Nematsu

State of Nematsu ぬまつ国 Nematsu-koku
Flag of Nematsu Flag Imperial Seal of Nematsu Imperial Seal
Anthem:  "Zenkoku Koshin" 全国行進
Government Seal File:Nematsuseal.png
The location of Nematsu (green) off the coast of Coius (light grey). The location of Nematsu (green) off the coast of Coius (light grey).
Capital and largest city	Teien
Official languages	Nematsugo
Ethnic groups (2011)	96.1% Nematsujin 3% Songhua 0.9% other
Demonym(s)	Nematsujin
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Empress	Ayuka
• Shikken	Terada Yasunari
Legislature	National Diet
• Upper house	House of Senators
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Formation
• Empire Established	app. 500 CE
• Battle of Ichigawa	October 27, 1340
• Tsuji Constitution	November 29, 1876
• Proclamation of the Red Constitution	February 13, 1937
• Matsuura Referendum	February 18, 2017
• Terada Constitution	February 22, 2017
Area
• Total
• Water (%)	0.9
Population
• 2014 estimate	120,182,000
• 2011 census	118,912,000
• Density	256.1/km2 (663.3/sq mi)
Currency	Gorudo (Ҁ) (NMG)
Time zone	UTC+9 (NST)
Date format	dd mm yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+77
Internet TLD	.nm

Nematsu (Nematsujin: ぬまつ Nematsu), officially the State of Nematsu (Nematsujin: ぬまつ国 Nematsu-koku), is a sovereign island nation located in southern Coius, in Kylaris. Situated in the Lumine Ocean, the nation is bordered by the Sea of Nematsu to the east, the Glacial Sea to the south and the Bay of Chosŏn to the north. It shares sea borders with Songguo in the east. Nematsu is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy with an estimated population of 126 million. Nematsu is lead by a Shikken, who receives his power from the National Diet, while the Emperor acts as a figurehead.

Etymology

The word "nematsu" means "place of the sleeping giant" - which reflects the belief that the islands were formed when the kami Yizaku-no-Okami cast a spell on the giant Saku which caused him to sleep. According to the Nematsu Shoki, Yizaku-no-Okami then covered the giant's body with land and lead the Nematsujin to settle there.

The Euclean name for Nematsu, Odaue, comes from the Gaullicized name of the Odawa clan. The Odawa were the first Nematsujin whom were contacted by Charles de Bas-Verlois on his expedition throughout Coius.

History

Early History

The first settlers of Nematsu arrived via a landbridge approximately 40,000 years ago, as Kylaris warmed the landbridge was submerged beneath the waters of Sea of Honghai. These ancient people etched out a primitive existence on the island for many thousands of year, gradually developing into an agricultural society based on rice farming introduced from Songguo. Originally a family based society, gradually as families grew larger and larger there emerged a distinct caste of lord and subject. From there, Nematsu developed into a patchwork of tiny clans and kingdoms by 500 CE. Much of what we now of this period is semi-mythical and ultimately derived from ancient Kamido texts, like the Nematsu Shoki.

Early Feudal Era

The unification of the many kingdoms and clans began in the early 5th century when Heike, Privilege (lord) of the Rei clan and a semi-mythical figure conquered a neighbouring clan. The Rei clan were and still are particularly prestigious because they claimed descent from Yama-no-Okami, goddess of the moon. Heike was said to be a skilled ruler, and would incorporate the defeated into his armies. However he would die in battle before succeeding in completing his conquest of the main island, Kashima. His son, Aoi, an equally skilled ruler defeated his main rival but he too perished in battle not long after his ascension. His wife, Rin, a strong willed woman declared herself regent for her young son, Nekoji. She moved the capital of her court from Heddokawa to Teien, an easily defended village in the hills.

From there she got to work. She declared her son to the be Emperor of Nematsu (ぬまつ帝 Nematsu Mikado.) She demanded all the Privileges of Kashima come and pay him homage, the few who didn't were declared war upon, defeated, their lands confiscated and rewarded to members of the Rei clan who then propagated their own clans. She convinced the priests of Kamido, the folk religion, to accept her claim of divine descent, from the goddess of the moon thereby establishing the legitimacy of the imperial family. She posthumously declared her dead husband and father-in-law to be Mikado as well. She furthered her husband's conquests and united the main isle under control of Nematsu.

