Zanaro

The Empire of Zanaro Koto'Ara no Zanaro
Flag Imperial Coat of Arms
Motto: "Strength is the Mediator of Peace"
Anthem: "For The Koto'Ara"
Official map of the Empire of Zanaro
Capital	Torman
Largest city	Torman
Official languages	Zanarite
Recognised national languages	Zanarite
Recognised regional languages	Zanarite, Ashahierun, Ositijanii
Ethnic groups (2011)	Zanarite 86.32% Ashahierun 5.26% Ositijanii 4.73% Others 4.69%
Demonym(s)	Zanarite
Government	Federal Monarchy Aristocracy Federation
• Kotonashi	Kazuto Kurohiun II
Empire
• The Founding of Torman	400bce
• Founding of the Dai'Ara of Karasa	April 13th, 327bce
• First Koto'Ara of Zanaro	November 20th, 234ce
• Sha'Gunate of Zanaro	March 15th, 1000ce
• The Second Koto'Ara of Zanaro	August 11th, 1510ce
• The Third Koto'Ara of Zanaro	May 12th, 1900ce
Population
• 2014 estimate	32,458,000 (27)
• 2016 census	32,458,045
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$664,000,281,945.90
• Per capita	$20,457.19
Currency	The Imperial Credit (TIC)
Date format	ddmmyyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+08
ISO 3166 code	ZN
Internet TLD	.zin

The Koto'Ara of Zanaro

The Government of Zanaro

The government of Zanaro is overseen by a massive Imperial Bureaucracy that ensures all aspects of the nation are run in accordance with the will of the Kotonashi. To achieve this various levels of Peerage exist, as well as regional divisions for the increased efficiency of administration of the government at all levels of society. The Kotonashi is the executive and primary authority of the government and is the reigning monarch.

Each subject region is ruled over by it's own sovereign who in turn sends a representative (or multiple depending) to the Imperial Diet to represent their interests on the national stage. The local sovereign rules over their region in accordance to the regions laws and regulations, allowing each region to be slightly different than the others.

When the Kotonashi dies and the heir is to ascend the throne they must first be confirmed by the Imperial Diet. After being confirmed all members of the Imperial Diet are the first to pledge their loyalty to the new Kotonashi. In the case a Kotonashi is not confirmed the next in line will be automatically confirmed to the throne and become the new Kotonashi.

Government Overview

The Koto'Ara of Zanaro is overseen by a combination of a massive Imperial Bureaucracy as well as being heavily divided up into smaller feudalistic chunks. The combination of bureaucratic and feudalistic rule has led to many complications in government over the years, including infighting between various levels of government and the bureaucracy about who has authority over certain projects. When these get to heated these issues appear before the Imperial Diet who have to make a decision regarding who has authority in the situation based upon precedent and case-law. In cases where they cannot make a decision the Kotonashi must make a ruling as the absolute authority of the nation.

The highest level of the nation is the Koto'Ara which is ruled over by the Kotonashi, and overseen by the Imperial Diet. This is also where the Imperial Bureaucracy is dictated from as the Bureaucracy is seen as an extension of the Kotonashis will. Beneath the Koto'Ara are the Inpuku and the In'Ara. These are semi-independent federal regions that are ruled by local sovereigns. The Inpuku are further divided into Ara, which are divided into Ka-Ara, which are divided into Omachi, which are finally divided into Chomen. Chomen is the only level where non-nobility have any leadership as the Chomen have a citizen council that advises the noble who rules over the Chomen from their noble estate. The In'Ara are divided in a similar matter at the Inpuku with the biggest difference being that they start at the Ka-Ara level instead of the Ara level.

The Imperial Diet

The Imperial Diet consists of three Representatives from each of the Great Houses (one for each family), and two Representatives from the Lesser Houses (one for each family). These representatives are typically selected by the sovereign of the region, but some regions may dictate other ways of selecting these representatives. The Kenjin of each Ara also elect from among their number a Kensai to the Imperial Diet, these Kensai cannot vote but instead serve as advisers, staff, and bodyguards to the Representatives of the Imperial Diet. The Imperial Diet will debate various ideas for implementation into law, these ideas are formed into bills which will be debated further and refined further, once a 3/4 majority of the Diet supports a bill to become law it is sent to the Kotonashi/Kotonashi-Ko, who will then decide whether to imbue it with Imperial Authority and make it a law or else to dismiss it. If dismissed the bill will not become a law, but the diet can further improve the bill in the hope of having the Kotonashi/Kotonashi-Ko approve it. The Imperial Diet also hosts several important positions that are granted to various members of the Diet by the Kotonashi/ko.

Imperial Diet Positions

• The Voice of the Kotonashi/ko: This position is in charge of starting and ending all meetings, as well as bring the Diet to order whenever the Kotonashi/ko is going to address the Diet as a whole. This position also has the power of two votes on the Diet instead of the typical one vote.
• Hand of the Kotonashi/ko: The Hand is in charge of ensuring the various minutes of the Imperial Diet's meetings are recorded, as well as that proper precedent and procedure are followed for all meetings. The Hand also receives two votes instead of the typical one vote on the Diet.

