Akashi
The Republic of Akashi | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| Motto: Soaring Above | |
| Anthem: Our Shining Homeland | |
 Akashi in Tyran | |
| Capital and largest city | Hirakawa |
| Official languages | Miranian |
| Recognised regional languages | Gothic |
| Ethnic groups (2018) | |
| Demonym(s) | Akashian |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary republic |
| Kyōichi Hirayama | |
| Kōko Kaga | |
| Legislature | National Assembly |
| Independence | |
• Independence | 1 January 1900 |
| Area | |
• Total | 408,865 km2 (157,864 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2018 estimate | 10.328.627 |
• 2015 census | 10.032.864 |
• Density | 24.53/km2 (63.5/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2018 estimate |
• Total | NSD 261 billion |
• Per capita | NSD 25.310 |
| Gini (2018) |  28.0low |
| HDI (2018) |  0.907very high |
| Currency | Akashian ryō (両/㋷) (AKR) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 |
| Date format | dd-mm-yyyy (CE) |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +73 |
| ISO 3166 code | AKS |
| Internet TLD | .aks |
Akashi (Miranian: 明石 Akashi; Gothic: 𐌰ᚴ𐌰𐍊𐌴 Akaśe), officially The Republic of Akashi (Miranian: 明石共和国 Akashi kyōwakoku; Gothic: 𐌱𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌲𐌾𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌹𐌽𐍉𐌽 𐌰ᚴ𐌰𐍊𐌴 Baúrgjaraginōn Akaśe), is a country in Tyran. It is located in eastern Eracura. Neighbouring states by sea include Phonox to the south and Acrea to the north-west.
The territory of Akashi includes both mainland and islands, with most of the population concentrated in the southern plains. Hirakawa is the capital and largest city. Other major cities include Mikasa, Suzu, Rumoi, Hōrin, Kagishi, and Eikō. Akashi's highly urbanised population is majority Miranian, with a sizeable Gothic minority.
Akashi is a unitary parliamentary republic, with an elected President and legislature called the National Assembly. Sustained devolution and decentralisation have transferred significant governing powers to the regional and local levels. The country is divided into 5 provinces, in turn divided into prefectures.
Akashi is a developed country with an export-oriented economy. It is highly ranked in terms of standard of living, quality of life, human development, and political and civil liberties. It is one of the significant Miranosphere countries of Tyran, a quality reflected in its culture. It is a member of the Common Sphere and Organization of Tyrannic Nations.
Etymology
The word "Akashi" (明石) is Miranian and loosely translates as "sparkling jewel", in reference to Akashi's sizeable mineral riches.
In Gothic, the country is called "Akaśe" (𐌰ᚴ𐌰𐍊𐌴), an adaptation of its Miranian name.
One of its historical names was "Gutþiudaháims" (𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌼𐍃), Gothic for "home of the Goths". Variations of the name are found in German (Gotenheim) and Æsthurlav (Gotaranhjem) chronicles.
History
Geography
The total area of Akashi is 408.865 km2. Most of its territory is on the Eracuran mainland, and there are two islands to the south: Daishima (大島, "large island") and Shōshima (小島, "small island").
Akashi is mostly mountainous in the north, and flat to gently rolling plains in the south. The Kōgen hills stretch from the north to the coast, separating the western and eastern plains. The northern mountains are the main source of rivers, and help mark the country's international border. Daishima has a high mountain in the centre, Shiroyama (白山, "White Mountain").
Climate
Akashi has a generally temperate climate, influenced by geographical features. The north has a humid continental climate, with hot summers, cold winters, and consistent precipitation. The south has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers, mild winters, and precipitation tends to be concentrated in the summer.
Variations include alpine climate in the mountains and more tropical climate on the southern coast of Daishima and Shōshima.
Environment
Akashi's environmental legislation has been strengthened and tightened since the 1960s–1970s. It now has one of the strongest environmental protection regimes and enforcement in Tyran.
The country has a sizeable network of national parks and nature reserves, totaling 25% of territory. Conservation and waste management incorporates a nationwide mandatory recycling and waste-to-energy network.
Demographics
Akashi's population is an estimated 10,3 million as of 31 December 2018. The majority live on the mainland, and approximately 270.000 live on the islands.
Miranians constitute the majority, at 88,2% of the total population. The remainder are Goths (10,15%) and others (1,65%) — the latter including Quenminese, Italians, and Kaledarians.
A notable component of the Miranian population are konketsu (混血), those of mixed descent. Konketsu Miranians are usually descended from Miranians and ethnic groups with similar physical features, such as Quenminese and Kaledarians.
