Teiko

Teikō (帝光), officially known as the Socialist Republic of Teikō, is a sovereign island nation located at East Asia bordered by the State of Japan in the south, Russian Federation on the North, Teiko Sea in the West and Pacific Ocean in the East. The central government of Teikō which has its seat in the capital of Tetsuya Special Administrative Region currently exercises jurisdictions over six regions which is further subdivided into 31 prefectures. The characters that make up Teiko’s name means “sovereign light”, which is why Teikō is sometimes referred to as the “Light of the Orient”. Teikō is one of the three major Japanese speaking countries in the world.

Teikō is an archipelago of 386 islands covering approximately at least 372,720 sq. kilometers (143,902 sq. miles). The two main islands of Daichi and Sakura contributes almost 90% of Teiko's total land area. Teiko's population of 16 million are widely concentrated on Daichi Island specifically the cities of Kaijo and Rakuzan which has a combined total population of nearly 9 million people.

Archaeological research indicates that the first sign of human beings in Teiko dates back up to 10,000 B.C. during the arrival of the Adi Man from mainland Asia. Major permanent settlements were recorded in 400 B.C. along the Ao and Kuro Rivers. The first written mention of Teiko is from Chinese scrolls dating back to the 1st Century A.D. From 710 to 1870, Teiko was ruled under Japan and it's feudalistic system. In 1869, the Kaijo Mutiny led by Himura Kenshin brought an end to Japanese rule and the formation of the State of Teiko. In the early 19th century, victories of the Teiko-Japan War in 1894 and Teiko-Russian War in 1904 allowed Teiko to remain as a sovereign state while annexing the island of Sakura from Russia. Teiko suffered massive destruction during World War 2 and was rebuilt with foreign help on 1946. Continuous fights against socialist and democrats led to the Teiko 1986 Constitutional Crises. Since the adoption of the Teiko Constitution of 1986, Teiko has maintained to be largely socialistic with a premier and an elected unicameral legislature called Teiko National Council.

Between 1950 to 1986, Teiko's economy grew rapidly at an annual rate of 9% fueled by annual export growth of 21% and massive centralized planning in a period call Haeru Period that rapidly transfered Teiko into a high-income advanced country in the modern era. Statistically, financial sector and real estate contributes biggest to the country's economy. Anime and manga are also hugely successful industries and the second biggest after that of Japan. Teiko's manufacturing sector also includes automotive and consumer electronics. Teiko also ranks high in metrics of prosperity such as Human Development Index and is a member of several international organizations such as OECD, WTO, IMF, EAS and G-20. Teiko International Cooperative Agency (TICA) is the operating body of the government of Teiko that facilitates international aid and development assistance.

Etymology
Teiko was named by a Japanese explorer named Gakusha Masaharu who first reached the island of Daichi on 745. The named Teiko which has its roots from the Kanji 帝 (Mikado) and 光 (Hikari) literally means sovereign light. Gakusha described his glorious encounters with the gods in his journal which was refurnished in 1989. Eventually the name Teiko would be used to cover all the islands of the archipelago. Before that became commonplace, other names such as Doppo, Shinya and Etedo were used.

The official name of Teiko has changed several times in the course of the country's history. After the Kaijo Mutiny, the Iwatomo Congress proclaimed the establishment of the State of Teiko. From the period of the Teiko-Japan War, the country is referred to as the Teiko Islands as its sovereignty is not internationally recognized. From the 1904-1945, the name People's Republic of Teiko began to appear and it has since become the country's common name. Since the end of World War 2, the official name of the country has been the Republic of Teiko. In 1986 after a constitutional crises, the name was finally changed to its present form, Socialist Republic of Teiko.

History
Main article: History of Teiko

Government and Politics
Main articles: Government of Teiko and Politics of Teiko



The Government of Teiko is the unitary government of the Socialist Republic of Teiko. Teiko has been a constitutional republic under a unitary parliamentary system since 1895. The country has existed in some form prior to its independence, but the country emerged as a modern nation state after the foundation of the Setagaya Dynasty and the City of Kaijo in 800. The Kaijo Mutiny brought an end to the absolute feudalistic government by Japan and replaced it with a system of constitutional republic. Since then, despite having 8 constitutions, the form of government has remained the same and the current administration follows the Teiko Constitution of 1986. Power is chiefly held by the Teiko Premier and other elected members of the Central-46 while the while sovereignty is vested in the Teikonian people. All the government offices are located within Tetsuya, the capital city of Teiko.



