Hyokoku

Hyokoku, officially the Republic of Hyokoku (Hyojin: Hyokoku kyōwakoku, Sakaian: Malo Awai i Hyokoku) is a sovereign state in Northern Balteca bordering Dunica and Almeria to the south. Hyokoku's west coast sits on the Dunic Ocean, while the country's eastern border is dominated by the Ravenna Sea and the Three Lakes. Hyokoku's capital and largest city is Akato, followed in population by Kitayama, Sakekawa, Tenaklan, and Sancho. Hyokoku is often referred to by it's nicknames the "Leopard Republic" and the "Leopard Coast."

Etymology
The name "Hyokoku" is a combination of the Seke characters "豹," meaning Leopard, and "国" meaning country. Thus, the full transliteration of the name can be equated to "Leopard Country," or "Land of the Leopards." The term "Hyojin," used to refer to the country's predominant Seke ethnic group comes from the characters for "豹" and "人," meaning person or people. Hyokoku takes it's name from the Great Northern Leopard, the country's national animal and an apex predator in the Ryukiba Mountains with a significant presence in Huascan animism and other indigenous religions.

Pre-history
Evidence of human civilization in Hyokoku dates back to the year 25,000 BT. The continent's first inhabitants likely arrived over a land bridge that may have once linked Balteca to East Artopa, and the earliest example of the agricultural revolution can be traced to the Nakei Valley, where the Proto-Huascans began growing maize around 23,000 BT.

The Huascan Empire and Pre-Seiryu Hyokoku
By the time of the arrival of the Seiryu Expedition in 1645, the Huascan peoples of Hyokoku's west coast had risen to become the most prominant state in northern Balteca, ruling from their capital Ahmor in the Ryukiba Mountains. Huascan civilization was advanced for it's time, with Ahmor existing has a highly developed and advanced city of about 500,000 inhabitants. At the height of it's power, the Huascan Empire stretched throughout the mountainous regions of Hyokoku, and was beginning to exert it's influence over the Southern Plains. Huascan civilization, and that of the surrounding Naholan and Tipetlan peoples, was based around ritual sacrifice to animalistic spirits, and most cultures in the region were known for their martial prowess.

The Seiryu Expedition
In October of 1645, ethnic Seke Theodaritans fleeing religious persecution in Sakaro boarded three ships and led an expedition that would reach the west coast of Hyokoku in the spring of that year. The expedition founded the city of Sakekawa near the northern edge of Ascira Bay, and they quickly established relations with the native Huascans. Subsequent expeditions rapidly increased the population of Sakekawa and led to the development of further Theodaric settlements across the region. This early period was marked by tense relations with the natives, who suffered greatly from Sakaian diseases brought to the continent by the Theodaric colonists. As well, missionaries established to convert local populations angered the Huascan King Amman Kahwei, who burned several missions and massacred Theodaric priests in October of 1657.

In 1658, the Shingan Constitution was signed in the city of Akato, declaring Hyokoku to be an independent republic for the first time. The anti-native militarist Yamauchi Ihaia won the first elections for Chancellor in 1659. Yamauchi lead the Hyojins against the Huascans at the Battle of Choketualla, where the Huascan army was annihilated at the hands of a smaller Hyojin force armed with muskets. Small-scale clashes between the Huascans the Hyojin continued throughout the 1670s and 1680s, with the Huascans gradually being pushed north as their population was decimated by outbreaks of Typhoid and Syphilis. When a Hyojin army laid siege to Ahmor in 1683, the empire's population had fallen from about 3,500,000 people to just 500,000.

The Sacking of Ahmor was a major turning point in Hyojin history, as the settlers and their Noholan and Tipetlan allies pillaged the Huascan capital and stole millions of dollars worth of gold and jewels, killing almost the entire population and leveling the city. The Huascan peoples were subsequently scattered across Hyokoku, fighting bloody skirmishes with their indigenous rivals in the east and being forced into reservations in the west.

The Industrial Revolution and Machok's Rebellion
Hyokoku's mining and textile industries rapidly began to expand against the backdrop of the industrial revolution in the 1840s. The country's first railroad, which ran from Kitayama to Akato, opened in 1856, linking Hyokoku together as never before. The period of widespread economic growth was followed by the adoption of many western styles of art and culture, including clothing, due to the influence of Dunica and Almeria. Even so, the Hyojin remained steadfast in preserving key aspects of their heritage and identity.