Akashi is seen by Akashians as a majority Miranian country which recognises and protects Gothic and other minority groups. Akashian identity is described as influenced by a "siege mentality" due to its geographical position and demographics. The emphasis on maintaining a primarily Miranian identity has influenced migration policy.
Languages
Miranian and sign language are the official languages of Akashi. Gothic is recognised at the provincial level and mainly used in Gothic-majority prefectures. Prefectures are legally required to accommodate other minority languages based on population level.
Bilingual education is encouraged in Akashi, with Miranian and Gothic being mandatory languages, followed later by English and French. Media quotas are implemented to ensure preservation of minority languages in their respective regions.
Religion
Akashi has constitutionally protected freedom of religion.
Akashians do not concieve of "religion" as an exclusive or formal belief system, which makes estimation of religious composition difficult. A majority of Akashians are unaffiliated to any formal religion or consider themselves believers, but practice Kisekidō.
Non-Miranian populations are generally polytheistic or animist. Most Goths practice Gothic polytheism. Other minority religions present include Megelanese traditional beliefs, Cacertian Monotheism, Kaledarian and other ethnic religions, and Haimeism.
Religion's historical importance to Akashian identity has fueled hostility towards Abrahamic religions. Goths have been hostile to attempts to spread christianity from Acrea, while Miranian authorities have similarly cracked down on proselytism and monotheism due to the perception they were a foreign threat. Various laws remain in effect to suppress monotheist religions and ban adherents from settling in Akashi, criticised abroad as a violation of freedom of religion.
Economy
Akashi has a highly developed mixed economy, characterised by high taxation, economic interventionism, an an emphasis on state-led planning. The service sector accounts for 64% of GDP, with industry providing 30%, and agriculture and raw materials providing 6%.
The currency is the ryō (両/㋷), which is part of the Common Monetary System.
Economic model
Akashi operates a developmental state economic model with elements of democratic socialism. Its modern economic history encompasses three phases:
- Import-substitution industrialisation and heavy industry buildup (1940–1970)
- The "siege economy" (包囲経済 Hōi keizai), a strongly socialist policy shift during a period of economic stagnation (1970–1982)
- Export-oriented industrial policy and consolidation of small business landscape (1982–present)
The Akashian state plays a significant role in the economy. It owns the commanding heights of the economy through state-owned enterprises, owns controlling shares in many companies, has practical control of the banking system, and uses the sovereign wealth fund and central bank to direct investment.
As a member of the Common Sphere, Akashi has adopted the Hermes Programme for economic planning, using it primarily in state-owned enterprises and to direct private economic activity based on trade. The resulting system of state direction executed by the private sector is nicknamed "centrally planned capitalism" (中央計画資本主義, chūōkeikaku shihonshugi).
Akashi has strongly worker-friendly labour law, high union density, and progressive taxation and competition law that discourage big business. Trade union membership is mandatory and automatic upon entering the workforce. The Sōhyō is the national trade union centre, and engages in tripartite collective bargaining with the government and the Keidanren.
Akashi has a strong cooperative sector. Among Common Sphere states, Akashi ranks behind Gylias and Megelan, and ahead of Delkora, in terms of cooperatives' share of employment and contribution to GDP.
The result of these features is the country's low level of income equality and high quality of life.
Energy
As of 2018, the main source of energy in Akashi are nuclear power, hydropower, and other renewable sources. The country lacks domestic energy resources apart from its rivers, and has invested heavily in nuclear power and renewable energy to counteract dependence on imports and maintain high levels of energy efficiency.
Industry
Despite the predominance of the services sector, Akashi retains significant industrial capacity.
Significant industrial sectors include automotives, electronics and consumer electronics, avionics, shipbuilding, chemical processing, textiles, food and soft drinks, and plastics.
Infrastructure and transport
Large-scale public works projects have been a significant component of Akashian industrialisation and economic stimulus programs, leaving it with a well-developed infrastructure.
Akashi's sophisticated and extensive transport network includes 1,2 million km of paved road, 25.500 km of railways and high-speed rail, and 50 airports.
Akashian cities are connected by over 250 Shinkansen high-speed trains, known for their safety and punctuality. Cities have well-developed public transport systems, including rapid transit, light rail, monorails, and buses. Numerous policies have been implemented to discourage car use and incentivise public transport, cycling, and walking.
The country has five international seaports. The number of airports was consolidated and reduced with the expansion of Shinkansen services and abolition of less-traveled domestic routes. Akashi Airlines is the national airline.
