#target reached

The original village founded by Byakuya and the other survivors in Tokyo was simply just called “home base” by the first few generations. After all, they were still in Tokyo, and everyone associated home with it. Eventually as the settlement grew in size, the name “Byakuya Town” was adopted.

Some years down the line, the inhabitants of Byakuya Town agreed that they should have settlements around Japan to collect more resources. A town closer to Mt. Fuji was thus founded to provide stones and minerals, named Lillian Town. A third town in the plains to the north was founded to expand their agricultural and wood resources, named Wyatt Town after one of the plane survivors.

Many, many generations later, when the towns had grown into cities and several smaller towns and villages had been established, there was a great civil war known as the War of the Rivers. History is fuzzy on the exact reasons behind the war - various accounts seem to conflict. Regardless, the end result was that the single large nation had split into three, with the agreement that each would take one of the statues of the Three Heroes to safeguard as a symbol of their sovereignty.

ISHIGAMI NATION

This nation encompasses much of what used to be Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Saitama Prefectures. Their economy revolves around industry and processing of raw materials into technology and tools. As the original settlement of the petrification survivors, their values revolve around the wisdom and knowledge collected over the generations. They are ruled by a council of eight Keepers of Wisdom and have possession of Senku’s statue. This nation is also the largest at a population of about 1.2 million. 

Key Locations:

Byaku City (capital)

Weaver’s Grove (Yuzuriha’s camphor tree)

Mori Castle (Roppongi Hills)

Temple of Wisdom (where Senku is)

Kokusai City (Japanese term for the ISS)

Jakusa City (JAXA)

Akatori City (red bird logo of Japan Airlines)

Notable Characters:

Chrome (son of a Keeper of Wisdom)

HANAFUJI QUEENDOM

A nation that encompasses what used to be Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures. Their economy revolves around the production of textiles, pottery, and decorative goods, and they are known for their skilled artisans. As the nation in possession of Yuzuriha’s statue, their values revolve around beauty and hard earned skill. They are governed by a matriarchal monarchy. The population is about 1 million. It encompasses what used to be Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefecture.

Key Locations:

Rianne City (Capital)

Temple of Love (where Yuzuriha is)

Jasmine Town

Notable Characters:

Amaryllis

Suika

Kaseki

Kirisame (royal guard)

SHONOHEI KINGDOM

A kingdom that encompasses what used to be Gunma and Tochigi prefectures. They export a lot of grains, produce, and raw plant materials like wood and hemp fiber. They value strength and diligence and are in possession of Taiju’s statue. They are governed by a patriarchal monarchy and are known for holding sports competitions. The population is about 1 million.

Key Locations:

Waitto City (Capital)

Temple of Strength (Taiju) 

Notable Characters:

Lord Kokuyo

High Priestess Ruri

Princess Kohaku

Kinro and Ginro (Royal Guards)

From the journals of anthropology in the Great Library of Byaku City, Ishigami Nation. It is thought that many of these holidays take aspects from the Ancient Holidays celebrated by the Founders themselves, as well as newer traditions that emerged over the generations.

New Year’s Sun (January 1)

This annual custom of viewing the sunrise on New Year’s is thought to be the oldest tradition known to the three Nations.

Starlight Night (January 4)

A holiday celebrated by staying up late and stargazing with friends and family, often while eating a hot noodle soup dish called ramen and cream filled pancakes called dorayaki. Earless cats are also strongly associated with this holiday - traditional dorayaki has whisker shaped grill marks, and cat shaped imagery features a lot in decorations and souvenirs. This is attributed to The Prince and the Earless Cat, a popular folktale. This holiday is most popular in the Ishigami Nation. 

Ribbon Day (March 31)

A holiday celebrating relationships, both platonic and romantic. It is customary to have picnics under the cherry blossoms that are in season around this time. A traditional food eaten around this time is called “dango,” consisting of rice dumplings on a skewer. It is also common to express your fondness for someone with a “ribbon box,” a small box of sweets tied with a ribbon - red for couples, yellow for friendship, and blue for family. These ribbons are often tied around tree branches to commemorate the day and honor the relationship, a practice possibly originating from the folktale “The Weaving Girl and the Broken Branch”. This holiday is very popular across all three nations, but the Hanafuji Queendom also has an annual parade surrounding it.

