Miyadaka

The Constitutional Monarchy of Miyadaka, commonly called Miyadaka (Miyadakan Traditional: 宮高の立憲帝国; Miyadakan Standard: Miyakō no rikken teikoku), is an island nation in eastern Ashanor, with a constitutional monarchy in place. As an island nation, it is completely surrounded by water on all sides, but is close to the nation of Xinhao to the west, SEA to the east, SEA to the north, and SEA to the south. Miyadaka covers LAND AREA square kilometers and has has an estimated population of 133 million people. Miyadaka comprises of 70 prefectures and 6 island territories. The capital of Miyadaka is the city of Otsu, though other major cities include Yakasuki, Shimamoto, Kumarori, and Honsato.

Miyadaka was first inhabited in the 20'000s BCE according to archeological evidence found throughout the island of Kikokonai, the central island in the archipelago, though the origins of Miyadaka as a modern state began in roughly 3140 BCE with the foundations of the Sunai Culture - a simple rice farming community. These farms became a cohesive empire in 1052 CE, and soon the House of Ugikawa subjugated the south in a series of petty wars between 1130-1190, until the Emperor Naohira IV established his capital in Yakasuki. His empire reigned there and the first golden age flourished, with the Haoist faith becoming the main religion by 1292, and the Miyadakan writing system adopted in 1333. A wave of the Scarlet Plague caused mass casualties across the islands in the late 1300s, and the instability led to the overthrow of Emperor Kazuteru V and the installation of Nagaie II, who invaded the north in a series of wars between 1390 to 1415. Between 1430-1465 the Miyadakans fought a series of wars with the Orange Emperors of Xinhao, and the conflicts pushed both to develop naval fleets, and begin sailing the Great Eastern Sea, with the Miyadakans establishing an official base in Kyumaru in the Astorian Sea. The Miyadakans went on as a trading culture, bringing in numerous foreign advancements - experiencing the Second Miyadakan Golden Age between 1630-1705, establishing universities and cities. The Emperor retained total control, howeverm and the growing middle class demanded societal change. Soon, Prince Yukihiro overthrew his conservative father, and began a revolution of the government - instituting an appointed parliament and privy council to aid him in governance. As the Xin became increasingly militaristic and Avanoran powers, the country became more militaristic, with the government establishing control over the Yinh and Suion by the end of the 1700s. As industrialization took off, Miyadaka became a manufacturing hub, and its military power was projected across the east. As the Great War broke out, Miyadaka came to the aid of Myeon when the Xin invaded the peninsula, pushing the Xin back to their capital and establishing control over it, as well as in Tanguan - the Xin colony in Larania. In the post war period, Miyadaka became known as the Guardian of the east, establishing military bases throughout the Eastern Ocean. The nation's manufacturing hub allowed its economy to take off in the Eastern Miracle.

Miyadaka is a constitutional monarchy with the world's third largest economy, with strong civil liberties, and high levels of political freedom and engagement. Described by the Union of Nations as a free democracy, the nation is a strong ally of the central world, though it remains a strong independent power in its own right. Though their land forces are weaker, their navy and air force are considered either the best in the world, or tied with Gelenia and Caliane - and allows the nation to exercise power projection across the globe, although Miyadaka's foreign policy has been focused on Asania and Korasha in recent years. Alongside Xinhao, Miyadaka remains one of two great powers on the Asanian continent, and Otsu is often called the "World's Eastern Meeting Place" considering how most summits on Asanian affairs often take place in the city. With a strong manufacturing sector and high levels of university education, Miyadaka is also considered one of the most desirable places to live on Alcris.

The Aso Period
The Aso Period began with the ascension of Aso Ujinao to the throne in 514 BCE in the city of Kumarori, and as such sometimes this is called the Kumarori Era. During this period, the culture surrounding imperial tradition and court came into being - such as the divine blessing of the emperor from the heavens, as well as the Emperor's position as the final authority in law. By 218 CE, Haoist missionaries from the continent, mainly coming from Xinhao, arrived on the peninsula, which had been largely insular, and began preaching the Haoist tradition, with the faith even becoming the official faith of the monarchy in 355 CE under Oato III. Oato III as emperor fully embraced the teachings of the Haoist faith, and implemented its religious code on the country known as the Oato Code. These rules implemented strict punishments for greed, theft, and other heinous crimes, a criminal code which would drastically cut down on crime in the country, but would install fear of the authorities in many places.

These laws brought more and more of the Miyadakan population towards the Haoist faith, meanwhile the Aso Emperors began expanding southwards in a series of protracted conflicts between 465-610 CE.