Politics and government
Akashi is a parliamentary republic. The President is the head of state, a ceremonial figurehead elected through popular vote. Executive power is exercised mainly by the Prime Minister and their cabinet.
The National Assembly is the national legislature. It is unicameral and elected every four years. It has 400 members, half elected through party-list proportional representation nationwide, and half through single-transferable voting in multi-member constituencies.
The Prime Minister is the head of government, tasked by the President with forming a government after a general election. They and the cabinet are approved by the National Assembly.
Akashi has a multi-party system in which coalition governments are the norm. In modern times it has gone through several party systems. The current one was consolidated after 1990, in which the SP and MPP are the largest parties, while multiple smaller parties ally into unofficial political blocs.
Akashian politics is noted for its collegial and cooperative atmosphere, aided by the Yurikaran consensus on major economic and social issues.
Administrative divisions
Akashi is divided into 5 provinces (国 kuni): Kagi, Matō, Kobi, Takao, and Shimachi. Each is overseen by an elected governor, legislature, and administrative bureaucracy. Each province is further divided into prefectures (郡 kōri), which similarly elect mayors and legislatures.
Provinces and prefectures have significant governing powers as a result of decentralisation and municipalisation. They collaborate with the national government in delivering public services and implementing policy decisions.
| Map | Name | Miranian | Gothic | Area | Population | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kagi | 嘉義 | ᚴ𐌰𐌲𐌹 | area | pop | capital | |
| Matō | 麻豆 | 𐌼𐌰𐍄𐍉 | area | pop | capital | |
| Kobi | 虎尾 | ᚴ𐍉𐌱𐌹 | area | pop | capital | |
| Takao | 高雄 | 𐍄𐌰ᚴ𐌰𐍉 | area | pop | capital | |
| Shimachi | 島地 | 𐍊𐌹𐌼𐌰𐍁𐌹 | area | pop | capital |
A popular mnemonic for the provinces is "Takashi Mako" (Takao, Kagi, Shimachi, Matō, Kobi), which reflects their map position in anticlockwise order.
Foreign relations
The cornerstones of Akashian foreign policy are multilateralism, international cooperation, non-alignment, and neutrality. It emphasises soft power such as economic and cultural ties, and takes part in efforts to promote democracy and diplomatic solutions to conflict in Tyran.
Akashi's closest relations are with fellow Miranosphere states, such as Kirisaki and Phonox, as well as Gylias, which has a significant Miranian presence. It is a member of the Organization of Tyrannic Nations and Common Sphere, the latter of which has central importance to policy coordination and cooperation.
Military
The Akashian National Armed Forces (明石国軍 Akashi kokugun) has three branches: the Army, Navy, and Air Force. As of 2018, it has around 275.000 active personnel and 50.000 reserve personnel in total. Defense spending is 2% of GDP.
The Armed Forces are primarily oriented towards national defense. Current military doctrine is to hold out against an invasion or blockade until relief from allied nations arrives.
Society
Akashi has a collective-oriented and generally high-context society, with emphasis on subtlety and implicit communication.
Akashian society has been shaped by its Miranian heritage and modern egalitarianism. Norms and etiquette have undergone significant liberalisation in the 20th century. The honne–tatemae distinction is less salient than in the past. Akashians use more direct and less honorific speech in Miranian. People are customarily referred to by their first names, and famous Akashians usually have nicknames formed by portmanteau of their first and last names. The majority of Goths have only a single name.
There is greater emphasis on partnerships for learning and development, manifested in senpai–kōhai and similar relations.
Norms regarding gender and sexuality are progressive. Akashian concepts of gender are sexuality are based on a spectrum, and LGBT rights are both socially accepted and protected by law. Sex work and pornography are legal and strongly regulated, with abuse, exploitation and trafficking being illegal. Akashi possesses a vibrant geisha and oiran scene, protected as part of cultural heritage. A wide variety of sex industry establishments offer a range of non-coital services.
Akashi has a thriving subcultural and fashion scene, encompassing all areas of popular culture. Subcultures are usually referred to as zoku.
Education
Akashi has compulsory and universal education, based on the Miranian model. Most students attend public schools, with private schools being limited and heavily regulated.
Compulsory education lasts nine years, including elementary school (ages 6–12) and half of secondary school (ages 12–15). Almost all children complete the remainder of secondary school. Afterwards, they can attend higher education and adult education, enter apprenticeships, or join the workforce directly.
The Akashian education system emphasises creativity, autonomy, and enjoyment of learning. Learning through play is dominant in early education, and later education is based on learning by doing and experience. Studying hours, grading systems, and schoolwork are restricted by law.
