ETYMOLOGY
The name ''Okaiken'' comes from the combination Sanese Words ''Oka'' (岡), which means "hill" and ''Ken'' (県), which means "prefecture" or "province". In 1490, the indigenous inhabitants of the present day Okami used the word ''Oka'' to direct Western Althena Explorers to a hill that overlooks the small fishing village.
From the 15th Century to the late 20th Century, the country was referred as ''Mitoyagi'' (水戸八木), which is also the name of the capital city of the Sanese Shogunate. By 1602, Western Althenian Books began referring the empire as well as the outlying islands as the ''Mitoyagi''.
In 1971, the name "Mitoyagi" was replaced by "Okaiken", partly due to the effects of the Great Reformation. ''Okaiken'' was adopted as the legal name of the country on July 12, 1971 under the orders of Prime Minister Yoshimizu Ohno.
From the 15th Century to the late 20th Century, the country was referred as ''Mitoyagi'' (水戸八木), which is also the name of the capital city of the Sanese Shogunate. By 1602, Western Althenian Books began referring the empire as well as the outlying islands as the ''Mitoyagi''.
In 1971, the name "Mitoyagi" was replaced by "Okaiken", partly due to the effects of the Great Reformation. ''Okaiken'' was adopted as the legal name of the country on July 12, 1971 under the orders of Prime Minister Yoshimizu Ohno.
PREHISTORIC OKAIKEN
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The first humans who settled in what is now the northern island of Haru arrived around 10,000 BC. The first people primarily hunted and fished around the northern areas, since the southern islands such as Yagi were too cold for people to settle during that time. It was not until 5,000 BC that people finally settled in Yagi and the Southern Island of Oita. Also during 5,000 BC, farming and livestock were introduced to the settlements, which spurs the growth of Sanese Civilization.
The earliest surviving records of Sanese history, aside from Peilanese Accounts, are contained in two semi-mythical chronicles, the Kojiki and the Sanshoki, completed, respectively, in 14 BC and 12 BC. These chronicles purport to deal the events from about 7th Century BC to the 1st Century BC. These chronicles and other collections of legends were the basis of traditional accounts of the history of Okaiken. The Sanshoki gave 695 BC as the year in which the Toyama Emperor, the first emperor of Okaiken, acceded to the throne, thereby founding the Miyagi Empire; in the 19th Century the founding was precisely dated as February 17 of that year. Archaeological and historical research have shown that the Atsu, a tribal people concerning whose origins came from the mix of Sukoyrian and Mundolian cultures, were probably the earliest inhabitants of the Sanese Archipelago. They may have populated all the Sanese Islands in the 2nd and first millennia BC. Invading peoples from the nearby areas in Indus began expeditions of conquest to the islands. Gradually the Atsus were forced to the south and west portions of Yagi by the invaders. Toyama, according to the chronicles, led his forces southward, across the Inland Sea of Mitoyagi, and extended his domains to Mito, a province in North Central Yagi, which gave its name to the Imperial House and all of Okaiken. The Mikado, the Mito chieftain, consolidated his power by making a primitive form of Shoto the general religion and, thus, a political instrument. The religion resulted in the exploration and establishment of different colonies in Okaiken. One of the earliest colonies in Okaiken is the city of Akita, located 50 kilometers south of Toyozawa, where it later grew into a seat of power and, thus, making it the earliest city to form in Okaiken. At the same point of time, people from the present day Peilan and Kwangju began to trade with the early settlements of Okaiken, which spurs the growth of the settlements into numerous kingdoms, many still not known today. |
THE MIYAGI PERIOD
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The name 'Miyagi' (宮城 - Imperial Castle) first appear in written history in the Peilanese Scrolls and the Kojiki, the oldest Sanese text, at around 220 BC. According to the Records of Three Islands, the Miyagi, with the seat of power located in the community of Kitabara, is the most powerful kingdom on the archipelago during its early existence. The Miyagi was a confederation of tribes such the Joei (ancestors of the modern Atsu People) and the Umijin (Sea People, considered to be related with Kwangji tribes), with the Sun Goddess, Amadera, becoming the central figure.
About 215 BC, The Empress Jingū of Miyagi, a legendary ruler who came to be considered a goddess, took over the imperial government at the death of her husband, the emperor Seimu. The warrior empress is said to be fitted out an army and invaded and conquered a portion of Kwangju, known as Shilla. The Sanese created a colony in Shilla and made peace with Shilla rival Keongjo. Keongjo culture, already influenced by the adjacent Peilan, had already advanced to a comparatively high level. During the next several centuries intercourse between the Miyagi and Keongjo considerably stimulated the development of the islands. The Miyagi, as well as its surrounding territories, saw the introduction of practices such as wet-rice farming as well as pottery and metallurgy, which was introduced by Keongjo. Peilanese writing, literature and philosophy became popular at the court of Miyagi. At about the beginning of the 10th Century BC, the Peilanese Script, known to Okaiken as the Kanji, came into use at the court. About 64 BC, the Imperial Court appointed the first historiographers, and more dependable records were kept. The Shilla drove out the Sanese Invaders at around 15 BC, but the imported culture was strongly rooted in the archipelago. The Maki period (45 BC-10 AD) marked the emergence of a strong state, centered on an imperial court in Meiji-kyō (modern Maki). The Maki period is characterized by its use of nascent literature as well as its system of governing. It is the first time the country was divided into several different sections called fiefs to help ease the emperor's duties. In this period, the Sanese system of writing also also emerged, using Peilanese characters for its syllabry and not its meaning. |
ASAMA PERIOD
HEIJI PERIOD
HIRAIZUMI-DAISHIN PERIOD
With the introduction of the fee system in 1158, the country oversaw the emergence and dominance of a ruling class of warriors, often called the Samurai. In 1201, the Imperial-backed Soga clan began to invade neighboring fiefs governed by the Takechi Clan and the Fujisato clan. By 1208, following the defeat of the Takechi and the Fujisato clans and the absorption of the Sanada Clan, written in the epic Tale of the Soga Brothers, Soga Ujiteru united the island of Haru. He was then appointed shogun by the Emperor of Mitoyagi. He then established a base of power in Hiraizumi (Southern part of Haru), away from the influence of the Imperial Family. After his death in 1229, the Sanada Clan came to power to replace the Soga Clan as regents for the shoguns. The clan once again moved the government center from Hiraizumi to Daishin-kyō, 70 miles North of Oka-kyō. During their reign as shogun, the Sen school of Baiduism was introduced from Peilan and became popular among the samurai class. The Sanada repelled several invasions by the Sukoyrian Empire in 1314 and 1322, but were eventually overthrown by the retired emperor (Insei) Go-Kana in 1330. Go-Kana was himself defeated by Minato Toshiyuki in AD 1335.
Unlike in Haru, the Island of Iban saw more battles and instability. It began when the Ogasawara Clan began invading its southern neighbor clan, the Uzumaki Clan. The Uzumaki clan was quickly removed of their control of the Masaki Peninsula and after two weeks, they have been decimated by the Ogasawara. This caused other clans in Iban to either side with the fledgling Uzumaki Clan or the Ogasawara Clan. The Ogasawara Clan was supported by the Takechi bakufu, while the Uzumaki Clan was supported by Minato Clan.
