北海領土民主的王国 (Democratic Kingdom of Kinami)

The Democratic Kingdom of Kinami (officially 北海領土民主的王国 (Kinamiryōdo minshuteki oukoku, lit: The Democratic Kingdom of the Northern Seas Territories), commonly known as Kinami, is an insular country in northernmost Hikto. It’s player is Jompiter.It encompasses an archipielago of 9 islands: Nandaitō (南大島県), Nishimori (西森県), Higashimori (東森県), Yamagatsu (山月県), Hoshimi (星見県), Seizayama (星座山県), Hokkyoku (北極県), Aosuisei (青彗星県) and Hakumi (白海県).

The islands were fist settled by the Japanese Empire in 1146AD. The islands became an independent kingdom in 1198, and became isolated because of location. While pacifist, the Kingdom had a strong army for defense against any kind of invasion that proved useful multiple times throughout the centuries.

First settlements (1146-1198)
The oldest known settlement is from the year 353AD and is believed to be from vikings. However, it wasn’t until the year 1146 that it was colonized by the Empire of Japan. The first settlement was made in modern-day Kaitō and for the following 50 years the empire exploited the massive forests and made mines, but the harsh and unforgiving winters and the remote location made them loose interest. The inhabitants, led by the would-be king Shoto I, proclaimed independence and the formation of the Kinami Kingdom. The Japanese Empire found out years later, as they were paying absolutely no attention to Kinami.

Kingdom of Kinami (1198-1982)
The islands became independent in 1198, and formed the Kingdom of Kinami with capital in Kaitō. Due to the remote location and difficult access, the Kingdom remained mainly isolationist, though it maintained sporadic contact with nordic countries such as Norway or Finland, that introduced European culture and architecture into the country. The royal family did not have any blood relations with any of the european Grand Houses, even though union by marriage was attempted a few times by the Bourbons and the Austrias. The Kingdom developed a strong pacifist behavior throughout the years, though it still mantained a military for defense purposes. Most of the population lived in the capital and surrounding areas, with only 25% percent of the total population living elsewhere. The Kinami Royal Castle (北海王立城) was constructed in 1332, replicating northern european architecture, and since then it has held the royal family. It is in the mountains that surround the capital and has only one access, making it very difficult to invade. However, the royal family went down to the capital almost daily as to not become isolated from their people. This made for a very close connection between the king and the people from the city.

While the history of the kingdom is rather uneventful, there are some events of note. The first is 1527-1537 crisis, caused by an extremely harsh winter that left most people without any food, and that lasted 10 long years. The population was reduced to a third, and even the royal family was left without food as Queen Runa I decided to sell the royal family’s riches to feed everyone. The crisis was resolved with the arrival of a warm period and the help of the former Southern Iles. The second event was the invasion attempt by the South Iles in 1601. The Royal Army, led by General Kamiko Hiri, succeeded in warding off the Southern Iles’ forces with minimal losses. The Southern Iles were preparing to attack again but a civil war broke out and the Kinami Kingdom was left alone.

The first university in Kinami, the 海東都国立大学 (Kaitō Public University) was founded in 1711 and contains one of the largest libraries in the world, the 海東都国立大学図書館 (Kaitō University Library), with more than 150 million individual items.

The Kingdom has remained unchanged for a long time, as kings and queens go through the throne. This has made for a peaceful country that is centered around the simple things of life. However, in the last two centuries, and because of the founding of multiple universities, it has experienced an academic and technological advancement. In 1965 King Karos I announced a plan for modernizing the country, starting with the construction of the Hoshimi National Telescope on top Shitasei Mountain, in the island of Hoshimi.

This plan was then made official by King Karos II after the death of King Karos I in 1967 with the name of New Advancement Plan (新昇進設計). The Plan included projects for new universities, developments in the industrial sector of Higashimori and investments into research. In terms of diplomacy, a embassy for Kinami was offered in any Estate that wold allow it, and the capital, Kaito, was offered as a place for embassies of any country. Though most of the population accepted the measures, some sectors objected. The biggest one was the objection that more industries in Higashimori will lead to pollution and the destruction of Higashimori's famous forests, although this fact had not yet been proved by science.

In 1979, the Fossil Fuel Act, that permitted the use of fossil fuels by all industries without tax as part of the New Advancement Plan, was met with enormous protests across the country. The Kinami Democratic Movement, led by an anonymous leader, started to gain followers by the thousands with the argument that the bill could have been prevented if there was some sort of representation system, eventually turning the protests into a call for democracy. After two months of daily protests, the King finally accepted to meet the anonymous leader of the movement, who turned out to be his own Head of Government, Mikato Aona, but with a different, more colorful, hat. The King was, to say the least, surprised. For a year and a half they prepared the new democratic regime in a period known as the Transition, and on December 12nd 1981, the first Kinami Constitution was approved.

Democratic Kingdom of Kinami (1982-)
The 1981 Kinami Constitution described a unicameral constitutional monarchy. The legislative power would be held by the Senate, with 242 senators elected by direct vote, the executive power by the Chancellor and the Ministers, elected by the Senate, and the King also had vote within this assembly. The judicial powers would be held by tribunals. Elections were held in January 12nd, a month after the approval of the Constitution.

Nandaitō (南大島県)
南大島県 (Nandaitōken, lit: the Big Southern Island) is the main island of the Kinami Republic and the first one to be colonized by the Japanese Empire. It's capital is Kaitō (海東). Other important cities are Kawaguchi (川口町) and Ishimori (石森町).

It was the first island to be discovered and colonized by the Japanese and since then it has been the central island of the Kingdom. The Royal Castle and the Government are in Kaitō. Moreover, its proximity to Savia and Kromelia has made it into one of the trade centers of the Kingdom.

The center of the island is filled with the Hakumine Range (白峰山脈), one of the biggest in Kinami. Kaitō is located in the easternmost side of the range.

Nishimori (西森県)
西森県 (Nishimoriken, lit: the Province of the Western Forest) is the island east of Nandaitō. It's capital is Kobayashi (小林市). It is called Nishimori because 70% of it is covered in forests. It is, along with Higashimori and Seizayama, one of the main sources of lumber of Kinami.

Higashimori (東森県)
東森県 (Nishimoriken, lit: the Province of the Eastern Forest) is the island east of Nishimori. It's capital is Ryokuya (緑野市). In the same way as Nishimori, it is mostly covered in forests, hence its name.

While it is a great source of lumber, its main specialty is fabrication, as it is the industrial center of Kinami.

Yamagatsu (山月県)
山月県 (Yamagatsuken, lit: the Moon Mountain province) is the island east of Higashimori. It's capital is Kaimon (開門市), and another importan city is Kasumimori (霞森町).

The proximity to Kromelia made Yamagatsu one of the main trade centers of Kinami, with most activity centered around the Kaimon Port. It is also one of the islands with more fishing produce.

The name of the island comes from the fact that almost all year round the Moon aligns with the Tsukimine Mountain's peak when watching from Kaimon.

Hoshimi (星見県)
星見県 (Hoshimiken: the province of star-seeing) is the island north of Yamagatsu. It's capital is Hoshimoto (星本市). The island takes its name from the fact that it is the place with the clerest sky in Hikto, and perfect for star-seeing. That is why Hoshimi is the home of the Hoshimi National Telescope (星見国立望遠鏡), on top of Shitasei Mountain (下星山).

The island also has an incredibly diverse ecosystem, and most of it, especially in the west, is protected by the Government.