While this was occurring, the plight of native peoples triggered widespread outrage across the indigenous community, as tribes in the east were increasingly forced onto reservations while their populations were decimated by disease and violence. The Tipetlan chief Machok was able to unify the Tpetlan, Naholan, and remaining Huascan tribes in the Southern Plains region in 1878, and he led a violent revolt against Hyojin authority throughout the summer of that year. Machok inflicted devastating defeats against the Leopard Army at the battles of Mount Shoho and Broken Wing, triggering a crisis for the Hyojin government. Before his defeat at the Battle of Katsuso Pass, Machok had killed an estimated 1,500 Hyojin soldiers and 3,000 preachers, though he was known for sparing the lives of civilians and leaving Hyojin settlements unharmed.

Following Machok's defeat, the last bastions of indigenous resistance were crushed by the Hyojin government, who forced the remaining tribes onto reservations and relocated tens of thousands of indigenous children to Theodaric "residential schools." An unknown number of children were subject to widespread acts of physical and sexual violence, though the Hyojin government has never investigated the allegations.

The World War and Foundation of DOTO
Hyokoku remained a neutral power during the World War, and was a founding member of the Dunican Ocean Treaty Organization in 1942.

Culture
Many aspects of Hyojin culture and society are inherited from Sakaro. Even so, Hyojin people have developed their own customs and traditions, and unlike the Sakaians, are largely Theodaric. Hyojin culture can most broadly be described as valuing honor, hard work, and loyalty. Family, and loyalty to family, are major aspects of the way Hyojin people are raised and behave. Hyojin children clean their schools before heading home, and teachers are treated with immense respect. Likewise, elders and ancestors are to be obeyed and honored, and offerings are made to the shrines of deceased relatives during the Sosen Matsuri, a religious holiday in autumn. Hard work manifests itself through the Hyojin expression “one mind, one goal,” which emphasizes the importance of staying committed to, and mastering, a single task before moving on to tackle anything else. Hyojin children are taught that, when faced with a challenge, they should never give up, and that they should search for other ways of resolving it until they succeed.

The modern Hyojin people are descended from, the directly related to, the Seke peoples of Sakaro. The use term "Hyojin" is complicated, as the Hyojins view themselves as a separate nationality from the Seke, who are Sakaian, but they also consider themselves to be of the same ethnicity. The modern Hyojin language is almost exactly the same as Sekenese, though it can be written either in romanized characters, or in the traditional brush stroke character system interchangeably, and most Hyojin citizens are proficient in reading and writing both.

Modern Hyokoku
In the past 50 years, Hyokoku has undergone a period of dramatic social and economic change. Once a land of buttoned up and conservative Theodoritans, fighting for their survival on a hostile frontier, the Hyokoku of 1950 is a metropolitan country bursting at the seams with the marvels of the modern era. The rise of “koku swing,” as it’s called around Balteca began in the 1920s, spearheaded by mixed-race musicians like Sato Akalan and Cuetzpallee. Though the government may have once sought to censor it, koku swing has taken the country by storm, and dance halls are now filled with teenagers dancing to the brass tones of Hyojin big bands. The country’s growing middle class has created a generation more prosperous than any that’s come before it, supported by a stable job market. As the Old World’s colonial system begins to crack, resource-rich states like Hyokoku are moving quickly to find their place in the new world economy.Hyojin companies, once focused entirely on the domestic market, are beginning to see success abroad. Sumatsu, a major industrial zaibatsu based out of Sakekawa,  has become a dominant arms contractor for the Dunican government, and other corporations are now seeking to find similar successes elsewhere. In politics, Chancellor Kobashigawa Hideaki's liberals are entering their 15th year as the ruling party in the Shokkai, and calm stability has beat out impassioned rallying cries in the halls of the Seifu. The public, meanwhile, is shielded from dangerous and radical thoughts by the benevolent and omnipresent hand of the government’s Tokko thought police.

Government and Politics
The Hyojin government functions as a parliamentary democracy. The Seifu, or state, is divided between three branches--a Chancellor, who serves as the head of state, a parliamentary Kokkai, and a Supreme Court. The two largest parties in Hyokoku are the centrist Liberal Party and the more conservative National Party. Political extremism, be it towards the far right or far left, is unpopular in Hyokoku, and centrism has become a defining feature of the country’s government. Though it is a democracy in name, the dominance of the country’s moderates has created a political environment where opposition is quickly stifled by allegations of radicalism.

The Shokkai
The Shokkai, or parliament, is the unicameral legislative body of Hyokoku. Based in Akato, the Shokkai consists of 100 representatives, with 10 representing each of the country's 10 provinces. National elections occur every five years, when Hyojin citizens directly elect a representative to serve on behalf of their electoral district and a candidate to serve as governor. The Shokkai is responsible for drafting and passing laws and electing the Chancellor.