One of the first major battles in Iban is the battle of Kurushio Hills, located 98 kilometers south of Iban. The Uzumaki Clan, supported by the Emperor's Forces in Haru with the recommendation of the Minato Clan, launched a counteroffensive maneuver, which saw the Ogasawara clan to fall back from the Chokosabe Peninsula towards the southern edge of the islands. The Osagawara clan responded by letting the Minato clan overtake the entire peninsula, and then trapping the army by occupying the towns of Rikuzen and Shitakami. The Minato clan tried to escape by attacking the weakest point of the blockade at the Kurushio Hills. A battled ensued, killing the majority of Minato clan warriors. The rest of the warriors, including Takanori Tsunega, were captured by the Ogasawara clan; the Minato fled back to Haru, and when the title of sei-taishogun was given to Toshiyuki in 1335, The Minato returned to Iban and forced the Odasawara to settle in the Mito Plain.
One of the first major battles in Iban is the battle of Kurushio Hills, located 98 kilometers south of Iban. The Uzumaki Clan, supported by the Emperor's Forces in Haru with the recommendation of the Minato Clan, launched a counteroffensive maneuver, which saw the Ogasawara clan to fall back from the Chokosabe Peninsula towards the southern edge of the islands. The Osagawara clan responded by letting the Minato clan overtake the entire peninsula, and then trapping the army by occupying the towns of Rikuzen and Shitakami. The Minato clan tried to escape by attacking the weakest point of the blockade at the Kurushio Hills. A battled ensued, killing the majority of Minato clan warriors. The rest of the warriors, including Takanori Tsunega, were captured by the Ogasawara clan; the Minato fled back to Haru, and when the title of sei-taishogun was given to Toshiyuki in 1335, The Minato returned to Iban and forced the Odasawara to settle in the Mito Plain.
ASAKURA PERIOD
CIVIL WAR AND THE UNIFICATION OF MITOYAGI
This period in Sanese History was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century.
Although the Minato Shogunate retained the structure of the Imperial ''Bakufu'' and instituted a warrior government based on social economic rights and obligations established by the Minato Shogunate with the Jofun Code, it failed to win the loyalty of some daimyo, especially those whose areas were very far from the capital Oka-kyo, such as the Ryuzoji headed by Ryuzoji Terutora and the Chosokabe clan, headed by Chosokabe Morihiro. As trade with Peilan grew and the introduction of Sanese-Kwangju trade, the economy of Mitoyagi developed, and many commercial cities such as Toyoshi and Sakai were established. This, combined with developments in agriculture and small-scale trading, led to the desire for greater local autonomy throughout all levels of the social hierarchy. As early as the beginning of 16th century, the suffering caused by earthquakes such as the Great Joyu Earthquake of 1539 and widespread famines triggered several armed uprisings by farmers.
Although the Minato Shogunate retained the structure of the Imperial ''Bakufu'' and instituted a warrior government based on social economic rights and obligations established by the Minato Shogunate with the Jofun Code, it failed to win the loyalty of some daimyo, especially those whose areas were very far from the capital Oka-kyo, such as the Ryuzoji headed by Ryuzoji Terutora and the Chosokabe clan, headed by Chosokabe Morihiro. As trade with Peilan grew and the introduction of Sanese-Kwangju trade, the economy of Mitoyagi developed, and many commercial cities such as Toyoshi and Sakai were established. This, combined with developments in agriculture and small-scale trading, led to the desire for greater local autonomy throughout all levels of the social hierarchy. As early as the beginning of 16th century, the suffering caused by earthquakes such as the Great Joyu Earthquake of 1539 and widespread famines triggered several armed uprisings by farmers.
TENJI WAR (TENJI NO RAN)
The Tenji War, which started in 1467 due to a dispute between Muromachi Katsuie and the Fushimi Morinaga about the next heir of the Asakura shogunate, quickly escalated into a nationwide conflict involving the three main clans in control of Mitoyagi, the Imperial House and a number of daimyo throughout Okaiken. By September of 1467, the northern districts of Heiji-kyo were either burnt down or destroyed, and everyone who could leave Heiji-kyo did so.
Both Muromachi Katsuie and Fushimi Morinaga died in 1471 and 1473, respectively, and even so, the war continued to escalate, like the battles of Komaki and Battle of Nokagute because neither of the three main sides don't know how to end the conflict, so the war continued to go on until the Treaty of Natsunaga in June of 1474. Eventually, the Fushimi clan gave up from the dispute and eventually burned down their section of Meiji-kyo and left the entire area during 1474. At that time, the city was nothing more than a ruin and a place for mobs to loot and take in remaining valuable items left by its citizens.
During the Tenji war, however, the shogun and the emperor were not instrumental in alleviating the situation. While the Oka-kyo was being ruined in war, the emperor, Kammu, and the shogun, Minato Yorimichi, spend their time writing poetry and poetry readings, as well as planning cultural events and the construction of Daigo-ji, a temple that would rival the Silver Temple in Oka-kyo that his grandfather built in 1424. The retirement compound was eventually built on the site of the Fushimi residences in Heiji-kyo.
No part of Okaiken escaped the violence. Although battles in Heiji-kyo had been settled, the war had spread to rest of the country. In the province of Dewa, the ruling Harakawa Clan had separated into two parts that fought each other to a standstill. This conflict however, led to the revolt of peasants called the Shin-ashigaru that would eventually force the clan armies out of the province. The Shin-ashigaru became a powerful force and they set up their own provisional government in Dewa. In the aftermath of the Tenji War, the other Clans in the Islands of Hirado and Yagijima, as well as the clans in Teiko saw a chance of finally destroying the bakufu in the island of Haru, so in 1576, the Ogasawara Clan from the island of Yagi invaded the Southern Part of Haru and in the process, kidnapped the 18 month old prince Fumihito, who was at the Southern Imperial Residence of Hirosaki with his caretaker and his uncle, Prince Asakasa. Asakasa was sent back to the Imperial Family on the grounds of not telling the court what had happened to the crown prince. Fumihito was adopted by Honda Shigenobu and was later given the name Shigetada. Fumihito would later play a role in establishing the shogunate in Okaiken.
Both Muromachi Katsuie and Fushimi Morinaga died in 1471 and 1473, respectively, and even so, the war continued to escalate, like the battles of Komaki and Battle of Nokagute because neither of the three main sides don't know how to end the conflict, so the war continued to go on until the Treaty of Natsunaga in June of 1474. Eventually, the Fushimi clan gave up from the dispute and eventually burned down their section of Meiji-kyo and left the entire area during 1474. At that time, the city was nothing more than a ruin and a place for mobs to loot and take in remaining valuable items left by its citizens.
