No-one seemed to vehemently object to my ideas, so I've started laying the groundwork for the division of Japan. It's all a bit hazy at the moment, and the minors have placeholder names, flags and shields. I also don't know a great deal of Japanese history, so these ideas might be rather silly. But anyway, this is what I have so far:
In Japan's long period of chaos, Korea started to exert more and more influence, particularly in the south. At first the Koreans were welcomed by peasants and merchants, as they brought a more organised and less oppressive alternative to the warlords. As such, Kyushu is a Korean province, and Shikoku is sufficiently entangled with Korea to count as a vassal. Japanese trade is also controlled by Korea, with a COT in Korea proper, though this will move if Japan unifies. Also, I've given Liaotung province to Korea for the moment to reflect its increased power and status - with only 2 mainland provinces, it looked like a bit of a dwarf power, which doesn't seem right. But it's up to whoever does China and Korea as to whether this is a good idea.
In 1419 people in Kyushu and Shikoku are happy with the Koreans. However, Korean rule slowly becomes more unpleasant as Japanese attempts to play a fuller part in the Korean state are met with discrimination and persecution. Sometime in the 15th century Kyushu starts rebelling against Korean rule, and Shikoku gets an event to break away and forge its own path.
The northern island of Ezochi was not Japanese in 1419. Accordingly it will now be an unsettled native province.
The main island of Japan, Honshu, is still a mess, controlled by a variety of rulers.
The minors are named after provinces ATM, so any better suggestions for names are welcome.
Shikoku: The people of Shikoku have a variety of rulers, but all are to some extent loyal to Korea, at least at first. The island is overwhelming Buddhist, as is Korea. Shikoku derives most of its wealth from fishing, and is thus much more navally-oriented than the other minors, and will start with the largest fleet. However their population is not so large and their army is nothing special. If Shikoku becomes Japan, it's likely to be interested in colonising the many islands of the Pacific Rim and beyond, and will have the best explorers. It may also be able to turn the Korean/Japanese relationship around and assimiliate the Koreans into Japan, though this will require staying loyal vassals to Korea until Shikoku is in a position of power.
Kansai: Kansai is controlled by various forces loyal to the Emperor, and practises the Imperial religion, which is a mixture of Buddhism and Shinto (represented by Confucian). Kansai is the richest and most developed of the minors, but obviously religion is a bit of a disadvantage. If Kansai becomes Japan, it's likely to focus on building up loyalty to the Emperor, a strong bureaucracy and Japanese self-reliance on economic matters - ie a focus on admin and infrastructure. It won't usually be completely isolationist, but it will be somewhat inward-looking, with limited outward expansion - the exception will be attempts to take revenge on Korea. The country may change religion for pragmatic reasons, but the default option will be to keep the Imperial religion.
Kanto: Kanto province is home to the most powerful of the Japanese warlords. However, even he doesn't control the whole of Kanto province, which will be represented by province RR for the first few decades. A Kanto-Japan is likely to be aggressive, aiming for the rich provinces in eastern China, and will have some of the best generals.
Tohoku: In Tohoku, only a small minority of the population will be Ainu. However, instead of being exterminated, the Ainu have been somewhat integrated into the local Japanese culture. Tohoku follows Shinto, but in a more ancient form than in Kansai, closer to Ainu beliefs and with less Buddhist influence. This will be represented by Pagan in-game. However, as Tohoku grows more powerful it will become more open to various outside influences, and could convert to almost anything under the right circumstances. Tohoku-Japan would be a pragmatic and fairly peaceful power, and would probably try to pursue closer cooperation with Asian tribes north of China who have a similar lifestyle and beliefs. They'd get some good conquistadors to help colonise the region, but not many (or any) explorers.
In Japan's long period of chaos, Korea started to exert more and more influence, particularly in the south. At first the Koreans were welcomed by peasants and merchants, as they brought a more organised and less oppressive alternative to the warlords. As such, Kyushu is a Korean province, and Shikoku is sufficiently entangled with Korea to count as a vassal. Japanese trade is also controlled by Korea, with a COT in Korea proper, though this will move if Japan unifies. Also, I've given Liaotung province to Korea for the moment to reflect its increased power and status - with only 2 mainland provinces, it looked like a bit of a dwarf power, which doesn't seem right. But it's up to whoever does China and Korea as to whether this is a good idea.
In 1419 people in Kyushu and Shikoku are happy with the Koreans. However, Korean rule slowly becomes more unpleasant as Japanese attempts to play a fuller part in the Korean state are met with discrimination and persecution. Sometime in the 15th century Kyushu starts rebelling against Korean rule, and Shikoku gets an event to break away and forge its own path.
The northern island of Ezochi was not Japanese in 1419. Accordingly it will now be an unsettled native province.
The main island of Japan, Honshu, is still a mess, controlled by a variety of rulers.
The minors are named after provinces ATM, so any better suggestions for names are welcome.
Shikoku: The people of Shikoku have a variety of rulers, but all are to some extent loyal to Korea, at least at first. The island is overwhelming Buddhist, as is Korea. Shikoku derives most of its wealth from fishing, and is thus much more navally-oriented than the other minors, and will start with the largest fleet. However their population is not so large and their army is nothing special. If Shikoku becomes Japan, it's likely to be interested in colonising the many islands of the Pacific Rim and beyond, and will have the best explorers. It may also be able to turn the Korean/Japanese relationship around and assimiliate the Koreans into Japan, though this will require staying loyal vassals to Korea until Shikoku is in a position of power.
Kansai: Kansai is controlled by various forces loyal to the Emperor, and practises the Imperial religion, which is a mixture of Buddhism and Shinto (represented by Confucian). Kansai is the richest and most developed of the minors, but obviously religion is a bit of a disadvantage. If Kansai becomes Japan, it's likely to focus on building up loyalty to the Emperor, a strong bureaucracy and Japanese self-reliance on economic matters - ie a focus on admin and infrastructure. It won't usually be completely isolationist, but it will be somewhat inward-looking, with limited outward expansion - the exception will be attempts to take revenge on Korea. The country may change religion for pragmatic reasons, but the default option will be to keep the Imperial religion.
Kanto: Kanto province is home to the most powerful of the Japanese warlords. However, even he doesn't control the whole of Kanto province, which will be represented by province RR for the first few decades. A Kanto-Japan is likely to be aggressive, aiming for the rich provinces in eastern China, and will have some of the best generals.
Tohoku: In Tohoku, only a small minority of the population will be Ainu. However, instead of being exterminated, the Ainu have been somewhat integrated into the local Japanese culture. Tohoku follows Shinto, but in a more ancient form than in Kansai, closer to Ainu beliefs and with less Buddhist influence. This will be represented by Pagan in-game. However, as Tohoku grows more powerful it will become more open to various outside influences, and could convert to almost anything under the right circumstances. Tohoku-Japan would be a pragmatic and fairly peaceful power, and would probably try to pursue closer cooperation with Asian tribes north of China who have a similar lifestyle and beliefs. They'd get some good conquistadors to help colonise the region, but not many (or any) explorers.
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