Teiko's legislative organ is the Teiko National Council which is colloquially called Central-46, a unicameral parliament headed by a Sandaedeung. The Central-46 consists of 150 prefectural representatives voted every six years or when dissolved. There is universal suffrage for adults over 18 years of age, with a secret ballot for all elected offices. The Central-46 is dominated by the social liberal Democratic Party of Teiko (DPT) and the socialistic Teiko National Party (TNP). The TNP has enjoyed near continuous electoral success since 1977, except for a brief 6 month period in 1986 during the 1986 Teiko Constitutional Crises, and from 2001 to 2007 and again in 2013. As of the 2013 council, it holds 108 seats while the DPT holds 21 seats.

The Sandaedeung is the head and the presiding officer of the Central-46. He is considered to be the head of the legislative branch. He has overall charge of the administration of the Central-46 and its secretariat and presides over all parliamentary sittings. The sandaedeung is third in line of the premier succession after the vice premier. The sandaedeung is not necessarily from the majority party and is elected also through the first session of incoming Central-46 Congress. The current sandaedeung is Fukui Kensuke.



The Teiko Premier is the head of government and state is elected directly by the people through plurality majority. The constitution dictates that only current members of the Central-46 premier shall be eligible to run for the office. The Premier is the head of the Cabinet, and he appoints justices of the Supreme Court of Teiko and commissioners of the different constitutional commissions with approval of the national council. It doesn't follow that the candidate of the majority party will automatically be elected as Teiko Premier. The current premier is Seijuro Akashi who won the 2009 Teiko National Elections via landslide and was inaugurated as the _th Premier of Teiko on January 30, 2010.

The Supreme Court of Teiko is the highest judicial body in Teiko. The Supreme Court is headed by the Chief Justice of Teiko and 5 Associate Justices. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over cases involving fundamental rights. It has the power both to declare the law and to strike down union or state laws which contravene the constitution. The Supreme Court is also the ultimate interpreter of the constitution. All justices are given lifetime tenure unless otherwise removed from power by the Blue Ribbon Committee. Shinichi Kudo, the current chief justice has been in his position since his appointment in 2001.

Political Parties
Main article: Political parties in Teiko

In 2012 there are 3 major political parties in Teiko, namely, the Democratic Party of Teiko (DPT), the Teiko National Party (TNP) and the Teiko Liberal Party (TLP). TNP was formerly known as the Socialit Party of Teiko (SPT).

Elections
Main article: Elections in Teiko

With the current status of the government of Teiko, it has two elections which occurs alternately every three years, national elections and general elections. The general elections are held midway through the tenure of the Teiko Premier. Both the general and national elections includes local and prefectural elections, the national elections however also includes election of the premier and the vice-premier among the incumbent prefectural representatives. Elections are supervised by the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) at each administrative level under the general direction of the national Comelec. The Comelec is among the few constitutional chartered committees that serves under the premier directly without being under any ministry.

Administrative Division
Further information: Prefectures of Teiko, Regions of Teiko, Cities of Teiko, Towns of Teiko and Villages of Teiko

The Socialist Republic of Teiko has administrative control over six regions - Kamizaki, Takezaki, Hanji, Fukuyama, Seirin, Johto and three mostly self-governing special administrative states (Kaijo, Rakuzan and Tetsuya). However, these regions do not exercise official administrative functions but is used traditionally in a number of contexts. The six major regions are further divided to 32 prefectures. Each prefecture is overseen by an elected governor, legislature and administrative bureaucracy. Each prefecture is further divided into component cities, towns and villages.

Security and Defense
''Main articles: Teiko National Military. Ministry of Defense''

A long history of civil unrests and internal invasions by militarized militants have prompted Teiko to allocate 15% of all government spending to its military, while maintaining compulsory conscription for men. Consequently, Teiko has the one of the highest number of active troops (500,000 in 2011),the world's second-largest number of reserve troops (1,000,000 in 2011) and the eleventh largest defense budget. The Socialist Republic of Teiko, with both regular and reserve military force numbering 1.5 million regular personnel among a total national population of 16 million people, has one of the highest number of soldiers per capita in the world.



The Teiko military is arguably the one of the most technologically advanced in East Aisa. It comprises the Teiko National Army (TNA), Teiko National Navy (TNN), Teiko National Air Force (TNAF) and the Teiko National Marine Corps (TNMC). Many of these forces are concentrated in the island of Daichi and the Northern Kuril islands with moderately felt presence in Sakura Island. It is seen as the guarantor of the country's independence, peace and order. The nation's philosophy of defense is one of diplomacy and deterrence. This principle translates into the culture, involving all citizens in the country's defense. Thus, all Teikonian males are constitutionally required to serve in the military, typically 24 months or more. Previously, Teikonians of mixed race were exempt from military duty but the exception was lifted in 2010. In July 2014, the Central-46 Bill #2013-415-512 which is also known as the "An Act to Amend the Current Teiko Conscription Policies" requiring all male foreigners who wanted to earn an honorary Teikonian citizen status to commit themselves to at least 1 year of military service and training.