During the Tenji war, however, the shogun and the emperor were not instrumental in alleviating the situation. While the Oka-kyo was being ruined in war, the emperor, Kammu, and the shogun, Minato Yorimichi, spend their time writing poetry and poetry readings, as well as planning cultural events and the construction of Daigo-ji, a temple that would rival the Silver Temple in Oka-kyo that his grandfather built in 1424. The retirement compound was eventually built on the site of the Fushimi residences in Heiji-kyo.
No part of Okaiken escaped the violence. Although battles in Heiji-kyo had been settled, the war had spread to rest of the country. In the province of Dewa, the ruling Harakawa Clan had separated into two parts that fought each other to a standstill. This conflict however, led to the revolt of peasants called the Shin-ashigaru that would eventually force the clan armies out of the province. The Shin-ashigaru became a powerful force and they set up their own provisional government in Dewa. In the aftermath of the Tenji War, the other Clans in the Islands of Hirado and Yagijima, as well as the clans in Teiko saw a chance of finally destroying the bakufu in the island of Haru, so in 1576, the Ogasawara Clan from the island of Yagi invaded the Southern Part of Haru and in the process, kidnapped the 18 month old prince Fumihito, who was at the Southern Imperial Residence of Hirosaki with his caretaker and his uncle, Prince Asakasa. Asakasa was sent back to the Imperial Family on the grounds of not telling the court what had happened to the crown prince. Fumihito was adopted by Honda Shigenobu and was later given the name Shigetada. Fumihito would later play a role in establishing the shogunate in Okaiken.
OGASAWARA TERUMASA, THE FIRST UNIFIER
During the last 2 decades of the 16th century, a number of different daimyo became strong enough either to manipulate the Minato bakufu to their own advantage or to overthrow it altogether. One attempt to overthrow the bakufu was made in 1581 by Imagawa Yoshimoto, whose march towards the capital came to an ignominious end at the hands of Ogasawara Terumasa in the Battle of Tennomon. In 1582, the Hattori clan who were adjacent to the east of Terumasa's territory became independent of the Imagawa clan, and allied with Terumasa. The eastern part of the territory of the Ogasawara clan was not invaded by this alliance. Thus, he moves the army to the west. In 1585, an alliance of the Fushikki and Miyoshi clans attempted a coup by assassinating Minato Tadayuki, the 18th Minato shogun. Internal squabbling, however, prevented them from acting swiftly to legitimatize their claim to power, and it was not until 1588 that they managed to install Tadayuki's cousin, Minato Yoshiyuki, as the next Shogun. Failure to enter Oka-kyo and gain recognition from the imperial court, however, had left the succession in doubt, and a group of bakufu retainers led by Hosokawa Fujitaka negotiated with Terumasa to gain support for Tadayuki's younger brother, Minato Tadamoto. Terumasa, who had prepared over a period of years for an opportunity by establishing an alliance with the Azai clan in northern Ōmi Province and then conquering the neighboring Shinano Province, now marched toward Heiji-kyo. After routing the Rokkaku clan in southern Ōmi, Terumasa forced the Fushikki to capitulate and the Miyoshi to withdraw to Settsu. He then entered the capital, where he successfully gained recognition from the emperor for Tadatomo, who became the 19th Minato shogun.
Terumasa had no intention, however, of serving the Minato bakufu, and instead now turned his attention to tightening his grip on the island of Haru. Resistance in the form of rival daimyo, intransigent Buddhist monks such as the Jōdo Ikki, and hostile merchants were eliminated swiftly and mercilessly, and Terumasa quickly gained a reputation as a ruthless, unrelenting adversary. In support of his political and military moves, he instituted economic reform, removing barriers to commerce by invalidating traditional monopolies held by shrines and guilds and promoting initiative by instituting free markets known as ''rakuichi-rakuza''. By 1573 he had destroyed the alliance of Asakura clan and the Azai clan that threatened his northern flank, obliterated the militant Tendai Baiduists monastic center at Mount Kii near Heiji-kyō, and also had managed to avoid a potential confrontation with Uesugi Takenobu, who had suddenly died of illness just as his army was on the verge of defeating the Honda clan in Yagi and invading the Ogasawara's domain on its way to Oka-kyo.
Even after Takenobu's death, there are several daimyō powerful enough to resist Terumasa, but none were situated close enough to Heiji-kyō to pose a threat politically, and it appeared that unification under the Ogasawara banner was a matter of time. On the other hand, Terumasa's enemies were not only the Sengoku daimyō but also adherents of a Jōdo Shinshu sect of Baiduism who attended Ikkō-ikki, 15 kilometers East of Okayama. Kenshin, the leader of the sect, endured though Terumasa's attempts of capturing his fortress for ten years. Terumasa expelled Kenshin in the eleventh year but by a riot caused by Kenshin, Terumasa's territory took damage. This long war was called Ishiyama Hongan-ji War. Meanwhile, during the period from 1586 to 1589, the Ogasawara constructed Otomo Castle, a magnificent seven-story castle on the shore of Lake Toya, which was intended to serve not simply as an impregnable military fortification but also as a sumptuous residence that would stand as a symbol of unification.
Terumasa had no intention, however, of serving the Minato bakufu, and instead now turned his attention to tightening his grip on the island of Haru. Resistance in the form of rival daimyo, intransigent Buddhist monks such as the Jōdo Ikki, and hostile merchants were eliminated swiftly and mercilessly, and Terumasa quickly gained a reputation as a ruthless, unrelenting adversary. In support of his political and military moves, he instituted economic reform, removing barriers to commerce by invalidating traditional monopolies held by shrines and guilds and promoting initiative by instituting free markets known as ''rakuichi-rakuza''. By 1573 he had destroyed the alliance of Asakura clan and the Azai clan that threatened his northern flank, obliterated the militant Tendai Baiduists monastic center at Mount Kii near Heiji-kyō, and also had managed to avoid a potential confrontation with Uesugi Takenobu, who had suddenly died of illness just as his army was on the verge of defeating the Honda clan in Yagi and invading the Ogasawara's domain on its way to Oka-kyo.
Even after Takenobu's death, there are several daimyō powerful enough to resist Terumasa, but none were situated close enough to Heiji-kyō to pose a threat politically, and it appeared that unification under the Ogasawara banner was a matter of time. On the other hand, Terumasa's enemies were not only the Sengoku daimyō but also adherents of a Jōdo Shinshu sect of Baiduism who attended Ikkō-ikki, 15 kilometers East of Okayama. Kenshin, the leader of the sect, endured though Terumasa's attempts of capturing his fortress for ten years. Terumasa expelled Kenshin in the eleventh year but by a riot caused by Kenshin, Terumasa's territory took damage. This long war was called Ishiyama Hongan-ji War. Meanwhile, during the period from 1586 to 1589, the Ogasawara constructed Otomo Castle, a magnificent seven-story castle on the shore of Lake Toya, which was intended to serve not simply as an impregnable military fortification but also as a sumptuous residence that would stand as a symbol of unification.
