers
• Lower house	Imperial National Assembly
Establishment
• Establishment of the Imperial Dynasty	422 AR
• Keiji Constitution	August 5th, 1521
Area
•	475,582 km2 (183,623 sq mi)
Population
• 1612 estimate	121.4 Million
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	$6,584,233,500,000
• Per capita	$54,235.86
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$4,125,414,800,000
• Per capita	$33,982
Gini (1612)	39 medium
HDI (1612)	0.911 very high
Currency	Arinese Yen
Date format	dd/mm/yy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+85

Ariseo (Teihyogengo: アリ瀬尾, Ariseo and formally アリ国, Arikoku) and officially called the Empire of Ariseo is a country located in the continent of Pythia. It indirectly borders the Dze Confederation to the east, the Golden Domain to the south and is within proximity of several other nations. With an estimated population of 121.4 Million people, it has a estimated land size of 475,582 kilometres² with over 1,000 islands littered around its coast. The nation is a highly populous and dense nation, and at present is the largest nation within Sparkalia.

Densely populated around the valleys between the mountains and the coast, the nation is one of the few dedicious and temperate regions in the world. With a high level of habitability has resulted in its high population. Though one concentrated largely on its cities as about almost half of the country's terrain is mountainous despite the presence of lowlands in the north, though this is countered by the nations proximity to the northern poles. Making the nation a considerably cold and wintry location.

The region of Ariseo was resettled around year 100, with the first Kingdoms and feudal states having entered into written documents in the form of the Ariya Dynasty around 200 AR. As one of the earliest dynasties in the region, the peoples of Ariseo compromised of the Arinese people which originated from the western regions alongside the Xinmin peoples of the east, forming various kingdoms and later regional dynasties in Ariseo. Influenced by their neighbours, the eastern regions enjoyed much diversification. The unification of Ariseo as one Imperial Dynasty under the Mugunghwa Throne in the 4th century saw the expansion and later unifications of the borders of Ariseo by the 10th century after a series of conquests, and expeditions from the Golden River area where the Imperial Dynasty was first located.

Despite this, the Mugunghwa Throne suffered from a steep decline of influence during the latter centuries onto the 13th to 14th Centuries, where the Sengoku Jidai of Ariseo saw the Thrones power be usurped by the "Control" Clique, a cabal of military officers that turned the nation to a hereditary military dictatorship and divided amongst Bakufu's. This state of affairs continued with the Shogunate increasing its control over the country until the 19th Century, where control rapidly slipped upon the installation of a child Shogun and the forced opening of the country to foreigners, spearheaded by the nation of Vileria, which saw various houses clash and later divide the nation into areas of control. The 2nd Sengoku Jidai however changed this, as the 2nd Sengoku Jidai saw the nation plunged into a civil war, which only ended in 1520 after it began in 1512.

Post-war reconstruction was aided by the forced modernisation of the nation in the following decades, and it was not long for the Miracle on the Golden River in TBW to begin and and the start of the "Five Modernizations" which aimed to develop the nation's economy, the nation faced an unprecedented technological upbringing in the introduction of foreign technology and ideas in a less restricted manner. These technologies were studied extensively, and either reverse-engineered or improved as time went on.

Though the economy has slowed ever since the era of rapid growth for much of the 20th Century, especially by 1592 with the Arirangese Asset Price Bubble popping, the country remains a major economic powerhouse and has began the steps to recover. Notably by investing within the realms of information technology and investing in new industrial practices to fuel its massive manufacturing sector. Yet, despite this, political instability has been hard to find with the growth of militaristic factions after the collapse of the Arirangese Socialist Party in the 1600's, with the country facing a further shift to the right under the gaze of what seems to most to be a powerless Emperor.