The Teiko army has at least 500 tanks in operation, including the K1A1 and K2 Black Panther, which form the backbone of the Teikonian army's mechanized armor and infantry forces. A sizable arsenal of many artillery systems, including 1,700 self-propelled K55 and K9 Thunder howitzers and 680 helicopters and UAVs of numerous types, are assembled to provide additional fire, reconnaissance, and logistics support.

The Teikonian navy has made its first major transformation into a blue-water navy through the formation of the Strategic Mobile Fleet, which includes a battle group of Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin class destroyers, Dokdo class amphibious assault ship, AIP-driven Type 214 submarines, and Himura Kenshin class destroyers, which is equipped with the latest baseline of Aegis fleet-defense system that allows the ships to track and destroy multiple cruise missiles and ballistic missiles simultaneously, forming an integral part of Teiko's indigenous missile defense umbrella.

The Teikonian air force operates 540 aircraft, making it world's ninth largest air force, including several types of advanced fighters like F-15K, heavily modified KF-16C/D,and the indigenous F/A-50, supported by well-maintained fleets of older fighters such as F-4E and KF-5E/F that still effectively serve the air force alongside the more modern aircraft. In an attempt to gain strength in terms of not just numbers but also modernity, the commissioning of four Boeing 737 AEW&C aircraft, under Project Peace Eye for centralized intelligence gathering and analysis on a modern battlefield, will enhance the fighters' and other support aircraft's ability to perform their missions with awareness and precision.

From time to time, Teiko has sent its troops overseas to assist in relief operations which includes the largest civil operations in the Philippines after the Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. It has also participated in many UN peace keeping operations in the middle east. International pressure from Russia and Europe forced Teiko to recall its military regiment in Ukraine during the 2014 Crimean crisis.

Foreign Relations
Main article: Foreign Relations of Teiko

Teiko's relationship with other countries have varied greatly with different periods in its course of history. Due to its complicated internal political and economic structure, Teiko has limited appearance in international organizations. However, Premier Akashi's foreign and economic policies have paved way for externalization of Teikonian efforts. As of 2013, Teiko maintains diplomatic relationships with 180 nations and operates embassies and consulates in 169 countries. In 2014, Teiko was accepted as an official member of the Alliance of Independent Nations which the Central-46 have unanimously ratified after rigorous debates. Teiko is also a member of other organizations such as WTO, East Asia Spehere, G-20 major economies, World Bank, and IMF. It also hosts the annual Teiko Economic Forum (TEF) and co-hosts the Asia Group of the World Economic Forum.

In 2011, Teiko launched Teiko International Cooperation Agency (TICA) which was designed to further boost relations between Teiko and the international bodies through culture exchange programs, infrastructure developments, relief operation and such. Currently, TICA has major activities in the planing of the Japan-Teiko high speed rail which will connect the Japan and Teiko. Further plans to include Nakama and Okatabawashi on this project is under consideration.



Japan

Historically, Teiko-Japan relationship have fluctuated greatly during the Himura Period until the present. This is due to the internal lock-down of Teiko from foreign relations during the restoration period, the aftermath of the World War 2 and the more than a thousand years of colonization. As of 2013, Teiko operates its embassy in Japan maintaining diplomatic relationships between the two countries. The current government of Teiko has also been promoting better relationships with Japan through the creation of the East Asia Sphere.

Unites States of America

Russia

China

South Korea

Neu Westfalen

New Duveland

Sainte-Croix

Nakama

Okatabawashi

Lovedelund

Geography
Main article: Geography of Teiko

Climate
Teiko has a relatively cool summers and icy/snowy winters. Most of the island falls in the humid continental climate zone with Köppen climate classification Dfb (hemiboreal) in most areas but Dfa (humid continental) in some inland lowlands. The average August temperature ranges from 17 to 22 °C (62.6 to 71.6 °F), while the average January temperature ranges from −12 to −4 °C (10.4 to 24.8 °F), in both cases depending on elevation and distance from the ocean, though temperatures on the western side of the island tend to be a little warmer than on the eastern.