Having secured his grip on the island of Haru, Terumasa was now powerful enough to assign his generals the task of subjugating the outlying provinces. Ogasawara Terugami was given the task of conquering the Akechi clan in Etchū province, Takigawa Kazumasu confronted the Shinano Province that was governed by Uesugi Takamaru, and Fumihito, adopted by the Honda clan and given the name Shigetada, was given the formidable task of facing the Mōri clan in Northeastern Yagi. In 1586, Terumasa won a significant victory over the Uesugi clan in the Battle of Nagashino. Despite the strong reputation of the Uesugi's samurai cavalry, Terumasa embraced the relatively new technology of the arquebus, and inflicted a crushing defeat to the opposing clan. The legacy of the battle forced a complete overhaul of traditional Sanese warfare. By August 1592, after a protracted campaign, Shigetada requested Terumasa's help in overcoming tenacious resistance in Northern Yagi. Terumasa, making a stop-over in Okashi on his way south with only a small contingent of guards, was attacked by Takigawa Kazumasu and committed suicide.
After the incident, Takigawa Kazumazu ordered all the lords subordinate to Ogasawara Terumasa to follow his orders. Some, such as Shibata Katsuhiro, did not immediately accept Takigawa's orders and invaded Takigawa's territory in Iwako in the Battle of Mirakawa. Takigawa emerged victorious and continued Takigawa's campaign of reunification.
After the incident, Takigawa Kazumazu ordered all the lords subordinate to Ogasawara Terumasa to follow his orders. Some, such as Shibata Katsuhiro, did not immediately accept Takigawa's orders and invaded Takigawa's territory in Iwako in the Battle of Mirakawa. Takigawa emerged victorious and continued Takigawa's campaign of reunification.
TAKIGAWA KAZUMASU, THE SECOND UNIFIER
Under Takigawa Rule, lords loyal to him were given huge swathes of land and the lords that were against him were given territory that would not affect the government structure. The Honda Clan, which sided with Ogasawara Terumasa and requested for help in Northern Yagi, was given new territory in Northern Harushima, away from the Takigawa stronghold of Heiji-kyo. The increasing tension between the two lords finally culminated in the Battles of Yasugahara and Omiya, which incurred heavy losses for both sides. In order to prevent the worsening situation, Kazumasu tried to ally with Shigetada in 1595 by sending his sister, Okaji no Kata, to be married to Shigetada as a hostage. When it fell apart, Takigawa sent another sister of his and his mother as hostages and personally visited Oji (Modern Day Haru) in order to broker a deal with Shigenobu. Shigenobu finally accepted in January of 1596, by moving from Haru to Ichioka, which evolved to the modern city of Okami. The Honda became an independent clan which allied with the Takigawa clan.
Elsewhere in the country, Takigawa brokered an alliance with the the Mōri clan and one of its lords, Koshima Takakage, became a close vassal of Kazumasu. In 1599, The Takigawa, which were able to broker alliances with several clans by bribing, invaded the last uncooperative clan, the Chosokabe, in June of 1600. During the battle, Takigawa Kazumasu was stabbed by a Chosokabe Ashigaru and died in the 8th of June, 1600. Honda Shigenobu also perished on the battle.
Elsewhere in the country, Takigawa brokered an alliance with the the Mōri clan and one of its lords, Koshima Takakage, became a close vassal of Kazumasu. In 1599, The Takigawa, which were able to broker alliances with several clans by bribing, invaded the last uncooperative clan, the Chosokabe, in June of 1600. During the battle, Takigawa Kazumasu was stabbed by a Chosokabe Ashigaru and died in the 8th of June, 1600. Honda Shigenobu also perished on the battle.
HONDA SHIGETADA, THE THIRD UNIFIER
What followed after the battle is another scramble by the most powerful of Kazumasa's retainers to avenge their lord's death against the Chosokabe and thereby establish a dominant position in negotiations over the forthcoming realignment of the Takigawa clan. The situation became even more urgent when it was learned that Kazumasa's oldest son and heir, Kazutoyo, had also been killed, leaving the Takigawa clan with no clear successor. Quickly negotiating a truce with the Chosokabe clan before they could learn of Kazumasa's death; the powerful Honda clan, headed by new leader Honda Shigetada, Shigetada quickly consolidated his territories and began his expansion by bribing daimyos such as the Chosokabe clan. He also fought against the Ii clan in the Battles of Nakasendo and Ishikawada, until the clan agreed to join Shigetada.
Shigetada's history before his adoption by Shigenobu caused doubts from within the Honda Clan and caused a power vacuum between him and Honda Harunobu, which culminated in the Battle of Kasugayama Castle, where Harunobu was later forced to commit seppuku along with his wife, Hana-no-Kata. Nevertheless, it was assumed that Shigetada had risen through the ranks at the age of 15, and was now in position to challenge even the most senior members of the Takigawa clan's hereditary retainers, and proposed that Harunobu's infant son, Sanpōshi (who will eventually known as Honda Nobutada), be named heir rather than Kazumasa's adult third son, Kazunori, whose cause had been championed by Shanoseki Motokatsu. Having gained the support of other senior retainers, including Niwa Nagahide and Ikeda Tsuneoki, Sanpōshi was named heir of the Takigawa clan and Shigetada appointed co-guardian.
Continued political intrigue, however, eventually led to open confrontation. After defeating Shanoseki at the Battle of Shizugatake in 1601 and enduring a costly but ultimately advantageous stalemate with Tokugawa Masanobu at the Battle of Ise in 1601, Shigetada managed to settle the question of succession for once and all, to take complete control of Heiji-kyo in 1601, and to become the undisputed ruler of the former Ogasawara domains. In Oka-kyo, he was approached by members of the Imperial Family that he was the regent of the Chrysanthemum throne; that he was held for ransom by the Osagawara clan to gain some control over imperial matters and hopefully establish a connection between the Imperial family and the Osagawara clan in order to solidify their rule of Mitoyagi. In July of 1601, Honda Shigetada surrendered his duties as the daimyo of the Honda clan, and gave control of the clan to his son by the concubine Hatsune-no-Kata, Honda Shigetomo, with the guidance of Ii Naoshige, with terms that Naoshige would maintain the domains controlled by the Honda Clan.
The Daimyo of Chōsokabe clan, who were once one of the most powerful in Mitoyagi, surrendered to the Honda Clan in July, 1605. The Daimyo of the Shimazu clan also surrendered two years later. A few months after the surrender of the Chosokabe and the Shimazu, Fumihito acceded to the Imperial Throne after the death of his biological father. However, that didn't stop him from his ambition of unification. By the following year, he had secured alliances with seven of the nine major daimyo coalitions and carried the war of unification to Iban and Yagi. In 1609, The Shirakawa Emperor defeated the Hōsō clan, his last formidable rival in Haru. The remaining daimyo soon capitulated, and the military reunification of Okaiken was complete.