History of Ariseo

Initial Settlement

The first peoples that settled the lands known as Ariseo were the Uulkyth, who settled the barren deserts of southern Ariseo and formed regional tribal warbands following the Great Reset. It was not until around the year 100 that the peoples of Ariseo, the Arinese and Xinmin resettled the region proper from their mountain hideouts, littering the valleys of the north with settlements as a Neolithic semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer culture characterized by pit dwelling and rudimentary agriculture. It was around this time that the introduction of practices including wet-rice farming, a new style of pottery, and metallurgy from neighbouring states and far off lands began. Various feudal Kingdoms were formed around this time period, primarily centered around rich farmland and the coasts.

According to legend, Emperor Aimaru founded a kingdom in the golden river area around in 360, beginning a continuous imperial line of the Mugunghwa Throne. The formation of the Mugunghwa Throne has always been highly debated, but mentions of Emperor Aimaru have existed for some time.

Feudal Ariseo

The unification of Ariseo proper under the Mugunghwa Throne in the 4th Century saw not only the expansion of Ariseo through a series of conquests and expeditions from the Golden River area and beyond saw the emergence and dominance of a ruling class of warriors, the samurai. The samurai were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of the period between feudal to the early modern periods of Ariseo. They were often the well-paid retainers of the daimyo, the great feudal landholders which divided the lands of Ariseo.

Feudal Ariseo can be divided into multiple eras. The starting of which was the "Great Expedition" which saw the Mungughwa throne march east and west across the coastline of Ariseo, securing the vital ports of Ariseo and building the first navy at the time. This also translated to an era of relative economic wealth and prosperity. Imperial Power however was dilluted with the reliance of local Daimyō armies to enforce the Emperors will, resulting in more and more concessions from the Imperial Throne until there was none left at the end. Resulting in the rise of the military leader, or Shogun which often came from the most powerful Daimyō.

Despite this, during the 12th century, traders and missionaries from the outside reached Ariseo for the first time, initiating direct commercial and cultural exchange between Ariseo and the rest of the world once again since pre-reset times. Warlords such as the great Sada Katsuyoshi used western technology and firearms to conquer many other daimyō during the Sengoku Jidai of 1324 - 1422; his consolidation of power began what was known as the "Great Tranquility" period under the "Control" Clique which held great influence even after the disestablishment of the regency council.

The latter periods of Feudal Ariseo was marked with considerable economic growth, as the introduction of foreign technologies extended towards civilian knowledge as well. Extensive economic growth came due to improvements in agricultural techniques, canal transport, and river management infrastructure but also the introduction of light and heavier industry on the nation, spawning the first Zaibatsu on the latter periods of Feudal Ariseo which were born from the emancipation of slavery in 1486. Despite economic growth, Ariseo became a closed and isolationist country for some time in the later 1470's for a period of time. Resulting in a halting of progress and technological development outside of a select few exclaves in Ariseo. Contact with foreign nations also became limited for some time. The Shogunate, whose powers only grew during the period, enacted measures as a code of conduct to control the autonomous daimyō.

2nd Sengoku Jidai and the Keiji Restoration

Imperial Soldiers on the March.

It was not long that through the implied threat of force by foreign powers, the country was opened once again and thus initiated the rapid development of foreign trade and Westernization. In large part due to the humiliating terms of the unequal treaties with some of these foreign powers, the Katsuyoshi shogunate soon faced internal dissent from a variety of groups. An alliance of westernised Samurai, particularly the western Imperial domains coalescing around the old capital of Kosaka as the Kosaka Clique, and court officials secured control of the Imperial Court and influenced the young Emperor Keiji. Resulting in Emperor Keiji sending out a public demand in 1511 for the Shogun to abdicate and hand over political power to the Emperor.

