Marusonya

Maruguchi 丸口
City
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  The Floating City, Artist's Paradise, Perfume's Jewel, the City of Falling Stars, the City of Canals
Location of Maruguchi in Esonice
Country	Esonice
Province	Hokai
District	Greater Maruguchi
Population  (2020)
• City	844,628
• Rank	2nd in Esonice
• Metro	1,540,876
• Total	2,385,504
Demonym	Margosian
Time zone	UTC-8 (Maimedo standard time)
Post Code	ES-250

Maruguchi, also known in Anglish as Margosia, is the second most populace city of Esonice with a population estimate of 844,628 residents as of 2020. The city is built on top several wetland islands at the mouth of the Perfume River, separated by canals and linked by multiple bridges. For centuries, Maruguchi has been one of Esonice's major centres of commerce, finance, craftsmanship , fashion, gastronomy and art, and is also considered as the beating heart of the Esonian cultural identity. Maruguchi serves as the provincial capital of Hokai, and hosts many of Hokai's institutions such as its regional parliament. Together with the outer districts of the city, which have 1,540,876 residents, the total population of the metropolitan area is 2,385,504. It is believed that in the future Maruguchi together with Sumosa will form what has been dubbed as the "Greater Three Rivers Metropolitan" area which will be one of the most populated greater metropolitan areas of Esonice.

Etymology

The name of Maruguchi means "large mouth" referring to the city being located at the mouth of the Perfume River where it empties into Nagihaya bay. The city was first mentioned by Huang records as 馬路口 (Mǎlùkǒu) in the late 600s with the characters not reflecting the city's etymology in Esonian. It wasn't until the 9th century when Maruguchi first appeared as written as 丸口 that did reflect the meaning on the emergent city's name. Ever since its foundation Maruguchi held onto its name, however during Masahiko's Revolt the city was briefly renamed to 解放市 (Kaibäshi) translating to as "the city of liberation" despite protest of the city's inhabitants. However, after Masahiko's defeat the name of the city was reverted to its original name.

Maruguchi is known by various other names in different language. In Anglish, while Maruguchi is now has been the official name of the city since 1971, Maruguchi was and continues to be unofficially known as Margosia to mainly older Anglish speakers. The exonym has its origins within the Laimaic name for the city, Μαργωσσία (Margossía) which was first recorded in the texts of the Aurelian Empire in 976. The Laimaic name for the city influenced many other languages such as Aroman which adopted the name as "Marguscia", this name in turn went on to influence the names Fragrance languages have for the city. In the Lysian language, Maruguchi is known as "Margouche" while in Stillian the city is known as "Margusía". Mantellan has two names for Maruguchi, the oldest one being "Margozzia" while the name "Maragucci" being a more contemporary name originating directly from Esonian. In languages that also use the Huang alphabet, they directly adopted the Esonian writing of Maruguchi. In the Huang language Maruguchi is called "Wánkǒu" while in Lanang it's called "Oân-káu". Similar to Huang and Lanang, Korean! speakers call Maruguchi "Hwangu" and Vietnamese! speakers call it "Hoàn Khẩu". Standard Azumic shares the near exact pronunciation of Maruguchi like Esonian.

Alongside Maruguchi's names are also nicknames. The city has garnered a variety of nicknames due to its prestige. These nicknames include "the Floating City" which refers to the fact that Maruguchi is build ontop a wetlands, "The City of Canals" referring to the canals, and "The Perfume's Jewel". Other more unique nicknames include "the City of Falling Stars" referring to the city's spectacular Lantern Festival within the city and "Artist's Paradise" referring to Maruguchi being a big inspiration to many artists. In Esonian slang, the city is referred to as "the mouth".

Geography

Building Foundations

The Old City of Maruguchi is supported on several bamboo piles closely placed in the muddy ground together solidifying the ground beneath.

Transport

Waterways

A sampan on the outskirts of Maruguchi preparing to cross into the canals of the city, 19th century

After the 500s, major dredging projects were carried out across the wetlands at the mouth of the Perfume River in an effort to the raise the marshy ground above water and prevent it from sinking back down. This resulted in the creation of a series of several interconnected canals that formed the basis of a flourishing nautical culture in the area. These canals proved to not only be vital to Maruguchi's economic life, but to the inhabitants of the Perfume River as a whole as it gave way to safe passage through the wetlands into the Nagihaya Bay. Ever since, Maruguchi has become the most important commercial centre in Hokai and Esonice, serving as the Serene Kingdom's gateway to the outside wurld. 

Today, the canals continue to serve a central role economic role in the region and the transportation of goods and people within the city. Several bridges were constructed across the canals over the centuries for pedestratian uses and later cars. The latest bridge being constructed over the Perfume River, finishing construction in 2000. A total of 5 bridges have been constructed over the Maru river to link the two parts of the city together. There are over 500 bridges in total in the city.

Public transport

Trams

Inside of a typical Margosian tram

Tramlines have been constructed across the city since the 1920s, the first line being created in 1923. Since then trams have become a popular mode of public transport in Maruguchi. Travel by tram in the city is also greatly encouraged as a lot of the city, especially the Old Town has narrow streets with most being unavailable to cars, also to minimise pollution.

Cycling

Cycling is common in Maruguchi

Travel by bike has become the most popular mode of personal transportation across the city, and great effort has been made by the city to maintain this trend. Infrastructural projects were started in the early 2000s to incorporate cycling to public roads and give cyclists a safe way to travel and minimise clashes between motorists and cyclists on roads. Starting in 2010s Marusonya introduced a bike hire scheme, with over 15,000 bikes available to hire at various locations in the city. Cycling is considered to be the most effective way in minimizing environmental impact by cars.  

Culture

Cuisine

Locally made Margosian bagels