Shigetada's history before his adoption by Shigenobu caused doubts from within the Honda Clan and caused a power vacuum between him and Honda Harunobu, which culminated in the Battle of Kasugayama Castle, where Harunobu was later forced to commit seppuku along with his wife, Hana-no-Kata. Nevertheless, it was assumed that Shigetada had risen through the ranks at the age of 15, and was now in position to challenge even the most senior members of the Takigawa clan's hereditary retainers, and proposed that Harunobu's infant son, Sanpōshi (who will eventually known as Honda Nobutada), be named heir rather than Kazumasa's adult third son, Kazunori, whose cause had been championed by Shanoseki Motokatsu. Having gained the support of other senior retainers, including Niwa Nagahide and Ikeda Tsuneoki, Sanpōshi was named heir of the Takigawa clan and Shigetada appointed co-guardian.
Continued political intrigue, however, eventually led to open confrontation. After defeating Shanoseki at the Battle of Shizugatake in 1601 and enduring a costly but ultimately advantageous stalemate with Tokugawa Masanobu at the Battle of Ise in 1601, Shigetada managed to settle the question of succession for once and all, to take complete control of Heiji-kyo in 1601, and to become the undisputed ruler of the former Ogasawara domains. In Oka-kyo, he was approached by members of the Imperial Family that he was the regent of the Chrysanthemum throne; that he was held for ransom by the Osagawara clan to gain some control over imperial matters and hopefully establish a connection between the Imperial family and the Osagawara clan in order to solidify their rule of Mitoyagi. In July of 1601, Honda Shigetada surrendered his duties as the daimyo of the Honda clan, and gave control of the clan to his son by the concubine Hatsune-no-Kata, Honda Shigetomo, with the guidance of Ii Naoshige, with terms that Naoshige would maintain the domains controlled by the Honda Clan.
The Daimyo of Chōsokabe clan, who were once one of the most powerful in Mitoyagi, surrendered to the Honda Clan in July, 1605. The Daimyo of the Shimazu clan also surrendered two years later. A few months after the surrender of the Chosokabe and the Shimazu, Fumihito acceded to the Imperial Throne after the death of his biological father. However, that didn't stop him from his ambition of unification. By the following year, he had secured alliances with seven of the nine major daimyo coalitions and carried the war of unification to Iban and Yagi. In 1609, The Shirakawa Emperor defeated the Hōsō clan, his last formidable rival in Haru. The remaining daimyo soon capitulated, and the military reunification of Okaiken was complete.
In 1611, The Shirakawa Emperor retired from his Imperial Rule and allowed his second oldest son, Shigetoki, to become the emperor Go-Yozei. Shigetada became an Insei (Retired Emperor), and his son Shigetomo was named sei-taishogun. Shigetomo then requested that the imperial court be separated from the newly formed bakufu and moved his government from Heiji-kyo to Toyozawa, the original domain of the Honda Clan.
In 1625, Ii Naotaka, the son of Ii Naokatsu (died 1623), was named head of the Ichijoudani Ii clan in Ichijoudani. However, his holdings were reduced to half their income by Shigetomo at the request of the Insei but only temporarily; in preparation for another move to a bigger territory in Shinano. However, Naotaka did not agree on the terms imposed by Shigetomo and moved his troops to Mt Kii; he then sent unnamed assailants to Toyozawa, where the retired emperor Shirakawa was staying. Naotaka ordered the residence to be destroyed and kill the Shirakawa Emperor. The Shirakawa Emperor died in the process and Naotaka ordered his troops back in Ichijoudani. Angered by the incident, Shigetomo ordered the invasion of the Ii holdings, which culminated in the battle of Ichijoudani. Shigetomo and Naotaka both died in the battle. Honda Tadanobu, Shigetada's third son and with the guidance of Sakikabara Yasumasa, assumed the rule of the sei-taishogun until he was replaced by Shigetomo's son, Honda Shigemasa, in 1635.
In 1625, Ii Naotaka, the son of Ii Naokatsu (died 1623), was named head of the Ichijoudani Ii clan in Ichijoudani. However, his holdings were reduced to half their income by Shigetomo at the request of the Insei but only temporarily; in preparation for another move to a bigger territory in Shinano. However, Naotaka did not agree on the terms imposed by Shigetomo and moved his troops to Mt Kii; he then sent unnamed assailants to Toyozawa, where the retired emperor Shirakawa was staying. Naotaka ordered the residence to be destroyed and kill the Shirakawa Emperor. The Shirakawa Emperor died in the process and Naotaka ordered his troops back in Ichijoudani. Angered by the incident, Shigetomo ordered the invasion of the Ii holdings, which culminated in the battle of Ichijoudani. Shigetomo and Naotaka both died in the battle. Honda Tadanobu, Shigetada's third son and with the guidance of Sakikabara Yasumasa, assumed the rule of the sei-taishogun until he was replaced by Shigetomo's son, Honda Shigemasa, in 1635.
ICHIOKA PERIOD
Following the Period of The Three Unifiers, the central government had been largely reestablished by Ogasawara Terumasa. After the Seige of Shinagawa, central authority fell to the Honda Clan, led by the Shirakawa Emperor who completed this process and allowed his children to be titled "shogun".
Society in the Honda period, unlike the shogunates before it, was supposedly based on the strict class hierarchy originally established by Minato Takashi. The daimyo, or lords, were at the top, followed by the warrior-caste of samurai, with the farmers, artisans, and traders ranking below. In some parts of the country, particularly smaller regions, daimyo and samurai were more or less identical, since daimyo might be trained as samurai, and samurai might act as local lords. Otherwise, the largely inflexible nature of this social stratification system unleashed disruptive forces over time. Taxes on the peasantry were set at fixed amounts which did not account for inflation or other changes in monetary value. As a result, the tax revenues collected by the samurai landowners were worth less and less over time. This often led to numerous confrontations between noble but impoverished samurai and well-to-do peasants, ranging from simple local disturbances to much bigger rebellions. None, however, proved compelling enough to seriously challenged the established order until the arrival of foreign powers.
Toward the end of the 19th century, an alliance of several of the more powerful daimyo, with the recommendation of the Saito Emperor, finally succeeded in the overthrow of the shogunate after the Ezo War, culminating in the Saito Restoration. The Honda Shogunate came to an official end in 1870, with the resignation of the 27th Honda Shogun, Honda Yoshinobu and the "restoration" (Ōsei fukko) of imperial rule. Despite of this, the establishment of the Honda shogunate brought Okaiken the longest period of peace and stability in its history, lasting well over 200 years.
Society in the Honda period, unlike the shogunates before it, was supposedly based on the strict class hierarchy originally established by Minato Takashi. The daimyo, or lords, were at the top, followed by the warrior-caste of samurai, with the farmers, artisans, and traders ranking below. In some parts of the country, particularly smaller regions, daimyo and samurai were more or less identical, since daimyo might be trained as samurai, and samurai might act as local lords. Otherwise, the largely inflexible nature of this social stratification system unleashed disruptive forces over time. Taxes on the peasantry were set at fixed amounts which did not account for inflation or other changes in monetary value. As a result, the tax revenues collected by the samurai landowners were worth less and less over time. This often led to numerous confrontations between noble but impoverished samurai and well-to-do peasants, ranging from simple local disturbances to much bigger rebellions. None, however, proved compelling enough to seriously challenged the established order until the arrival of foreign powers.