The northern portion of Teiko falls into the taiga biome, with significant snowfall. Snowfall varies widely from as much as 11 metres (400 in) on the mountains adjacent to the Sea of Teiko down to around 1.8 metres (71 in) on the Pacific coast. Total precipitation varies from 1,600 millimetres (63 in) on the mountains of the Sea of Teiko coast to around 800 millimetres (31 in) (the lowest in Teiko) on the Straight of Teiko coast and interior lowlands and up to around 1,100 millimetres (43 in) on the Pacific side.

In winter, the generally high quality of powder snow and numerous mountains in Teiko make it a popular region for snow sports. The snowfall usually commences in earnest in November and ski resorts (such as those at Hayama, Makoto, Touou and Hara) usually operate between December and April. Teiko celebrates its winter weather at the Kaijo Snow Festival usually held at the City Square. Kaijo Snow Festival is considered as the most premier non-holiday celebration in Teiko and is one of the most tourists visited events in Teiko.

During the winter, passage through the Straight of Teiko is often complicated by large floes of drift ice. Combined with high winds that occur during winter, this frequently brings air travel and maritime activity to a halt beyond the northern coast of Hokkaido. Ports on the open Pacific Ocean and Sea of Teiko are generally ice-free year round, though most rivers freeze during the winter.

Economy
Main article: Economy of Teiko, List of Corporations in Teiko

As of 2013, the national economy of Teiko is the top 30 largest in the world and the 11th in AIN, with an estimated gross domestic product (PPP) of $646.14 billion. The gdp per capita is estimated at $39,526, the fourth highest in AIN after Lisieux, Lower Columbia and Corraile and the 6th highest in Asia after Qatar, Singapore, Brunei, Taiwan and Kuwait. The Teikonian Zen (ʒ or TNZ) is the national unit of currency issued by the Teiko National Bank.

Teiko has a large industrial capacity and is one of the most technologically advance in the world. Its primary exports include semiconductors and electronic products, automobiles, machine tools, transport equipment, garments, copper products, iron and steel, chemical substances, coal and petroleum products. Major trading partners include Japan, USA, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Okatabawashi, Nakama and China. Teiko is classified as a middle to high power by many financial and political organizations.

A newly industrialized country, the Teiko economy has experienced rapid transition from planned economy to a more free market economy in 2000s. However, the majority of the economy is still remains heavily socialized as food and housing are extensively subsidized by the state; education and health care are free. As of 2013, of the country's total labor force is around 10.5 million on which the agricultural sector employs close to 10% and contributes to only about 12% of GDP. The industrial sector employs around 42% of the workforce and accounts for 55% of GDP. Meanwhile the 48% of workers involved in the services sector are responsible for 33% of GDP.

Teiko's economy was one of the world's fastest-growing from the early 1950s to the late 1980s, and Teiko is still one of the fastest-growing developed countries in the 2000s, along with Okatabawashi, Nakama, South Korea and the Southeast Asian Countries. Teikonians refer to this growth as the Haeru Period. The Teiko economy is heavily dependent on manufacturing, international trade and finance, and in 2010, Teiko was the tenth largest exporter and ninth largest importer in AIN. Despite the recent recession in Japan, Teiko's economy remains bullish from influx of trade from the rest of Asia and Europe and the growing BPO sector of the economy.

Despite the Teiko economy's high growth potential and apparent structural stability, the country suffers damage to its credit rating in the stock market because of political instability and re-centralization of the economy. Teiko, despite opening its market towards a more free enterprise still exercises socialistic practices in regards with basic needs such as utilities and food. Teiko have strict laws in the conduction of local and even foreign businesses. Majority of the corporations operating in Teiko are also being scrutinized by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority and is classified into three main classifications - State Owned, Semi-autonomous and Small and Medium Enterprises. Some government policies also limits the influence of independent business organizations and cooperatives in the country. All these factors as noted by the financial magazine,Onodera pose a huge threat to the booming economy. Although it was severely harmed by the Teiko economic crisis of the late 1986 driven by political problems, 1997 Asian financial crises and the 2000 dot.com bubble crash, the Teiko economy managed a rapid recovery and subsequently nearly doubled its GDP.

Other incongruities and challenges exist aside from strict government regulations and territorial disputes. The economy is heavily reliant on international trade and it has problems with attracting foreign investors which hinders the inflow of foreign currency in the country. Another factor is that regional development is uneven with Kaijo and Rakuzan gaining most of the new economic growth - more than half of the country's total GDP - at the expense of the other regions, although the government has taken steps to distribute economic growth by promoting investment in other areas of the country. Despite constraints, service industries such as tourism and business process outsourcing have been identified as areas with some of the best opportunities for growth for the country. Teiko is also now starting to diversify to manufacturing as more production corporations offer to construct their factories and facilities in the country.