However, the Shogunate did not fall easily however, as the reigning Shogun soon set up a rebellion in the east of the country; resulting in the Emperor fleeing Hyeangseul to Kosaka, and beginning the 2nd Sengoku Jidai for the period between 1512 - 1520. Despite the fall of Hyeangseul, the military tide rapidly turned in favour of the smaller but relatively modernized Imperial faction, and, after a lengthy campaign saw the collapse of the Shogunate in 1518. Despite this, a variety of other factions, notably communist insurgents coalescing around the north-eastern seaboard and insurrectionists in the southern territories prolonged the war till 1520 with the fall of the Republic of Seizō

At the end, the establishment of a centralized state nominally unified under the emperor was done following the end of the war. The Imperialists abandoned their objective of expelling foreigners from Ariseo and instead adopted a policy of continued modernization with an eye to the eventual renegotiation of the unequal treaties with the foreign powers. It was around this time that the "Five Modernizations" began under Emperor Keiji, which aimed for the modernization of education, technology, industrialization, militarization, and national identity in 1522, which saw the solidification of conscription as a concept in Ariseo and increased economic investment and activity in the nation. Adopting Western political, judicial, and military institutions, the Cabinet organized the Privy Council, introduced the Keiji Constitution (August 5th, 1521), and assembled the Imperial Diet.

It was not long for the Miracle on the Golden River to begin in 1524 and the "Five Modernizations" which aimed to develop the nation's economy through expansion of agriculture and energy industries such as coal and electric power; development of basic industries such as chemical fertilizer, cement, oil refinery, iron, and steel; expansion of social overhead capital including roads, railways, and ports; full utilisation of idle resources including increased employment; conservation and utilisation of land; export promotion to improve the balance of payments; and promotion of science and technology. Later, the nation emerged as the most developed nation in Pythia and as an industrialized world power. It was around this time that the population boomed from 70 million people, to 100 million people which only grew as time went.

Later on, a two-party political system was formed in Arirang by 1530 under Emperor Keiji and the initiation of democratic reforms under Emperor Koiji which created a semi-constitutional monarchy. This period in time is known as the Keiji Democracy period from between 1530 - 1577. The government at the time nevertheless had major problems confronted to it such as: inflation, the influx of foreign ideas, and an emerging labor movement which later became the Arirangese Socialist Party. Prewar solutions were applied by the cabinet to these postwar problems, and little was done to reform the government. The government instead worked to ensure a Conservative-Democratic Party majority through time-tested methods, such as new election laws and electoral redistricting, and embarked on major government-funded public works programs which lead to a world-class level of infrastructure for the nation. It was also under the Keiji Era that Arirang became a nuclear power, with the "Kami-1" test in 1538.

The death of Emperor Keiji from 1577 would begin the Kiyowa period, which was marked by extensive technological growth, notably as investment in the fields of sciences boomed; the genius of Arirang's youth and scientific base was pushed to its maximum capacity with the implementation of foreign technologies. It was here that the 2nd Miracle in the Golden River began as the economy began to soar, recording the fastest rise in average GDP per capita in the world for a period in time. Alongside major advances being made in the field of robotics, computers and within various scientific fields. Around this time, de-industrialization within Arirang began but was halted by the government, which began to heavily subsidise and invest within its secondary and primary sectors in order to maintain a strong domestic agricultural and manufacturing base.

Contemporary Era

Picture of the Kosaka Skyline.

Emperor Kiyowa was soon succeeded by Emperor Takahiro, under his rule, Ariseo continued its period of economic growth and was largely seen as a unremarkable ruler as he relegated more and more power to the Prime Minister; Kaga Masutaro. Under Prime Minister Masutaro and his successors, the nation expanded its welfare programmes and most importantly its social safety net. And began promoting birth programmes for larger families. Despite this, the governments under Takahiro were not particularly stable as they faced domestic crisis after crisis. Notably was the Ariseo economic bubble that popped in 1582 which saw the stagflation of the Arinese currency and the collapse of asset prices.

Despite this, the nation has since recovered slowly since the death of Emperor Takahiro later in 1600 to liver failure, with Empress Reiko beginning a series of economic reforms and privatisations to under various governments to stimulate the economy. But also, beginning a wave of new economic relations with foreign states, a wave of new militarism but also a general decline of democracy with the growth of a homegrown anti-monarchist labour movement, radical militarists that desire for a "Subaikan Restoration" and democrats that desire to reform the government into a constitutional monarchy.