Toward the end of the 19th century, an alliance of several of the more powerful daimyo, with the recommendation of the Saito Emperor, finally succeeded in the overthrow of the shogunate after the Ezo War, culminating in the Saito Restoration. The Honda Shogunate came to an official end in 1870, with the resignation of the 27th Honda Shogun, Honda Yoshinobu and the "restoration" (Ōsei fukko) of imperial rule. Despite of this, the establishment of the Honda shogunate brought Okaiken the longest period of peace and stability in its history, lasting well over 200 years.
SAKOKU
During the early part of the 16th century, the Honda shogunate suspected that foreign traders and missionaries were actually forerunners of a military conquest by Western Althenian powers. Christianity had spread in Okaiken, especially among peasants, and the shogunate suspected the loyalty of Christian peasants towards their daimyō, severely persecuting them. This led to a revolt by persecuted peasants and Christians in 1639 known as the Maibara Rebellion which saw 30,000 Christians, rōnin, and peasants facing a massive samurai army of more than 100,000 sent from Edo. The rebellion was crushed at a high cost to the shōgun's army.
After the eradication of the rebels at Maibara, the shogunate placed foreigners under progressively tighter restrictions. It monopolized foreign policy and expelled traders, missionaries, and foreigners with the exception of the Batavian and Peilanese merchants who were restricted to the man-made island of Tejima in Haru Bay and several small trading outposts outside the country. However, during this period of isolation (Sakoku) that began in 1535, Okaiken was much less cut off from the rest of the world than is commonly assumed, and some acquisition of western knowledge occurred under the Rangaku system. Sukoyrian encroachments from the south led the shogunate to extend direct rule to Yagi, Mito and the Ostrovs in 1815, but the policy of exclusion continued.
After the eradication of the rebels at Maibara, the shogunate placed foreigners under progressively tighter restrictions. It monopolized foreign policy and expelled traders, missionaries, and foreigners with the exception of the Batavian and Peilanese merchants who were restricted to the man-made island of Tejima in Haru Bay and several small trading outposts outside the country. However, during this period of isolation (Sakoku) that began in 1535, Okaiken was much less cut off from the rest of the world than is commonly assumed, and some acquisition of western knowledge occurred under the Rangaku system. Sukoyrian encroachments from the south led the shogunate to extend direct rule to Yagi, Mito and the Ostrovs in 1815, but the policy of exclusion continued.
BAKUMATSU
The policy of isolation lasted for more than 300 years. In 1843, Willem III of Batavia sent a message urging Okaiken to open its doors which was rejected by the Sanese. On July 8, 1853, Commodore Harold Oswald of the Shayden Navy with four warships steamed into the bay in Okashi and displayed the threatening power of his ships' cannons during a Christian burial which the Sanese observed. He requested that Okaiken open to trade with the West. These ships became known as the kurofune, the Black Ships.
The following year at the Convention of Iwaki on March 31, 1854, Oswald returned with seven ships and demanded that the shōgun sign the unequal Treaty of Peace and Amity, establishing formal diplomatic relations between Okaiken and Shayden. Within five years, Okaiken had signed similar treaties with other Western countries. The Harris Treaty was signed with Shayden on July 29, 1859. These treaties were unequal, having been forced on Okaiken through gunboat diplomacy, and were interpreted by the Sanese as a sign of Western imperialism taking hold of the rest of the Althenian continent. Among other measures, they gave the Western nations unequivocal control of tariffs on imports and the right of extraterritoriality to all of their visiting nationals. They would remain a sticking point in Okaiken's relations with the West up to around the start of the 20th century.
The following year at the Convention of Iwaki on March 31, 1854, Oswald returned with seven ships and demanded that the shōgun sign the unequal Treaty of Peace and Amity, establishing formal diplomatic relations between Okaiken and Shayden. Within five years, Okaiken had signed similar treaties with other Western countries. The Harris Treaty was signed with Shayden on July 29, 1859. These treaties were unequal, having been forced on Okaiken through gunboat diplomacy, and were interpreted by the Sanese as a sign of Western imperialism taking hold of the rest of the Althenian continent. Among other measures, they gave the Western nations unequivocal control of tariffs on imports and the right of extraterritoriality to all of their visiting nationals. They would remain a sticking point in Okaiken's relations with the West up to around the start of the 20th century.
END OF THE HONDA RULE
The Honda Shogunate came to its official end on November 19, 1870, when Honda Yoshinobu, the 16th Shogun, "put his prerogatives at the Emperor's disposal" and resigned 10 days later. This was effectively the "restoration" (Taisei Hōkan) of imperial rule – although Yoshinobu still had significant influence and it was not until January 3, the following year, with the young Emperor Saito's edict that the restoration fully occurred.
Shortly thereafter in January 1871, the Boshin War (War of the Year of the Dragon) started with the Battle of Toba in which Chōshū and Tosa's forces defeated the ex-shogun's army. This forced (or allowed) Emperor Saito to strip Yoshinobu of all power, setting the stage for official restoration. On January 3, 1871, the Emperor made a formal declaration of the restoration of his power:
Shortly thereafter in January 1871, the Boshin War (War of the Year of the Dragon) started with the Battle of Toba in which Chōshū and Tosa's forces defeated the ex-shogun's army. This forced (or allowed) Emperor Saito to strip Yoshinobu of all power, setting the stage for official restoration. On January 3, 1871, the Emperor made a formal declaration of the restoration of his power:
The Emperor of Mitoyagi announces to the sovereigns of all foreign countries and to their subjects that permission has been granted to the Shogun Honda Yoshinobu to return the governing power in accordance with his own request. We shall henceforward exercise supreme authority in all the internal and external affairs of the country. Consequently the title of Emperor must be substituted for that of Taikun, in which the treaties have been made. Officers are being appointed by us to the conduct of foreign affairs. It is desirable that the representatives of the treaty powers recognize this announcement.
January 3, 1871
Hirohito
EMPIRE OF MITOYAGI
POST-WAR MITOYAGI
REFORMATION OF OKAIKEN
MODERN OKAIKEN
1991 marked the culmination of one of the most rapid economic growth spurts in Sanese history. With a strong yen and a favorable exchange rate with the Enieo, the Bank of Okaiken kept interest rates low, sparking an investment boom that drove Okami property values up 60 percent within the year. Shortly before New Year's Day, the OSE 225 reached its record high of 39,000. By 1991, it had gradually fallen to 30,000, signifying the end of Okaiken's famed growth. This era of fast economic development in Okaiken is called "Go-go 8090".
The Miyazaki hotel scandal of 1990 had already eroded public confidence in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which had controlled the government for 38 years. The LDP was defeated by Honda Shigehara's Progressive Party, and several reforms were launched to clean up the role of government posts. However, Honda Shigehara was ousted by other coalition parties who wanted to govern Okaiken, and in 1991 Masaaki Fukuda was given the position of "Prime Minister".
