Kaijo

Kaijo (海常), officially Kaijo Metropolis (海常都) is one of the four special administrative regions of the Federal Kingdom of Teiko. It is also first of the two metropolis of the country preceding Rakuzan. In 2017, it has an estimated metropolitan population of almost 12.5 million making it the most populous urban area in Teiko and the sixth largest urban agglomeration among member nations of the Alliance of Independent Nations. Kaijo is also the center of the Greater Kaijo Area, the premier gateway for legal immigration to Teiko and transport hub hosting the country's largest and busiest seaport and airport. As Teiko's most important city, it is the country's commercial financial, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment center. It is also home to the Teiko Stock Exchange, one of the largest stock market in the world by market capitalization.

Although often referred to as a city, it is official known and governed as a "metropolitan prefecture" which differs from and combines elements of both a city and a prefecture. The Kaijo Metropolitan Government, the arm of Teiko's federal government that controls the metropolis administers over the twenty special wards of Kaijo (each governed as an individual city), which cover the area that was formerly the City of Kaijo and its surrounding towns and villages before it merged and became the subsequent metropolitan prefecture in 1975. Beika, Aokise, Tetsuya and other directly adjacent and surrounding cities, towns and villages are often included in calculation of the Greater Kaijo Area population and area but a few of these municipalities fall out of the Kaijo metropolitan government's jurisdiction.

Historically, Kaijo has served as Teiko's capital for years until 1990 when Tetsuya was opened to public as a planned capital city. Kaijo traces its roots from a small fishing and trading village of Hakata which was established by Mibu Kyoichirou in the 13th century. Kaijo has also survived attacks from Mongol Empire leader Kublai Khan in 1274. The city has also been center of several political revolutions that led to Teiko's independence from Japan in 1895 when Teiko became a Kingdom and sovereignty was reestablished. Since 1946, Kaijo has served as Teiko's trading center and has gradually grown into the country's chief economic center.

Kaijo is Teiko's most popular tourist destination with almost 10 million unique foreign visitors in 2017. The city is renowned for its famous landmarks such as Kaijo Shrine, Kaijo National Museum, The Bund, Kaijo TV Tower, Old Kaijo, Kaijo Art Center and the largest amusement park in the world, Amagi Brilliant Park. Shuehei ward is also famous for its casinos such as the new completed Project CityCenter, the most expensive land development in the country. Since the influx of casinos in 2010, Kaijo has been rivaling neighbor Maucau and Las Vegas in terms of gaming revenue. In March 2015, CNN has reported Kaijo to be one of the world's most livable cities.

Etymology
Kaijo was termed from two Kanji characters 海 and 常 which both sounds as Kai and Jou respectively using Goon reading. The characters literally means "ever by the sea" which denotes the city's location close to a body of water. Prior to this, the city was known as both Hakata and Fukuoka which represents the two towns merged to form the current Kaijo. When Hakata and Fukuoka decided to merge, a meeting was held to decide the name for the new city. Hakata was initially chosen, but a group of samurai crashed the meeting and forced those present to choose a different name for the merged city for delicadeza. Kuroda Nagamasa, the leading daimyo in the area suggested to use the words Kaijo in order to avoid confusions and to appease both sides. The name also represents the former part of town that was washed away during a tsunami in 1621. However until now, Hakata and Fukuoka still appears in many parts of the city which is evident in the Hakata ward and Fukuoka Ward.

Early history
The earliest known record of human settlement in the present day Kaijo was the Nakoku founded in the first century A.D. Nakoku is considered by historians as the first polity in Teiko. It was a principality based in Shika island, part of the present day Hakata ward. The Nakoku held significant hegemony over Kaijo Bay and its surrounding lands. However, the current settlement traces its roots to two relatively younger major villages, Fukuoka, small fishing village and Hakata which served as the Port of Dazaifu both of which were established around 686 A.D. Dazaifu was an administrative regional capital in 663 A.D. when the country was under the Imperial Court of Japan.