Geography

Ariseo as a nation compromises the main island, Sokoku, with several smaller isalnds within a predominantly temperate environment. However, much of the nation has humid continental climate with long, cold winters and very warm to cool summers. Precipitation is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snowbanks in the winter. The land that encompasses most of the islands is mountainous and volcanic, which results in most of the islands experiencing frequent earthquakes. The forests and diversity of the islands are predominated by temperate broadleaf and mixed forests which stretch across the islands. Though temperate coniferous forests can be found within the southern half of the nation.

Major geographic regions in Sokoku, the main island, include the Golden River which runs through the capital and empties out to the Ocean from a natural harbour. In terms of wildlife, though various species and subspecies from the mainland can be found, animals such as the Atasatoan raccoon dog and Macaque can be found across the islands. The volcanic nature of the country has resulted in the soil of the country being relatively fertile. The islands however have a lack of resources outside of iron ore and coal, both of which are in significant abundance whilst petroleum and natural gas can be found in off-shore deposits as of recent. However, the environment of the nation despite the nations mass use of green energy has been tainted by decades of corporate exploitation. Despite this, environmental protection laws that were introduced in the 70's to 80's have curbed this alongside the nations switch to green energy.

As the nation is located rather northwards, with relatively cool summers and icy/snowy winters. Most of the islands falls in the humid continental climate zone with Köppen climate classification Dfb (hemiboreal) in most areas but Dfa (hot summer humid continental) in some inland lowlands. The average August temperature ranges from 17 to 22 °C (62.6 to 71.6 °F), while the average January temperature ranges from −12 to −4 °C (10.4 to 24.8 °F), in both cases depending on elevation and distance from the ocean, though temperatures on the western side of the island tend to be a little warmer than on the eastern. The highest temperature ever recorded is 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) on 26 May 2019.

Government and Politics

Picture of the Imperial Diet.

Ariseo is a unitary state which has a semi-constitutional monarchy where the Emperor or Empress plays a key role within the affairs of government. The Emperor or Empress is able to dismiss the government at any time, make their own cabinet or propose changes and resolutions or bills on their own accord alongside enact them by executive decision. The Prime Minister is given the same powers by the Emperor or Empress and rules by decree of the monarch. Despite this, it is hard to distinguish the government of Ariseo from that of an aristocratic oligarchy with corruption being known amongst members of parliament and government.

Ariseo's legislative organ is the Imperial Parliament, a bicameral parliament. It consists of a lower Imperial National Assembly with 480 seats, elected by popular vote every four years or when dissolved, and an upper House of Peers with 240 seats, whose unelected members typically serve for life. There is universal suffrage for adults over 18 years of age, with a secret ballot for all elected offices.

Amendments generally require a two-thirds majority of both houses of government while the fundamental principles of the constitution, as expressed in the articles guaranteeing human dignity, the separation of powers, the federal structure, and the rule of law, are valid in perpetuity. Due to this, the nation currently has one of the oldest unamendend constitutions in Sparkalia.

Armed Forces

The Imperial Ariseo Armed Forces also known as "Her Majesties Armed Forces" is the national-level military force of the Ariseo and its constituent territories and crown dependencies. Although primarily tasked with the protection of the nations national defense and security, it also works to promote the Empires wider interests, support international peacekeeping efforts and provide humanitarian aid during conflicts. It has at times also participated in foreign interventions within broader coalitions, but rarely alone.

As a nation with conscription, the Armed Forces spends an estimated amount around 3.5% of the national GDP on spending, coming up to roughly $144 billion dollars in spending with around 2.6 Million personnel in service. 1.8 Million of which are active duty personnel and 800,000 of which are reserve personnel.

The Imperial Ariseo Armed Forces consists of three main branches, the Imperial Army, the Imperial Air Force and Imperial Navy. The Imperial Navy is one of the largest navies in the world with well-over 350 ships within its service, 260 of which are combat ships. Whilst the Air Force has a estimated total of 4,200~ aircraft spread across the nation. The nations possession of a large armed force is largely due to the hostility of several nations to humans which resulted in a heightened level of security historically.