During this period, Okaiken reemerged as a military power. In 1991, Okaiken pledged billions of Enieos for the renewed conflict in Malatoa, but constitutional arguments prevented a participation in actual war. Andalus criticised Okaiken for just pledging money and did not appreciate the way Okaiken co-operated in its affairs. Minesweepers were sent after as a part of the reconstruction effort.
On 23 October 2004, the Ise Prefecture Earthquakes rocked the Hokuriku region, killing 52 and injuring hundreds.
In 2011, a sumo tournament was cancelled for the first time in 65 years over a match fixing scandal.
In August 2006, Yoshito Sengoku resigned, and Kenshin Hirota, son of Hirota Kōki. became Prime Minister. His election to premiership caused widespread outrage in Eastern Althena due to the war crimes committed by his father's government. Nevertheless, his government's acceptance of the war crimes committed and the issuance of the most apology statements led to the creation of Okaiken's first Truth and Reconciliation Commission regarding the Great War. Later that year Olympus Corporation admitted major accounting irregularities.
In December of 2010, Okaiken entered the United Sovereign Nations, after the recommendation of New Chandler to have Okaiken Participate in the Union Activities. Shortly afterwards, a referendum was held if the Emperor of Okaiken would be reinstated back to power as well as to rename the Capital of Okaiken from 'Oka-kyo' to 'Okami'. On November 26, 2010, Masahito, dethroned in 1968 due to economic concerns, was reinstated emperor and the capital was successfully renamed.
The transition back to constitutional monarchy was not smooth. Tadatsugu Jobei, the Liberal Democrat Prime Minister, was forced to resign on August 3, 2012 due to mishandling of party funds. Sasuke Genba replaced him as Prime Minister on September 2, 2012. Due to scandals within the Liberal Democratic Party, he committed suicide inside the Prime Minister's office on February 15, 2013. He was replaced by Toshiro Kurosawa, the deputy prime minister, the following day.
On June 2013, Okami hosted the 2013 Simlympic Games, with more than 11,000 athletes from different countries participating. New facilities were built on the Sentoku District at a cost of more than 15 billion Enieo, making it the most expensive Simlympic Games ever. Cost overruns also plagued the Simlympics, in which after the Games the financial committee reporting 1 billion Enieo in deficit.
On September 3, 2013, 3 years after the entry of Okaiken in the USNW, The government announced its intention to leave the union, focusing instead on 'The Eastern Sphere'. However, a month later, Okaiken unexpectedly returned to the USNW, only to rescind its application after the union lost more of its core members.
In 2014, after 2 years of deliberation, Okaiken's 9th Constitutional Article was expanded to assets owned by Okaiken as well as its allies, much to the dismay of the groups who wanted to maintain Okaiken's renunciation of war. Okaiken then left the United Sovereign Nations one last time in early 2014. The period between 2014 and 2016 marked a period of uncertainty, with the stock market dropping to its worst performance since the end of the "Go-go 8090" era and the increasing economic influence of both Peilan and Kwangju into Okaiken.
In April 2016, despite low approval ratings from the public, the LDP, headed by Kurosawa, dissolved the parliament and leading the way to the general election. Kurosawa was later deposed from the leadership during the election cycle and was replaced by Sadakazu Tanizaki. Tanizaki was later defeated by the Communist Party candidate, Sho Aoyagi.
The Miyazaki hotel scandal of 1990 had already eroded public confidence in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which had controlled the government for 38 years. The LDP was defeated by Honda Shigehara's Progressive Party, and several reforms were launched to clean up the role of government posts. However, Honda Shigehara was ousted by other coalition parties who wanted to govern Okaiken, and in 1991 Masaaki Fukuda was given the position of "Prime Minister".
During this period, Okaiken reemerged as a military power. In 1991, Okaiken pledged billions of Enieos for the renewed conflict in Malatoa, but constitutional arguments prevented a participation in actual war. Andalus criticised Okaiken for just pledging money and did not appreciate the way Okaiken co-operated in its affairs. Minesweepers were sent after as a part of the reconstruction effort.
On 23 October 2004, the Ise Prefecture Earthquakes rocked the Hokuriku region, killing 52 and injuring hundreds.
In 2011, a sumo tournament was cancelled for the first time in 65 years over a match fixing scandal.
In August 2006, Yoshito Sengoku resigned, and Kenshin Hirota, son of Hirota Kōki. became Prime Minister. His election to premiership caused widespread outrage in Eastern Althena due to the war crimes committed by his father's government. Nevertheless, his government's acceptance of the war crimes committed and the issuance of the most apology statements led to the creation of Okaiken's first Truth and Reconciliation Commission regarding the Great War. Later that year Olympus Corporation admitted major accounting irregularities.
In December of 2010, Okaiken entered the United Sovereign Nations, after the recommendation of New Chandler to have Okaiken Participate in the Union Activities. Shortly afterwards, a referendum was held if the Emperor of Okaiken would be reinstated back to power as well as to rename the Capital of Okaiken from 'Oka-kyo' to 'Okami'. On November 26, 2010, Masahito, dethroned in 1968 due to economic concerns, was reinstated emperor and the capital was successfully renamed.
The transition back to constitutional monarchy was not smooth. Tadatsugu Jobei, the Liberal Democrat Prime Minister, was forced to resign on August 3, 2012 due to mishandling of party funds. Sasuke Genba replaced him as Prime Minister on September 2, 2012. Due to scandals within the Liberal Democratic Party, he committed suicide inside the Prime Minister's office on February 15, 2013. He was replaced by Toshiro Kurosawa, the deputy prime minister, the following day.
On June 2013, Okami hosted the 2013 Simlympic Games, with more than 11,000 athletes from different countries participating. New facilities were built on the Sentoku District at a cost of more than 15 billion Enieo, making it the most expensive Simlympic Games ever. Cost overruns also plagued the Simlympics, in which after the Games the financial committee reporting 1 billion Enieo in deficit.
On September 3, 2013, 3 years after the entry of Okaiken in the USNW, The government announced its intention to leave the union, focusing instead on 'The Eastern Sphere'. However, a month later, Okaiken unexpectedly returned to the USNW, only to rescind its application after the union lost more of its core members.
In 2014, after 2 years of deliberation, Okaiken's 9th Constitutional Article was expanded to assets owned by Okaiken as well as its allies, much to the dismay of the groups who wanted to maintain Okaiken's renunciation of war. Okaiken then left the United Sovereign Nations one last time in early 2014. The period between 2014 and 2016 marked a period of uncertainty, with the stock market dropping to its worst performance since the end of the "Go-go 8090" era and the increasing economic influence of both Peilan and Kwangju into Okaiken.
In April 2016, despite low approval ratings from the public, the LDP, headed by Kurosawa, dissolved the parliament and leading the way to the general election. Kurosawa was later deposed from the leadership during the election cycle and was replaced by Sadakazu Tanizaki. Tanizaki was later defeated by the Communist Party candidate, Sho Aoyagi.