The system is recognised for fostering a highly educated and creative workforce, and encouraging lifelong learning. As of 2018, Akashi has a literacy rate of 99,9%, a university acceptance rate of over 90%, and 45% of its citizens hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Acknowledged weaknesses of the system include English language education (due to the influence of Miranian identity), lagging adaptability to alternative education methods, difficulties in Akashian students adapting to foreign educational environments, and local gaps in special education provision.
Outside commentators also criticise the strongly secular character of education, manifested in suppression of religious education and a hostile environment that discourages research about "foreign" and monotheist religions.
Health
Health care in Akashi is provided by national, provincial, and local governments.
Akashi historically operated a mixed universal health care system that included national health insurance, employer-provided insurance, and government aid for those without coverage. It has since transitioned to a single-payer healthcare system, with health care being funded directly from taxation alone.
By law, hospitals must be run as non-profit and managed by physicians. For-profit companies are not allowed to own or operate healthcare facilities. The government implements rigorous price controls on medical fees, prices, and what insurance will pay for and how much. The result is a competitive healthcare market under stringent government oversight, emphasis on preventive care, and an austere appearance to healthcare facilities.
Welfare
Akashi operates a welfare state classified as social democratic, characterised by comprehensiveness and generous provisions.
Significant recent reforms include the combination of various payments into a single program of Universal Assistance in the 2000s, followed by the conversion of Akashi's welfare system to a basic income model in the 2010s.
The state provides a basic income of ㋷30.000 per month, in conjunction with a negative income tax system. Additional complementary payments exist, including pensions, disability assistance, child benefit, parental assistance, and student assistance.
State-owned enterprises and the sovereign wealth fund also dispense monthly social dividends to citizens.
The welfare system also encompasses non-monetary and decommodification mechanisms, including parental leave, free school meals and milk, a high minimum wage and annual leave, and subsidised transportation and housing.
Culture
Akashian culture has been shaped by its Miranian heritage and Gothic minority. Modern Akashian culture is a hybrid blend of various sources, incorporating elements of traditional culture, contemporary developments, and influences from cultures such as Gylias, Megelan, Delkora, and Acrea.
Akashi is one of the leading Miranosphere states of Tyran, enjoying close ties with fellow states such as Kirisaki and Phonox. Historical circumstances and the Gothic presence have allowed it to develop a distinctive identity. Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in the 20th century has influenced Akashian lifestyles, while many traditional features have been preserved and adapted. Akashi has a developed system for the protection of cultural heritage: traditional Miranian arts and practices are subsidised, preserved, and promoted by the state.
Akashi has a thriving entertainment industry, which contributes significantly to the country's economy and soft power abroad.
Animation
Akashi is a renowned producer of anime, and has one of the largest animation industries in the Common Sphere. Anime is considered an art form, encompassing both popular entertainment and artistic experimental works.
Cinema
Akashi has a large film industry, well known to overseas audiences for particular niches such as martial arts films, kaiju, slice of life comedies and dramas, science fiction, and art films.
The country has a flourishing pornography industry, acclaimed for its positive and upbeat portrayal of sexuality. The industry is closely regulated, and legislation bans depictions of "degrading" sexual material. Censorship has stunted the development of grotesque or exploitative pornography and hentai.
Music
Akashian folk music includes Miranian and Gothic influences, as well as syntheses of the two.
Classical music culture is largely absent from the country, a consequence of national identity and hostility towards christianity. Much of the classical music "canon" is shunned due to its religious themes. One of the few exceptions is Delkoran classical and romantic music.
Pop music emerged as a cultural force in the 1960s, strongly influenced by the Gylian Invasion. Akashi's popular music scene has developed aided by ties and cultural exchange with Gylias, Kirisaki, Megelan, and Delkora. It includes thriving pop, rock, metal, electronic, dance, and experimental music scenes.
Guitar-based pop and power pop from Gylias contributed to the emergence of a power pop and pop punk scene, typified by Shonen Knife and Scandal. Many genres to have achieved international renown in the 20th century have left an impact on Akashian music, including disco and funk, jazz fusion, dance-pop, and synth-pop.
A notably successful aesthetic during the 1980s was metro pop (都会ポップ tokai poppu). Combining elements of soft rock, funk, jazz fusion, synth-pop and boogie, metro pop featured contemporary production, lush synthesizer work, emphasis on hooks, and a big city theme. Its most successful artist was Mari Takeuchi. Metro pop became an influence on Neo-Gylian Sound and city pop, and later gained renewed popularity for its nostalgic associations.