Fitch Ratings and Moody's both rates the country with an "AA+" credit rating and Arashi and Kanjani includes the country in its list of the best countries for investments. Arashi and Kanjani also estimates that by the year 2025, Teiko will reach the $1 trillion GDP benchmark. Teiko is home to the Teiko National Stock Exchange, one of the largest stock markets by market capitalization. It is also a member of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia Development Bank and the East Asia Sphere among other groups and institutions. Teiko also hosts an annual Teiko Economic Forum that promotes the country to potential investors.

Energy
Main article: Energy in Teiko



Teiko is the most nuclear energy reliant country in the world. As of 2011, 80.9 percent of energy in Teiko was produced from nuclear, 11.3 percent from coal and the remaining percent from natural gas, solar energy, petroleum and hydropower. The Teiko government has always favored the use of nuclear as the main source of energy. However following the potential meltdown of Dojishima Nuclear Power Plant in 2010 wherein a plant failure released an undisclosed amount of radioactive materials in the atmosphere, public debates spark as opposition grew against nuclear energy. The government however remained in favor of the use of the technology and in response created a more strict protocols in the standard operating procedures of all power plants in the country. Tsuji Montaro, Minister for Utilities has announced in the Teiko Economic Forum that the government will provide better efforts to diversify its sources while maintain high levels of energy efficiency. As of the first half of 2014, all of the 15 completed nuclear power plants in Teiko are online. The Atarashi Nuclear Power Plant in Atarashi, Fukui is the largest nuclear power plant in the world generating an estimate of 10,000 MW.

Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Teiko



Teiko has a fairly technologically advanced transport network consisting of high-speed railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services, and air routes that criss-cross the islands of the country. The Ministry of Transportation through Teiko Expressway and Tollways Corporation operates the toll highways and service amenities en route. As of 2014, there are four major inter-prefecture expressways in the country, Teiko Interstate, Teiko National Circumferential Expressway (TNCE) and Rakuzan-Kaijo Expressway (RAKE), Seirin-Beika-Takezaki Expressway (SCTAX). The portion of TNCE that connects Hayama and Nakamiya Prefectures is the one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.

Teiko railways which are state-owned throughTeiko National Railways Corporation provides frequent train services to all major Teiko cities and municipalities. Railways remain as the most common form of commuting in Teiko. Plans for a high speed rail connecting Teiko to its neighboring country of Japan is now under study. ExpressRail, another high speed rail connecting the countries of Teiko, Japan, Okatabawashi and Nakama is also being mulled. The current Teiko high-speed rail system project which will connect the islands of Takao Prefecture and Daichi are also being constructed with the help of US and Japan. The new line will also feature an underwater tunnel crossing the Ichigo Channel. Teikonian trains are known to be very punctual. A train is recorded as late if it does not arrive 5 seconds after the specific time. Major cities including Kaijo, Rakuzan, Aokuro, Beika, Hamada and Dojimazaki have urban mass transit systems which may or may not be limited only to rapid transit systems, rapid bus transit systems and subways. Express bus terminals are available in most cities.



Teiko's largest airport, Shouzo Nijimura International Airport (SNIA) which is named in honor of the Shouzo Nijimura, a feudal Teiko hero, was completed in 2001. By 2013, it was serving 44.5 million passengers a year as one of the two major international gateway to Teiko. SNIA is one of the busiest airports in Asia and the world. The other international airport is located is Akashi International Airport (AIA) in Rakuzan City. SNIA is also one of the two major airports serving the Kaijo Metropolitan Area with the other other one being Miyazaki Domestic Airport. Other major domestic airports include Morizuki, Kiyohana, Kumamoto and Dojimazaki. All in all there are seven commercial airports in Teiko recognized by the Aviation Safety and Regulatory Department.



Teiko Airways, founded in 1954 is one of the oldest airways in the world and have served 29,640,000 passengers, including 16,490,000 international passengers in 2008. A second carrier, Oceanic Airlines, established in 1988, also serves domestic and international traffic. Combined, all of Teikonian major airlines serve 297 international routes. Smaller airlines, such as Kiyoshi Air, provide domestic service with lower fares. Air travel is a common and favored way of traveling in Teiko as some airlines often provide promos in irregular basis.

As an archipelago, inter-island travel via watercraft is often necessary. The busiest seaports are Kaijo, Rakuzan, Aokuro, Hamada, Dojimazaki and Aokise. Dojimazaki ranks as the busiest in seaport by tonnage handled in 2013 while Kaijo ranks as the busiest port via passenger volume. Passenger ships and other sea vessels such as those operated by 2GO Travel and Teiko Lines serve Kaijo City, with links to various cities and towns. In 2003, the 919-kilometer (571 mi) Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH), an integrated set of highway segments and ferry routes covering 17 cities and towns was established. Some rivers that pass through metropolitan areas, such as the Kuro River and Ao River, have air-conditioned commuter ferries. The Kuroko River Ferry Service which traverses the symbolic Kuroko River has numerous stops in the different wards of Kaijo Metropolitan Area and Tetsuya.