When her son came of age he showed little interest or aptitude for war, and being the precocious youth he was, he instead put his efforts into art and poetry. During his long reign (seventy-nine years according to official history) culture and technology flourished in Nematsu, though he delegated more and more power to the Privileges. His son, Heishan, took a more proactive approach to governance, but he was too late. The Privileges had become unchecked during his father's reign and now commanded significant armies of their own - and struggled against one another regularly. Calling upon atavistic loyalties his grandmother had cultivated, he took up war against the most powerful Privilege, of the Sepan clan. Heishan was victorious and restored imperial power briefly, for approximately 200 years the Mikado enjoyed absolute rule over Nematsu, until it began to decay by the 8th century and collapsed during the 9th century.

First Shogunate Era

In 913 he Uchi clan and the Iwa clan began to fight over the small town of Riponki, famed for its porcelain craftsmen, and a vital strategic point that commanded the fertile Riponki Valley. The Riponki Disturbance, as it was called, boiled over, drawing in all clans. By the time it was finished the Uchi were victorious. A fifth of the Privileges had been executed by both sides and their lands annexed by the victors. The Emperor, Beisho, concerned that the Uchi coalition had offended the kami (gods) with their bloodshed ordered them to appear at the capital for judgement.

The Uchi brought an army instead, and forced the Emperor to name their leader, Uchi Katsu, as Shogun. Beisho then committed suicide, after his suicide the custom of Seppukku would evolve.The position of Shogun originally was bestowed upon the Emperor's most important military commander. The Shogun was the personal and battlefield leader of the imperial armies. The wars against the neighbouring islands which had yet to submit to the Emperor were also under the Shogun's command. After Uchi Katsu was named Shogun it evolved into a political position as well, in effect a military dictator. For the next three-hundred years the Emperor would struggle with the Shogun for absolute rule, so often actual administration was left to a neutral regent or Shikken. The tension finally resulted in the Oi War in 1167. Both sides were weakened to the point of exhaustion. With one swipe of the katana a Privilege named Ashe Noburu defeated both parties and forced the new Emperor, a nephew of the previous to name him Shogun.

Hong Dynasty

In 1200 the Hong dynasty from Songguo attempted to invade Nematsu and overthrow the ruling Shogun,Ashe Reki. A fierce and bloody war, the Ryuoi War, took place, and after the decisive sinking of the Songhuan fleet at anchor in Asabiro led by Ashe himself, the Songhuan forces were swiftly defeated, and Songhuan forces began to loose the upper hand. However, the attack left the Shogun dead, and he had no heirs.

The Khataghi hordes would become an issue in Songguo in 1305. Slowly the Hong dynasty began to crumble, in 1346 a Privilege named Hiyeki Ryota was able to defeat the last major Songhuan force, and proclaimed a "restoration" of imperial power. Though in reality one feudal government handed power to another as Hiyeki was named Shogun. Hiyeki spent the next four years purging Nematsu of Songhuans, both invaders and ethnic.

Second Shogunate Era

The Hiyeki Shogunate would bring peace to Nematsu for the first time in generations. The country prospered. The arts, music, religion and technology flourished. The Hiyeki pacified the Privileges by putting them at work campaigning to unite the rest of the islands under the Imperial Banner. In 1355 the last Songhua loyalists were defeated.

The Hiyeki proclaimed a very strict code of honour, etiquette and tradition upon the country in order to cement their own rule. This code, the Nematsu Tejun still influences social norms today. The Emperor lost any real power during this period, only ceremonially appointing the officers of state. Lavish palaces were built across the country for nobility and the priests of Kamido enjoyed patronage from the state, and in return gave the Hiyeki Shoguns legitimacy. The Hiyeki moved the capital of the Shogunate to Shiraoi in 1567, while the Emperor remained in Teien.

Nematsu was discovered by Gaullica in (date) and the Shogun was quick to begin trade with the foreigners. However, This would be the downfall of the Hiyeki, as the Privileges obtained guns and with their new weaponry began to fight each other again. The Shogun, Hiyeki Iyama stepped in and attempted to pacify the belligerents once more. The Privileges instead revolted then slew the Shogun. His clan responded by initiating the Hiyekiseni War, which they would lose. From the burning wreck of the Hiyeki Shogunate a new power would arise in 1803.