Main Article

Economy

Skyscrapers in Kosaka, the eastern financial centre.

According to international economists, the Arinian GDP at 2023 is presently sitting at a strong $4.125 trillion with a highly skilled labour force, a medium level of corruption, and a high level of innovation. As one of the worlds largest consumer markets, it is an important player in regional economics and has ties with neighbouring states as an exporter but also an importer. The nations economy at presence can be described with its presence of corporations that hold sway over domestic affairs, state control of finance, direct support for state-owned enterprises in strategic sectors of the economy or the creation of privately owned national champions now known as Zaibatsu's.

Focusing on high rates of investments, high educational standards, assiduity and an export-oriented policy. It is considered as an advanced economy with a post-industrial level of development despite maintaining its position as one of worlds factories for its high-tech and low-tech goods thanks to its modular megafactories capable of producing any manufactured good domestically if needed for customers abroad and at home. Despite the Arinian economy's high growth potential and apparent structural stability, the country suffers damage to its credit rating in the stock market because of the belligerence of various non-human states, which has an adverse effect on Ariseo's financial markets.

With a majority of the economy centered on the private sector, the largest private employment sector is in Information Technology and the Manufacturing Sector whilst the public sector remains its leading field of employment. The manufacturing sector in Ariseo remains one of the most competitive in the world despite its population and presence of larger cheaper labour pools, primarily due to its embracement of automation in jobs that Arinians do not want to do and focus on innovation.

Therefor, research and development efforts form an integral part of the Arinian Economy and ranked amongst the highest for science and engineering research papers published. It ranks high in the Global Innovation Index and possesses an extensive space program under the Ariseo Space Administration with innovations such in Low Sparkalia Orbit that allows the presence of satellites that would, normally, be beyond the rift with the presence of the Michibiki Global Navigation System.

The Arinese variant of capitalism has many distinct features: Zaibatsu enterprises are influential, and lifetime employment and seniority-based career advancement are common in the Arinese work environment. Ariseo has a large cooperative sector, with three of the world's ten largest cooperatives, including the largest consumer cooperative and the largest agricultural cooperative according to its government as of 1612 It ranks highly for competitiveness and economic freedom.

Culture

Katsurin Gardens, Tongawa Prefecture.

Historically, while the culture of Ariseo has been heavily influenced by that of its neighbours, though its participation in the world economy for decades has diversified its culture to include aspects from most countries in the wurld. Various traditional arts such as those in pottery and porcelain, dances and most importantly; Arinese theatre exists and is actively supported throught he Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

The industrialization and urbanization of Atasato have brought many changes to the way modern Atasatoans live. Changing economics and lifestyles have led to a concentration of population in major cities, especially the capital Hyeangseul, with multi-generational households separating into nuclear family living arrangements. Though a good number of people and families still live within multi-generational households, especially in the countryside.

The upper class of riseo have largely developed a unique sub-culture called "High Arinese", often incorporating Victorian influences and adhering to a strict code of honour and law. Notably as well, arranged marriages in upper class families are the norm, though those who have risen in recent years are less likely to follow such traditions but are in turn often shunned from much of the older families that dominate the halls of power in Atasato.

Ethnically, the nation is dominated by the Arinese ethnicity. Which has originated from the main island of Sokoku in ancient paleolithic times and eventually migrated to other surrounding islands. As a result, Arinese culture remains dominant across the nation. Despite this, Xinminese culture which came from the mainland remains prevelant in the eastern half of the country. Whilst the natives, the Uulkyth, have been on a steady decline.

Modern Arinese culture have been influenced by the rise of western influences within the nation, leading to popular music in modern Ariseo has been heavily influenced by foreign overseas trends, which has led to the evolution of A-pop. Despite this, traditional theatre remains popular amongst the upper class.