Communication
Main article: Communications in Teiko

Teiko's telecommunication system is highly developed and at the same time highly sophisticated. Teiko is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to foreign countries. As a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly antiquated system of the eastern part of the country has been rapidly modernized to the most advanced technology.

Teiko also have a high concentration of cellphone and telephone users. There is only one national Internet and telecommunications provider in Teiko, Teiko National Telecommunications Corporation which is under the Ministry of Internal and External Communications (MICE). However there are also other local-scale service providers but are far more expensive. Also, all Teikonians of legal age are mandated by law to have cellular phones. Teikonians don't pay for the service directly but are taken from the tax collected from them annually which is referred to as the the Telecommunications Service Tax. Each Teikonian have a corresponding national cellular code which is unique and can be compared to the national card number. However, there are exceptions to this rule which is determined by the MICE.

As a result, text messaging became a popular form of communication, and in 2013, the nation sent an average of one third of a billion SMS messages per month. Over ten million mobile phone users also use their phones as virtual wallets, making it a leader among developed nations in providing financial transactions over cellular networks. The Teiko National Telecommunications Corporation commonly known as TNTC is also categorized as a semi-public corporation and is listed in the Teiko National Stock Exchange. It is also one of the largest company in the country. Estimates for Internet penetration in Teiko is estimated at 16 million. Teiko also boasts one of the fastest Internet connection in the world at 34 Mbps. Social networking and watching videos are among the most frequent Internet activities. However, the government implements strict censorship of some websites in the Internet which are but not limited to social media and micro-blogging sites.

Tourism
Domestic tourism remains a vital part of the Teikonian economy and its culture. School children in many middle and high schools students are given the opportunity to visit several Teikonian landmarks and historical sites. The extensive rail network together with domestic flights sometimes in planes with modifications to favor the relatively short distances involved in intra-Teiko travel allows efficient and speedy transport. In inbound tourism, Teiko was ranked 10th in the world in 2012. In 2012, the Teiko Shinbun published a modern list of famous sights under the name Hendo Hyakkei (the Hundred Views of the Hendo Period).

Neighboring Japan is Teiko's most important source of foreign tourists. China, South Korea, Okatabawashi, Nakama and Southeast Asia are also major sources of foreign tourists in Teiko. In 2013, an estimate of 10.5 million foreign tourists have visited Teiko, up of 21% from 2012. The most famous places in Teiko by destination is Kaijo, Rakuzan, Hayama and Makoto.

South Korean travelers are the highest spenders in Teiko by country, spending an estimated 196.4 billion Zen in 2011, or almost a quarter of total expenditure by foreign visitors, according to data from the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Teiko

Population
Teiko's population is estimated at around 16.5 million, with 90% of the population living in the urban areas of the country in the islands of Daichi and Sakura. Teikonian society is linguistically and culturally homogeneous, composed of 88.5% ethnic Teikonian, with small populations of foreign workers and other minor ethnic groups. People from South Korea, Japan, Nakama, China, the Philippines and Okatabawashi are among the small minority groups in Teiko. In 2012, there is an estimate of 250,000 Japanese in Teiko, making it the largest foreign minority in the country.

Teiko has one of the longest overall life expectancy at birth of any country in the world: 71.5 years for persons born in the period 2010–2015. The population of Teiko continues to grow at an annual rate of 4.1% from 2001-2011 and is expected to hit the 20 million benchmark on 2020. The population median age is 32.6. There is an estimate of 100 to 150 thousand Teikonians living outside Teiko, majority on East Asia, Europe and the United States.

Teiko suffers from a high suicide rate. Several measure has been done to prevent suicides but the suicide rate continues to rise. In 2010, the number of suicides exceeded 6,000 for the twelfth straight year. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people under 30 and is the sixth leading cause of death in the country in general.

Language
Japanese has always been the national language of Teiko, more than 99 percent of the population speaks it as their first language. Japanese is an agglutinative language distinguished by a system of honorifics reflecting the hierarchical nature of the Sanese society, with verb forms and particular vocabulary indicating the relative status of speaker and listener. Sanese writing uses Kanji (Chinese characters) and two sets of Kana (syllabaries based on simplified Chinese characters), as well as the Latin alphabet and Arabic numerals.