Shokkai Committees
The Shokkai is divided into various committees responsible for debating and approving relevant bills that are then moved up for a vote in the entire parliament. A committee can also block and reject a relevant bill by simple majority vote. Committee appointments are submitted through a negotiation of the ruling parties, or, if the ruling party possesses a sufficient majority, the majority can simply ram it's own appointments through for a formal approval from the Vice Chancellor. However, Hyojin law requires that at least one member of the largest opposition party or coalition of parties be included on all committees.


 * Shokkai Agricultural Committee
 * Shokkai Financial Affairs Committee
 * Shokkai Defense Affairs Committee
 * Shokkai Workforce and Education Committee
 * Shokkai Commerce and Industries Committee
 * Shokkai Ethics Committee
 * Shokkai National Intelligence Committee
 * Shokkai Oversight and Judicial Affairs Committee
 * Shokkai Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee

Vetos
If the Chancellor opposes a proposed law passed in the Kokkai, the Chancellor can issue a veto. That veto can, however, be rejected by majority vote in the Kokkai.

Economic System
Hyokoku’s economy functions as a mix between textbook capitalism and state-controlled economics. Rapid economic growth, and the ability of the Hyojin economy to adapt to difficult times, is made possible by a close partnership between private companies and the National Bank. The National Bank acts as an investor for rising companies, while also stabilizing the market by bailing out failing institutions and protecting private stocks.

Industries and the Zaibatsu
The country’s largest industries are focused around its mining and automotive sectors. The domestic market is controlled by massive zaibatsus, family-owned corporate empires which rose to power thanks to the support of the Hyojin government. Their ascendance has created a stable market, where prices are kept consistent and long-term employment is certain. The influence of major zaibatsus like Sumatsu and Nakai is present in all aspects of daily life--soccer clubs wear uniforms emblazoned with their logos, the country’s vast and booming movie industry is swamped with their sponsorships, and company representatives regularly act as judges at middle school science fairs and high school talent shows.

Workplace Culture
Employers and their employees have an almost familial relationship in Hyokoku. Families bond through workplace connections, and company picnics, along with other social functions, are common. Most Hyojin men graduate from university and enter directly into the workforce. Colleges partner with companies to host national Employment Conferences in January every year. Across the country, young men travel to these conferences, where they’re given job offers and hired right off the bat. From there, the men will stay with their company, often until they retire decades later. This culture of predictable stability and community has become a defining aspect of Hyojin society.

Consumer Culture and the "Purchase Patriotically" Movement
As consumers, the Hyojin people are encouraged to “purchase patriotically.” In school, the importance of buying domestically-produced goods is taught in financial courses. Essentially, Hyojins have a loyalty to their companies that is so extreme it could be considered odd elsewhere in the world. If a product made in Hyokoku costs more than a product made abroad, it is often assumed that the Hyojin product is superior, and it is purchased anyway. This has made the Hyojin economy difficult to enter for companies that might attempt to compete with domestic employers.

Women in the Workplace
In a society dominated by ideas of masculinity, women have traditionally been pushed to the back of the line. That’s been changing, however, since the women’s suffrage movement, which pushed the government to legalize a woman’s right to vote in 1920. Since then, women have been gradually entering the workplace in greater numbers, though they continue to face challenges to even their most basic freedoms. Women continue to be seen more as housewives and supporters for their hard working husbands, rather than being treated as individuals.

The Dōmei
A rapprochement between the Hyokoku and Sakaro began in the 1890s, when Sakaro apologized for its past discrimination against Theodaric worshippers. Since then, increased globalization expanded communications, trade, and military cooperation between the two states has led to a strong and amicable relationship between the two countries known informally as the “domei,” or alliance. Shared languages, culture, and histories have made Sakaro Hyokoku’s closest international partner, and the two countries cooperate to ensure maritime security in the Dunican Ocean, a potentially lucrative region where both states are working to exert their influence.

"Sekai ni hohoemu"
The phrase “Sekai ni hohoemu,” or “smiling at the world” was first used by former Chancellor Tsukamoto Shuji to describe Hyokoku’s foreign policy. The Seifu meets with leaders from post-colonial states in Kanta and nods its head in agreement when they speak of the harmful legacy of colonialism. At the same time, however, Hyokoku signs treaties with nations across Artopa. The country seeks to exert its  influence on the world through commerce rather than militarism.