Since the 1990s, M-pop ("Miranian pop") or A-pop ("Akashian pop") has been the dominant form of popular music. It is usually sung in Miranian and features an eclectic, cosmopolitan style, incorporating and fusing numerous popular music genres from across the world, and postmodernist elements such as sampling. A-pop has been shaped by the influence of Neo-Gylian Sound and Kirisakian pop, developing close ties between scenes, and by the immense impact of Ayane Hoshino and Musex Records, considered the leading authority in Akashian pop.
A typical characteristic of A-pop is idols, young stars with a distinctive public image. Idols are primarily singers but often receive training in other areas of entertainment, making it possible for them to become all-around entertainers. Idols can also form groups.
The Akashian music industry has strong ties to Akashian nightlife, fashion, and youth culture. Cooperation throughout the entertainment industry results in strategies such as media mix, and song placements in anime, TV series, and commercials as a way to obtain exposure. Karaoke is a widely practiced cultural activity.
Literature
Akashian literature encompasses a variety of themes and genres, traditional and contemporary. Notably successful genres include slice of life stories, detective fiction, science fiction, erotic fiction, and historical fiction.
Accessible genre fiction is a staple of Akashian publishing. Recent manifestations include light novels and cell phone novels. Many of these are adapted for manga and anime.
Video gaming
Video gaming is a major industry in Akashi. The country is a significant exporter of video games and one of Tyran's largest markets for gaming.
Media
Akashi has a free and highly competitive media market. Surveys reveal high levels of media literacy, newspaper readership, radio listening, and television and internet access among the Akashian public.
AKH (明石公共放送 Akashi Kōkyō Hōsō) is the national public broadcaster, operating both radio and television networks. Private broadcasting is diverse, encompassing conventional radio and television networks, media cooperatives, and community media. Strict competition and anti-monopoly laws contribute to the thriving media landscape.
There is a wide selection of newspapers and magazines available. The most popular newspapers are Mainichi Shinbun (considered the newspaper of record), Asahi Shinbun, Kyō!, and Keizai Shinbun. Popular magazines include Shūkan Gendai, Sekai, and Akashi Kansokusha.
Sports
Football is the most popular sport in Akashi. Other popular sports include Miranian martial arts, cycling, volleyball, basketball, korfball, table tennis, and motorsport.
Holidays
Akashi uses the Gregorian calendar and Common Era system, together with the traditional Miranian month names. The majority of national holidays are secular in character, but some significant Kisekidō and polytheist festivals are included.
| Date | Name | Miranian | Gothic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | 元日 Ganjitsu | 𐍉 |
| 15 January | Coming of Age Day | 成人の日 Seijin no hi | 𐍉 |
| 19–22 March | Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日 Shunbun no hi | 𐍉 Ostara |
| 1 May | International Workers' Day | 労働者の日 Rōdō-sha no hi | 𐍉 |
| 4 May | Greenery Day | みどり(緑)の日 Midori no hi | 𐍉 |
| 5 May | Children's Day | 子供の日 Kodomo no hi | 𐍉 |
| 1 June | First Day of Summer | 夏の初日 Natsu no shonichi | 𐍉 |
| 20–21 June | Summer Solstice | 夏至の日 Geshi no hi | 𐍉 Midsummer |
| Last Saturday in June | Election Day | 選挙日 Senkyo-bi | 𐍉 |
| 15 July | Bon Festival | 盆 Bon | 𐍉 |
| 20 July | Sea Day | 海の日 Umi no hi | 𐍉 |
| 20 August | Mountain Day | 山の日 Yama no hi | 𐍉 |
| 15 September | Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日}} Keirō no hi | 𐍉 |
| 21–24 September | Autumn Equinox Day | 秋分の日 Shūbun no hi | 𐍉 Mabon |
| 10 October | Health and Sports Day | 体育の日 Taiiku no hi | 𐍉 |
| 3 November | Culture Day | 文化の日 Bunka no hi | 𐍉 |
| 21–22 December | Winter Solstice | 冬至 Tōji | 𐍉 Yule |
The equinox holidays do not have fixed dates. Their dates are not officially declared until February, to ensure accurate astronomical measurements.
1–5 May is also known as "Golden Week" (黄金の週 ōgon no shū). Due to the close proximity of International Workers' Day, Greenery Day, and Children's Day, workers and students receive the full week off.
1 June marks the start of summer vacation, as well as the official end of a legislative session. New legislatures and officeholders take office on 1 September.
Elections are usually held on the last Saturday in June, except for snap elections.