The Imperial Bureaucracy

The Imperial Bureaucracy is divided into various departments, those departments are further divided into ministries, which are further divided into agencies. This large bureaucratic system is primarily manned by nobles from various families throughout the Koto'Ara at the department and ministry levels with the agencies having a higher percentage of non-nobility filling its ranks. It originally existed as a way to maintain a centralized power and authority, but over time was used as a way to ensure the compliance of the growing nobility. The Imperial Bureaucracy has allowed for the Koto'Nashi to maintain power at the expense of some inefficiency, corruption, and nepotism.

The Imperial Caste Structure

The Imperial Caste Structure was developed over many generations, but the existence of the Royal Family traces itself to the founding of the First Koto'Ara in (year). The position of the Great Houses, and nobility in general, has fluctuated throughout the history of Zanaro, but with the founding of the third Koto'Ara the Imperial Caste Structure found itself constructed, and enshrined in the Imperial Constitution. This Constitution is the basis for the Zanarite Governmental structure, and social order.

How did Nobility come to exist?

It is believed nobility came from the early tribal days of Zanarite tribesmen with the Chieftains of the various tribes eventually forming grand dynasties and eventually creating the nobility of the modern era.

Modern Nobility

Zanaro has long been ruled by Nobles, with the precursor Dai'Ara [i](Kingdoms)[/i] having also been led by Nobles. For many millennia Nobility was only attained through birth, but as the merchant class grew more and more wealthy and more and more powerful Nobility was able to be purchased so long as they swore loyalty to a house. This has led to Noble families not only ruling the government but also owning and operating the largest of corporations. When the third Koto'Ara was formed this practice was ended, and the entire economic system reworked. It is still possible for non-nobles to become nobility through a special process known as the Right of Ascension.

Regional Division

The Koto'Ara of Zanaro is divided into 56 Ara's, each Ara is contained within an Inpuku or is a semi-independent Ara known as an In'Ara. In'Puku's and In'Ara's have slightly different regional divisions.

Zanaro's Economy

The economy of the Koto'Ara is a mixture of limited capitalism, state capitalism, and socialism depending on the business/industry. Healthcare (medical and dental), utilities, and insurance are all socialized. Most industries are under state capitalist control. Most commercial industries are privately owned and operated. Each major part of the economy is overseen by a major 'Company' that is run by a noble lord/lady in service to the nation. Energy production is primarily natural gas, and a variety of renewable sources (eg: Solar, Wind, Tidal) with the intention to be fully renewable within ten years.

Zanaro's economy specializes in the production of various defensive military technologies, and weapons systems. These include ships, and aircraft. In addition the nation is well known for its advancements in the software and computer sciences. These advancements are typically leveraged for the benefit of the military industrial complex, but there is a growing demand for electronic media in the form of video games. Zanaro continues to make huge strides in the field of Renewable Energy and has begun to export its completed systems to other nations.

• Economy Type: Service/Manufacturing
• GDP: 664 billion

Specialization

• Science- Renewable Energy
• Information Technology- Cyber Security
• Defense- General Naval Systems
• Defense- Stealth Airplanes
• Information Technology- Software

Major Imports Fossil Fuels, industrial metals, civilian vehicles, and food stuffs.

Zanaro's Military

The military makes up approximately 1% of the population of Zanaro. It is a highly trained and well equipped military force focusing on small fire teams, and naval forces. Due to their naval specialization the army focuses mostly in the defense of the nations capital, and official military parades. Their expeditionary forces specialize in quick strikes and being mobile, allowing them to strike and move quickly, but they are not very effective at holding ground at one location for an extended period of time. A vast majority of the military exists in the form of the Navy and Marine forces, with the Army and Air-force being far smaller. The Military of Zanaro uses only one ranking structure for the whole of its military forces. This was done so as to create less confusion and conflict between the various military branches in service to the Kotonashi. In addition it sets a clear line of authority in joint operations with certain branches having higher authority in situations of shared rank.

The Zanarite military is flawed in that it is dominated by nepotism throughout the officer core. A vast majority officers are members of the nobility, either through birth, or through becoming a Kenjin. Officers who are not members of the Nobility are very unlikely to attain any major post or position, instead relegated to secondary positions, rarely attaining anything higher than O-4. Due to this nepotistic mentality among the higher ranking members of the Kenjin rarely attain ranks higher than O-6. The Zanarite ground forces focuses more on being a quick mobile force, which keeps them from being particularly effective in a head on head ground fight, they prefer to be on the move. Tanks and slower moving vehicles are typically in rare usage as such, reducing their capability to fight in traditional ground warfare.

History of Zanaro

The Norunda Archipelago has long been inhabited by human beings who have often fought over the limited resources the islands could easily provide to hunter-gatherer cultures. The islands are covered in the blood of near constant warfare, fighting, assassinations, and sacrifices. The history of Zanaro is intricately tied to the islands, and will forever be tied to them.

Language of Zanaro

The Zanarite language is often viewed as a deeply complex language due to it's varieties of forms and conjugations based entirely off of your social position compared to another's.