In the early 10th century, the two towns were central to the cultural and trade exchange occurring in the country. As Daizafu is closer to mainland Asia and Oka, emissaries and merchants from foreign nations flocked to Dazaifu. The influx led to massive immigration in Fukuoka and Hakata which remained as the main trading hub and port respectively. By the 11th century, the Mibu clan has taken control of the towns as part of the Chikuzen Province. During the Nanboku-chō period when Emperor Go-Daigo fled to Dazaifu, Fukuoka and Hakata became major centers of anti-Ashikaga sentiment.

Mibu Kyoichiro upon becoming shogun proclaimed that Hakata was to be made his base. Hakata provided deep and safe ports and strong international linkages. By 1311, the construction of the colossal Tachibana Castle began in the present day Hakata Ward (the castle would later be renamed as Hakata Castle). Successful military campaigns of Kyoichiro against the Ashikagas led to birth of a belligerent Teiko state. When Emperor Go-Murakami died and left no heir, the Southern Court in Dazaifu and nobility was abolished and was replaced with the Bakufu Court based in Tachibana Castle.

Hakata would later be sieged by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during his Teiko Campaigns in the 15th century. A combined army of Okataians and Teikonians would later repel the Toyotomi army and establish the first written peace treaty between Teiko and Japan. During the subsequent Hakata period, Hakata grew into one of the largest cities in the world with a population topping one million by the late 18th century. Hakata became the de facto capital of Teiko.

At the start of the 19th century, increasing population and lack of natural resources led to decrease in economic condition. Rising inflation and threats of foreign invasion have crippled the Bakufu government. Social unrest mounted in the wake of higher prices culminated in widespread rebellions and demonstrations, especially in the form of the "smashing" of rice establishments. Meanwhile, supporters of the Kuroko clan leveraged the disruption that these widespread rebellious demonstrations were causing to further consolidate power by overthrowing the last Mibu shogun, Kyosuke, in 1846. After more than 500 years, the Mibu shogunate came to an end.

1846-1895
In 1846, Kuroko Toyohisa proclaimed a new government and established Akamayu as the new center of governance. From 1846 to 1895, Hakata would lose its role as the de facto capital but remained as a major economic and trading center. Hakata would later experience population stagnation as diseases and natural disaster plague the city.

1895-1975
In 1895, when the Kingdom of Teiko was established, political power was once again placed in Hakata and would once again become the capital of the country. In 1896, the towns of Hakata and Fukuoka would merge and the City of Kaijo was established. Increase developments in sanitation and industrialization led to the city's population boom. The towns of Ranhoma and Nagatama would later be absorbed in 1910. Urban sprawl and lack of urban planning led to annexation of many small towns and villages to the city and by 1939, the City of Kaijo would have reach 2 million people in population.

In 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Kaijo and razed the city to the ground. Continuous air raids have destroyed most of the city. The city became the new headquarters of Imperial Japanese Army in Teiko.

After the Restoration of the Kingdom of Teiko in 1945, Kaijo became the country's major economic hub and de facto capital.

1975-present
In 1975, the City of Kaijo merged with its surrounding towns and the Kaijo Metropolis was established. The Kaijo Metropolis was the second special administrative region in the country after Ryukyu. However, it became the first metropolis in the country. In 1985, many government offices were transfered to the newly constructed federal capita, Tetsuya. In 1986, Tetsuya officially became the new capital while Kaijo remained as the economic and cultural center.

Since 2014, Kaijo has hosted many events such as Teiko Trade Festival, TeikoVision, Teiko Short Film Festival and the recently concluded inaugural AVF Grand Prix. In 2018, Kaijo will host the AFA Alliance Cup becoming the first Asian city to host the event.