The last Shogunate was formed by the Baku clan after they defeated their rivals. Though initially they brought prosperity, the regime soon collapsed into clan-based feuds. The Baku clan had little land of their own, and thus relied on the Privileges for support. The Baku Shogunate through careful political maneuvering held onto power until the Tsuji Restoration.

Tsuji Restoration

Increasingly frustration about the lack of societal and technological progress brought on a final revolt against a shogun by the Privileges. A civil war, called the Shinchoku War began in 1866 and lasted until 1876 when finally the Progressive Privileges stormed the Shogun's palace and demanded his resignation in 1876, he without any other options relented and the revolutionaries proclaimed the "restoration of power to Emperor Tsuji." Though in reality, power transferred from the Shogun to another Privilege, Ume Hiroto who proclaimed himself Shikken, and began a vast modernization campaign. He got the Privileges to forfeit their lands in exchange for a title and an income from the state. He cemented the new regime by using Kamido to promote worship of the Emperor and national unity and imported technology from Euclea.

Imperial Era

Hiroto began a massive drive to modernize Nematsu. Beginning with passing the Tsuji Constitution in 1876, which drew heavily upon aspects from the Gaullican governments and modeled closely after them, he was able to placate the Privileges by giving them a place in the Emperor's council, and having an elected lower house. Emperor Tsuji was given considerable power insofar as to list him as the source of sovereign power. Voting rights were extended to include all landholding adult males, a considerable increase from previous years. Opening up to increased trade with Songhua and Euclean powers rapidly industrialized Nematsu, and the population from 1876 to 1930 grew from 40 million to 85 million. Nematsu began to modernize its military with the aid of Gaullican officer Grégoire Bouteiller, transforming it into a potent fighting force. Nematsu also rapidly modernized its then-wooden navy to Euclean standards with assistance from shipbuilders in (TBT). Nematsu, becoming increasingly imperialist and nationalist, launched a surprise attack on neighboring Songgou in the First Nematsujin-Songhua War. Nematsu was able to heartily win the under-prepared Songgou, and assert dominance over southern Coius, though with little real territorial gains. Tensions with Songgou would continue to remain heated, culminating in the Seccond Nematsujin-Songhua War, which itself would become a theater of the wider Great War.

Great War

Nematsu, upon the outset of the Great War, initially had aimed to consolidate their power and remain out of the war. However, Songhuan attacks on Nusantara, a nation which Nematsu had close ties to, rapidly changed this outset. After a period of massive military mobilization, the Nematsujin Imperial Army and Navy launched a crushing invasion of mainland Songgou, which crippled the ill-prepared defenders and diverted resources from the Nusantaran front. Songgou's fleet, inadequate compared to Nematsujin advances, was near totally destroyed in the fighting. Nematsujin forces attacked Songgou with such ferocity that resistance movements turned the rapid push into a drawn-out guerrilla war, in part which inspired the invading soldiers to commit atrocities such as the Rape of Qingzhou. Occupying forces were incredibly cruel, and allegations of crimes against humanity were made against Nematsujin leaders, including the Emperor Genmei. Many of these leaders were tried and convicted after the war.

Buckling under the sheer numbers of Songhuan forces and the resistance movements disabling further progression, Nematsujin advances began to be rolled back in 1927. A coordinated offensive by Songhuan forces took back the capital of Dongjing. Aided and supplied by Asteria and Negara, Nematsujin Imperial Army forces were continually pushed back. The Imperial Navy, as of then bearing the motto "Indomitable", suffered a series of blows from Kaxakh naval forces, including the crippling of it's prided battleship Sundaryu. By 1935, Nematsujin advances had been pushed back completely, and preparations for a land invasion were made.

Post-War and Modern History

(WIP)

Government and Politics

Administrative Divisions

Nematsu is divided into 5 provinces, X number of prefectures, and 1 Special Administrative District.

Otomoka(おともか)-Capital Yahayako

Yanagiba(やなぎば)- Capital Teien

Taigenten(たいげんてん)- Capital Heddokawa

Mikajima(みかじま)- Capital Yamato

Sakinoshima(さきのしま)- Capital Mutsuri

Major islands:

Youshin (鷹森)

Majiwara (マジワラ)

Mikajima (三ヶ島)