Aside from Japanese, Teikonese is also an important dialect mostly spoken from people living in the islands of Sakura. There are around at least 5 major dialects in Teiko which forms the Teikonese-Japanese language family. Among the three Japanese speaking countries, Teiko has the most diversified language which is mainly due to Western influences and preservation of local dialects. In the recent years, the Teiko government has also been promoting the use of English as a major language especially when dealing with international relations in contrast to the traditional Japanese medium of teaching. Most public and private schools require students to take courses in both Japanese, Teikonese and English.

Ethnicity
There five legally recognized ethnic groups in Teiko, Kaijonese (which is also referred to as Teikonian), Rakunean, Seirinan, Ainu and Beikanese.

Religion
Teiko enjoys full religious freedom based on Article 20 of its Constitution. Despite this majority of the people in Teiko are unbelievers. In the most recent surveys, around 72 percent of the Teikonian population do not consider themselves believers in any religion. The biggest religion in Teiko however are Buddhism and Shintoism which accounts 80 percent of the total religionists in Teiko.

Nevertheless, the level of participation remains high, especially during festivals and occasions such as the first shrine visit of the New Year. Taoism and Confucianism from Peilan have also influenced Teikonian beliefs and customs. Teikonian streets are decorated on Tanabata, Obon and Christmas. Fewer than five percent of Teikonians are Christian. Other minority religions include Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Judaism, and since the mid-19th century numerous new religious movements have emerged in Teiko

Cities
Main article: List of Cities in Teiko

A city is local administrative unit of Teikō. Cities are ranked on the same level as towns and villages, with the difference that they are not component of the district. Like any other administrative units, cities are defined by the Teiko Constitution of 1986.

City Status

Article 10, Section 5 of the Teiko Constitution of 1986 sets the the following conditions for a municipality to be designated as a city: The designation will be approved by the prefectural governor and the minister of interior and district government.
 * Population must be at least at 75,000 or greater
 * At least 60% of the household must be established in a central urban area
 * At least 60% of the household must be employed in commerce, industry or other urban occupations as designated by the Ministry of Interior and District Government.
 * Any other ordinance set by the prefectural ordinance must be satisfied.

A city can be theoretically demoted into a town or village when it fails to meet any of the following conditions stated above, but such demotion has not yet occurred.

Classification for large cities

The Cabinet of Teiko can designate a city of at least 200,000 inhabitants to have the status of a special city, core city or designated city. These statuses expand the scope of administrative authority designated from the prefectural government to the city government.

Status of Kaijo and Rakuzan

Kaijo and Rakuzan City, both the top two largest cities in Teiko existed as singe core city until 1986 when it was designated as special administrative economic areas to be directly governed by the central government.

List of Largest Metropolitan Areas

Nearly 80% of all Teikonians live in urban areas. Majority of them lives in the Kiseki no Kaigan (Coast of Miracles) which is colloquially called as the Kiseigan Belt. It is the name for the megalopolis in Teiko extending from Kamata Prefecture in the north all the way to Makoto Prefecture in the south, running for almost 1,200 km (750 mi), it is one of the biggest urban agglomerations in the world. As of 2014, it has an estimate of more than 13.5 million people.

Education
Main article: Education in Teiko

Education in Teiko was first formalized in 1895 after the Teiko-Japan War and has been since then an important factor for every Teikonian. One of the manifestations is that the Teiko government invests heavily in education. The Ministry of Budget and Finance allocates the second biggest budget to health and education services. The Teiko Regional Statistics Office reports a simple literacy rate of 96.5% and a functional literacy rate of 94.5% for 2010. Literacy is about equal for males and females. The Programme for International Student Assessment coordinated by the OECD currently ranks the overall knowledge and skills of Teikonian 15-year-olds as eight best in the world. Teikonian students consistently rank in the top ten in the world in the two major international assessments of mathematics and science knowledge, QPI and OECD.



The Ministry of Health, Education, Culture and Sports (HECS) lists 495 higher education institutions, 390 of which are public, 101 private and 4 are state universities. Classes start in August and end in May. The majority of colleges and universities follow a semester calendar with some exemptions of whose who follow a trimester system. There are a number of foreign schools with study programs and foreign exchange student initiatives. Republic Act No. 9163 gives the framework of basic education in Teiko and provides for free compulsory six years elementary, three year middle school and three year high school education. English and Sanese are both used as language of instruction in all institutions.