Climate
Kaijo has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa) and it has hot humid summers and relatively mild winters. The city also sees on average about 1,600 mm (63 in) of precipitation per year, with a stretch of more intense precipitation between the months of June and September. Along with much of the prefecture, Kaijo Metropolis has a moderate climate with an annual average temperature of 16.3 °C (61 °F), average humidity of 70% and 1,811 annual daylight hours. Roughly 40% of the year is cloudy.

Winter temperatures rarely drop below 0 °C (32 °F) and it rarely snows, though light rain does fall on most days if not as consistently as on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu. Spring is warm and sunnier, with cherry blossoms appearing in late March or early April. The rainy season (tsuyu) lasts for approximately six weeks through June and July, during which time the humidity is very high and temperatures hover between 25 °C (77 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). Summers are humid and hot, with temperatures peaking around 37 °C (99 °F). Autumn, often considered to be Kaijo's best season, is mild and dry, though the typhoon season runs between August and September.

Seismicity
Kaijo is not as seismically active as many other parts of Teiko, but does experience occasional earthquakes. The most powerful recent earthquake registered a lower 6 of maximum 7 of the Teikonian intensity scale and hit at 10:53 am local time on March 20, 2005, killing one person and injuring more than 400. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Sea of Teiko, along a yet-undiscovered extension of the Kego fault that runs through the centre of Kaijo. Genkai island, a part of Hakata-ku, was the most severely damaged by the earthquake and almost all island residents were forced to evacuate. Aftershocks continued intermittently throughout the following weeks as construction crews worked to rebuild damaged buildings throughout the city. Traditional Teikonian houses, particularly in the areas of Daimyo and Imaizumi, were the most heavily damaged and many were marked for demolition, along with several apartment buildings. Insurance payments for damages were estimated at approximately 15.8 billion zen.

A similar quake, with an intensity of 5+, also occurred one month later on April 20, 2005.

Kaijo's major Kego fault runs northwest to southeast, roughly parallel to Kaikyu Akashi train line, and was previously thought to be 22 km (14 mi) long. It is estimated to produce earthquakes as strong as magnitude 7 at the focus approximately once every 15,000 years. If the focus were located at a depth of 10 km (6 mi), this would translate to an earthquake of a lower-6 magnitude (similar to the March 20, 2005 earthquake) in downtown Kaijo if it were the epicenter. The probability of an earthquake along the known length of the Kego fault occurring within 30 years was estimated at 0.4% prior to the March 20, 2005 earthquake, but this probability has been revised upwards since. Including the new extension out into the Sea of Teiko, the Kego fault is now thought to be 40 km (25 mi) long.

Following reports that the city has only prepared for earthquakes up to a magnitude of 6.5, several strong aftershocks renewed fears that the quakes might cause the portion of the Kego fault that lies under the city to become active again, leading to an earthquake as big as, or bigger than, the March 20 quake.

Cityscape and administrative divisions
Kaijo's sprawling cityscape has been described as the "greatest showcase of the Teikonian urban phenomenon."

Neighborhoods
Kaijo is roughly divided into five main districts, central, north, south, east and west Kaijo. In celebration of the Teiko National Games, the metropolis divided into east and west districts.

Central Kaijo which can also be referred to as the New Kaijo is home to Aoi, Sakai, Fuma and Shinizaka, the four largest business districts in the country with Fuma alone being home to Akashi Global City, the largest and the most comprehensive multi-purpose land development in Teiko. It is also home to most of the headquarters of the largest corporations in the country such as SZT Group of Companies and Teiko Petrochemicals as well as the Teiko National Bank. Central Kaijo also serves the major retail hub and contains a prominent portion of the city's skyscrapers and are often featured in photographs of Kaijo's skyline. Shinizaka is also famous for its scramble crossing.