===Heian Period===
After the Great Sanese War, an era of relative peace ensued all over Mitoyagi. Peilanese influence increased, and the Sen school of Buddhism spreads throughout Mitoyagi. Meanwhile, the two daimyos controlling the islands of Haru and Iban, consolidated their power, and Minamoto no Yoshitsune became the shogun of the consolidated territory. Meanwhile, Taira no Benkei became the Special Advisor to the Emperor.
===The Mitoyagi Empire===
{{Main|Mitoyagi Empire}}
[[File:Satsuma-samurai-during-boshin-war-period.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The samurai class just before their abolishment in 1873.]]
Beginning in 1870, Okaiken undertook political, economic, and cultural transformations emerging as a unified and centralized state, the [[Mitoyagi Empire|Empire of Mitoyagi]] (also Imperial Okaiken or Prewar Mitoyagi). This 82-year period, which lasted until 1952, was a time of rapid economic growth. Mitoyagi became an imperial power, colonizing Kwangju and Guoganyan. Starting in 1931 it began the takeover of Peilan, in defiance of the League of Nations and Shayden. Escalating tension with the Shayden--and western control of Okaiken's vital oil supplies—led to Great Adonian War. Okaiken launched multiple successful attacks on Shayden as well as Etruscan and Batavian territories in 1947–48. After a series of great naval battles, the Shaydians sank the Sanese fleet and largely destroyed 50 of its largest cities through air raids. Mitoyagi surrendered in late summer 1952, gave up its overseas holdings in Kwangju, Peilan and elsewhere, and was occupied and transformed into a demilitarized democratic nation by Shayden.
====The Peito-Sanese War====
{{main|Peito-Sanese War|Wukong Rebellion|Occupation of Kwangju}}
The Peito-Sanese War (1 August 1894 – 17 April 1895) was fought between Song Dynasty Peilan and Saito Okaiken, primarily over control of Kwangju. After more than six months of continuous successes by the Japanese army and naval forces, as well as the loss of the Peilanese port of Weihai, the Song leadership sued for peace in February 1895.
At the start of hostilities, the Imperial Sanese Navy contained a fleet of 12 modern warships, (Izumi being added during the war), one frigate (Takao), 22 torpedo boats, and numerous auxiliary/armed merchant cruisers and converted liners. Okaiken did not yet have the resources to acquire battleships and so planned to employ the ''Jeune École'' doctrine which favoured small, fast warships, especially cruisers and torpedo boats, with guns powerful enough to destroy larger craft. Many of Okaiken's major warships were built in Brullen and Trentannian shipyards (eight Trentannian, three Brullanic and two Sanese-built) and 16 of the torpedo boats were known to have been built in Brullen and assembled in Okaiken.
The war was a clear indication of the failure of the Song dynasty's attempts to modernize its military and fend off threats to its sovereignty, especially compared with Okaiken's successful post-Saito restoration For the first time, regional dominance in East Althena shifted from Peilan to Okaiken; the prestige of the Song Dynasty, along with the classical tradition in Peilan, suffered a major blow. The humiliating loss of Kwangju as a vassal state sparked an unprecedented public outcry. Within Peilan, the defeat was a catalyst for a series of revolutions and political changes led by Sun Yat-Sen and Kang Youwei. These trends would later manifest in the 1911 Revolution.
====Rise of Facism====
{{Main|Statism in Wakayama Mitoyagi}}
During the 1910s and 1920s, Okaiken progressed towards democracy through movements known as '[[ Go-Shōkō period|Go-Shōkō]] Democracy'. However, parliamentary government was not rooted deeply enough to withstand the economic and political pressures of the late 1920s and 1930s during the Depression period, and its state became increasingly militarized. This was due to the increasing powers of military leaders and was similar to the actions some Alcadean nations were taking leading up to the Great Adonian War. These shifts in power were made possible by the ambiguity and imprecision of the Saito Constitution, particularly its measure that the legislative body was answerable to the Emperor and not the people. The Kodoha, a militarist faction, even attempted a [[coup d'état]] known as the [[October 2 Incident|October 2 Incident]], which was crushed after three days by Mutsohito, the [[Emperor Wakayama]].
Party politics came under increasing fire because it was believed they were divisive to the nation and promoted self-interest where unity was needed. As a result, the major parties voted to dissolve themselves and were absorbed into a single party, the [[wikipedia:Imperial Rule Assistance Association|Imperial Rule Assistance Association]] (IRAA), which also absorbed many prefectural organizations such as women's clubs and neighborhood associations. However, this umbrella organization did not have a cohesive political agenda and factional in-fighting persisted throughout its existence, meaning Okaiken did not devolve into a totalitarian state. The IRAA has been likened to a sponge, in that it could soak everything up, but there is little one could do with it afterwards. Its creation was precipitated by a series of domestic crises, including the advent of the Depression in the 1930s and the actions of extremists such as the members of the [[Cherry Blossom Society]], who enacted the [[July 7 Incident|July 7 Incident]].
====Great Adonian War====
[[File:Japanese battleship Nagato.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The Sanese Battleship ''[[Nagato]]'', which was sunk by Shaydian Forces in 1950.]]
===Post-War Mitoyagi===
===Quiet Revolution===
{{Main|Quiet Revolution}}
In the mid-1960s, Okaiken suffered a minor economic setback, due to the partition of [[Kwangju]] into 3 nations: [[Ghuangji]], [[Seongpo]], and [[Howan]]. At the same time, the [[Sanese En]] encountered high inflation rates, increasing the cost of living within Okaiken. This volatile combination caused the [[Okashi Stock Exchange]] to crash on October 15, 1967. The following day, several Liberal Democratic Party members, including the Prime Minister, resigned. An election was called off, and on December 22, 1967, the Socialist Party of Okaiken, headed by [[Takeji Sanda]], won a decisively close election against the Liberal Party, headed by [[Yoshimizu Ohno]].
Citing concerns of vote rigging, the Liberal Party boycotted the Diet; while at the same time, the Socialist Party began to draft bills regarding the militarization of Okaiken as well as cutting several government agencies. The party also drafted a bill that would abolish the parliament and instead be replaced in a non-voting system where a select committee can select nominees from other parties. The proposed legislation was met with serious backlash with the other parties. The remaining parties in the Diet boycotted, effectively shutting down the government and calling of elections. Support for the Social Democratic Party significantly declined, and protests were launched in major cities of Okaiken.
In May 12, 1968, the emperor declared that elections will be held in June 4, 1968. However, when the results were shown, people were upset over the narrow victory of the Socialist Party. Once again, protests were incited in all major cities of Okaiken, where eventually it culminated into riots. Seeing the narrow defeat of competing parties, The other 3 major parties in Okaiken merged, forming the Republican Party and elected Ohno as their party leader. As a result of the merger, the combined party's number of seats was enough to unseat the ruling Socialist Party. The Socialist Party were eventually removed from power in August 12, 1968. In 1969, a new constitution was drafted, and include the seizure of assets from the emperor as a way to shoulder for expenses committed during the recession and new business regulations were passed by the Diet. Mitoyagi declared a Federal Republic on January 1, 1970. New elections were held in 1973, and Ohno's Republican Party, now headed by Yasuhiro Nakasone, won in a landslide.