There is only one ministry that handles all matters related to education and the same ministry also handles health, cultural and sports development. Pursuant to provide better services, plans to create a single specific ministry was raised in the Central-46 in late 2013 and is currently being deliberated. As of the current structure, there are four major departments under the HECS that facilitates education development. The Department of Education covers elementary and non-formal education; the Department of Secondary Education handles both the middle school and high school education; the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) administers a more technical post-secondary middle-level education training and development; and the Department of Higher Education (CHED) supervises the college and graduate academic programs and degrees as well as regulates standards in higher education. Public universities are all non-sectarian entities, and are further classified as State University and College (SUC) or Local College and University (LCU). The Teiko National University is the national university of Teiko and has four campuses around the country and the University of Kaijou is the oldest educational institution in Teiko. Both universities are included in the top 20 universities in the world by OECD.

Health
Main article: Health in Teiko

Manga and Anime
Main article: Manga, Anime

National Holidays
Public holidays in Teiko were established by the Public Holiday Law of 1990 as amended from the previous Public Holiday Law of 1976. A provision of the law establishes that when a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the next working day shall become a public holiday. Additionally, any day that falls between two other national holidays shall also become a holiday. May 4, sandwiched between Constitution Memorial Day on May 3 and Children's Day on May 5, was an annual example of such a holiday until it was replaced by Greenery Day in 2007. However, there are two holidays which are in exceptions to this rule which are the Teiko Independence Day and the Premier's Birthday. If either falls on a Sunday or Saturday, that holiday remains as such.

Prior to Teiko's adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1873, the dates of holidays were based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. As a result, New Year's Day, for example, was celebrated at the beginning of spring, as it is in modern China and Korea. Since 2010, Teiko Premier Akashi Seijuro has both declared December 24, 25 and 31 as special holidays in observance of Christmas Eve, Christmas and the end of the year. Thus, there are two golden weeks in Teiko (May 3-6 and December 20-25). There are no definite rules on religious holidays but are normally celebrated in different customs and practices. Tolerance of religious events also varies from one event to another. As of 2014, Teiko has 16 national, government-recognized holidays.

There are also a few international events or holidays that are observed by many Teikonians such as the Valentines Day on February 14, White Day on March 14, Mothers' Day on May, Fathers' Day in June, United Nations World Celebration Day on October, Christmas on December 25 and New Year's Eve on December 31. Although not a holiday, Teiko also observes the Japanese Star Festival (Tanabata) either on July or August 7.

Sports
Main article: Sports in Teiko

Traditionally, sumo is considered as Teiko's national sport although there is no legislation as of the moment that legalizes sumo wrestling's current status. Japanese martial arts such as judo, karate and kendo are also widely practiced and enjoyed by spectators in the country. After the Himuro Period, many Western sports were introduced in Teiko and began to spread through the education system. Teiko's educational system highly encourages engagement in sports as some sports are taken as prerequisite to higher levels in middle and high schools. Most of the sports commission and sports related organizations are facilitated by the Ministry of Health, Education, Culture and Sports. Teiko also actively participates in many international sports activities as the Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics, Youth Oympics, International Cup, FIFA World Cup among others.

Basketball is currently the most popular spectator sport in the country. Recent polling indicates that a majority, 51% of Teikonian sports fans continue to self-identify as basketball fans, with football ranked 2nd at 25% of respondents. Baseball comes in third at 10%. However, the polling did not indicate the extent to which respondents follow both sports. Teiko's top professional league, Teiko National Basketball League, was established in 1976 and is one of the oldest basketball leagues in world after the 1975 Philippine Basketball Association and 1946 National Basketball Association in the United States. The Teiko National Basketball Team has won several medals at the FIBA Asia Division and Asian Basketball Championship. To date, the country has produced one NBA player, Hyuga Junpei.

Football and baseball are popular sports in the country as well. Recent years have been characterized by increasing attendance and ticket prices for professional baseball and football games. Teiko has both one professional football and baseball league while there are several for amateurs. Other sports such as golf, volleyball, tennis and table tennis are also well practice in Teiko both in the professional, amateur and educational rank. Forms of auto racing like the Super GT series and Formula Teiko are also gaining increasing popularity from 2008. Sports events are usually broadcasted in national television by TV Teiko Network, the biggest television network in Teiko.

Winter sports are also imminent in Teiko as characterized by Teiko's attendance during Winter Games. Teiko has won several medals in the Winter Olympics second to that of South Korea with a total of 40 medals (21 gold, 12 silver, and 7 bronze). At the 2010 Winter Olympics, Teiko ranked sixth in the overall medal rankings. Teiko is especially strong in short track speed skating. However, speed skating and figure skating are very popular, too, and ice hockey is an emerging sport with Sakurada Soshitsu winning their first ever Asia League Ice Hockey title in March 2010.