North Kaijo contains Amabuki Hakata, Nozaki, Yuta and Manato. The area is home to Hakata Castle and Hakata Canal City. It is also the location of the proposed Hayama Global Village which is being built in a reclaimed land south of Shikanoshima Island. Manato is the location of the Port of Kaijo, the busiest port in the country in millions of TEUs handled while Hakata is the location of the Port of Hakata, the busiest port in the country in terms of passenger throughput. Shingu and Hisiyama which are located in Nozaki are famous for its network of shopping arcades and gaming centers. Amabuki is the location of the famous Amagi Brilliant Park and one of the busiest rail stations in the country, Amabuki Station.

South Kaijo is composed of Tomoya, Nishi and Kurume. Tomoya is home the country's largest red light district, Shiganshina. Naramaki also known as Tomoya ni-chome is the largest hub of gay subculture in Teiko, housing the one of the world's highest concentration of gay bars. Kurume houses Kaijo's southernmost point. Nishi is the location of many start-up corporations including the Nishi IT Park which hosts some of the newest IT related business in the country.

East Kaijo which is sometimes called as the old Kaijo is the original location of the City of Kaijo. The four wards, Echizen, Fukuoka, Shuhei and Yuu are wards of the original City of Kaijo until it was dissolved and the Kaijo Metropolis was established. Fukuoka is the second largest business district outside of Central Kaijo. It also contains Tenjin which has the largest underground shopping arcade in the world. Fukuoka is also home to Nakasu where most of the oldest corporations in the country have their headquarters. Echizen is location of the Echizen Marina Garden. Kamisumatsunai in Shuhei was the former location of many foreign embassies when Kaijo was the capital of Teiko. Mutsunokawa in Yuu was the location of the former Teiko Royal Council Hall.

West Kaijo is composed Shirofuku, Kimagure, Shunsuke and Tachikawa. Shirofuku is the largest ward in terms of land area. Funadaka in Shirofuku is the location of the new Kaijo Midtown. In the recent years, Shirofuku has seen an unprecedented growth in development with more and more new urban areas are being built. Aoba and Akabane, the two largest otaku culture districts in Teiko are also locate in Shirofuku. Kimagure is known as the rich-man's city and is home to many prominent Teikonians. The area is also well known for its international fashion houses, cafes and restaurants.

Cities
Five cities are included in the Greater Kaijo Area but these cities have their own local government and is independent from the Kaijo Metropolitan Government. The following cities are:


 * Aokise
 * Beika
 * Hamada
 * Hirosaki
 * Tetsuya

Integration with Beika
Kaijo and Beika have very close business, trade and social links as demonstrated by several researches. Plans to create a unified metropolis hjas been proposed in early 2000s. As of 2015, Beika's population is included in the computation for Kaijo Metropolitan Area's population but the two have separate government jurisdictions.

Education
Kaijo is home to many of Teiko's most prestigious educational institutes which includes the University of Kaijou, the first university in the country, the Teiko National University, the country's national university and Mitsuhashi University. Public schools in Kaijou are operated by Kaijo Board of Education. It is also home of the Teiko National Library, with the other branch in Tetsuya.

Twin towns and sister cities
Alliance of Independent Nations
 * Nanohana, Nakama (since 1916)
 * Suzukake, Nakama (since 1952)
 * Meriah, Karasem (since 1960)
 * Salzburg, Mikenstein (since 1966)
 * Tasbury, New Duveland (since 2014)

Worldwide
 * 🇯🇵 Tokyo, Japan (since 1978)
 * 🇺🇸 New York City, United States (since 1984)
 * 🇰🇷 Seoul, South Korea (since 1988)
 * 🇨🇳 Beijing, China (since 1989)
 * 🇮🇩 Jakarta, Indonesia (since 1989)
 * 🇵🇭 Manila, Philippines (since 1990)
 * 🇧🇷 São Paulo State, Brazil (since 1991)
 * 🇪🇬 Cairo, Egypt (since 1991)
 * 🇷🇺 Moscow, Russia (since 1994)
 * 🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany (since 1995)
 * 🇮🇹 Rome, Italy (since 1998)
 * London, United Kingdom (since 2010)