Tree Day (April 2)

A holiday that honors nature and the gifts that it provides humanity. It is also considered a general day to give thanks for the blessings in your life, and a time to spend outdoors with family and friends.

Poky Day (November 11)

A day in which it is traditional to eat long, thin biscuits dipped in honey, called poky. Supposedly this was a favorite treat of the Hundred Stars King.

Note from Gen: what the f-

Krisuma (December 24)

A secular romantic holiday where couples will spend time together. Traditional foods eaten at Krisuma are a fried chicken dish known as “keytukki” and a sweet wheat flour cake with strawberries and cream.

THE PRINCE AND THE EARLESS CAT

One day while the Thousand Skies Prince was studying in the comfort of his home, he heard a cry for help outside. 

Despite his young age, the prince had a kind and compassionate heart, and quickly rushed to the gates. Before him he saw a brilliant blue cat with a white muzzle and paws. Strangely, the cat possessed no ears. 

“Young master, please would you spare a pancake for a hungry traveler?” The cat begged, and the boy quickly obliged. 

“Who are you?” The prince asked the cat once it had been fed. The cat sat back on its haunches and licked its lips. 

“I am the servant and friend of the Nobi family of a faraway kingdom. But our enemies chased me away while I was protecting the kingdom, and I do not know where to turn.”

The young prince, being as wise as he was kind, resolved to help. “I have an idea,” he said. “Do you remember how the stars looked from your home?”

“As sure as I remember my lord’s face,” the cat replied. 

“Well then,” said the prince, “We must simply compare the arrangement of the stars in your memory to that of the night sky here, in order that you may find your way home.”

“Young master, you are truly wise for your age,” the cat said. “I thank you immensely for your help.”

Soon after, the prince saw the cat off for its journey home, packing it a satchel of pancakes for the trip. Though they did not see each other again, the cat would never forget the prince’s kindness.

THE WEAVING GIRL AND THE BROKEN BRANCH

One day in the times before the Green Demon, the weaving girl was gathering wildflowers for fabric dye when she heard a song coming from the forest. Truly, it was the saddest tune the weaving girl had ever heard, and she wondered where it came from.

Following the sound, she soon came across a bird sitting on a tree branch overhead, singing the sad song. The bird was singing so pitifully that the weaving girl’s gentle heart ached for it.

“Little bird, why do you sing so sadly on such a beautiful day?” Asked the weaving girl.

“I had an argument with my beloved,” the little bird lamented, “and now our love is broken, just like this branch which I now sit upon.”

The bird gestured to the branch, which indeed was partially snapped off and hanging by a sliver. 

The girl contemplated the branch, then pulled off her beautiful red scarf and reached up to tie it around the broken branch. The bird watched curiously as she stepped back with a smile.

“If you are willing to do the work to mend things with your beloved, your love will grow back just as strong,” she said, “just as this tree will grow back around the break, as long as it has the ribbon to support it.”

The bird found its beloved and the two reconciled, and they returned to the tree with the red ribbon each year to remember the weaving girl’s words.

TREE BOY’S CARRYING PACK

Whenever the Thousand Skies Prince set out on a journey, he would bring along his dearest friend, a peasant’s son known to most as “Tree Boy,” for he was as large and sturdy as a tree. 

Though the Prince would have many heavy machines and other items to carry, Tree Boy rarely brought anything with him on their adventures, to the Prince’s puzzlement. 

“Perhaps he does not have anything with which to carry his belongings,” the Hundred Stars King suggested when his son brought the question to his father.

And so, the Prince offered to his friend a carrying pack of great quality and size, so that his friend may carry whatever he wished.

Tree Boy thanked the Prince immensely, but the next time they saw each other, the Prince noted that the carrying pack on his back had nothing inside it.

“Why have you not used the pack?” Asked the Prince. “Is it inadequate in some way?”

“Oh, but I am using it,” Tree Boy said. “I shall use it to help you carry things, so it will be much easier to hold more at once.”

“That’s not the point,” the Prince said. “The pack is so you can carry your own belongings.” 

“But I already carry everything I need with me,” Tree Boy laughed. “I carry the memories of our time together and the warmth of our friendship with me at all times. But I am so strong, and those are so light, that I can carry much more than just that. So I will use that extra strength to carry other people’s things, as well as their troubles.”