Yakashima

The Federated Republic of Yakashima and the Nishisuito Islands is an island nation in the western Pacific ocean. Located 700 kilometers east of Japan, the islands are divided into 16 provinces spread over many islands, Yakashima is a parliamentary democracy, where the executive and legislative branches of government are interconnected.

Yakashima is a stratovolcanic archipelago of 521 islands. The 3 largest are Meitochi, Botonishi and Engishima, which make up the majority of Yakashima's land area. Yakashima's population of 36.9 million, making it the 37th largest in the world. 6.7 million people live in the Sentomachi area, making it the 39th largest city in the world

Archaeological evidence indicates aboriginals, known now as the Orichoro, lived in Yakashima since about the year 300. These people likely immigrated to the islands from Japan and settled in the western islands of the nation. In 1266, Japan gained control of the islands, but they were almost forgotten during the Edo Period. In 1612, Dutch sailors landed on the eastern shores, and a clash between the Western and Eastern societies continued until Yakashima's independence in 1798, as Japan began entering the Meiji Period.

Yakashima is a member of the UN and the G20. A minor economic and political power, Yakashima is a developed country with the world's ninth largest economy by nominal GDP. IN 1933, Yakashima renounced its right to declare war, but still has a small military and navy. Yakashima ranks high in measures of freedom, civil liberties, rights, equality and education, and ranked 3rd in the 2014 Human Development Index.

Etymology
The name Yakashima likely comes from the Japanese phrase mountain island. This is probably due to the island's large Soratawa Mountains in the western regions of the island that Japanese settlers first saw when settling the mountains.

When the Dutch settled in Yakashima, they called the islands Greiland, which is a compound word of the Dutch phrase green land, likely owing to the island's lush forests. There are other names, but none of them stuck, and in 1798, the name Yakashima was chosen as the final name.

Prehistory
Evidence of human habitation of Yakashima dates back to the year 312, where explorers from what we now call Japan immigrated to the islands. It is unknown why, but early records suggest they christened the land Tochichiksura, which means land of Earth and sky. These settlers established the city of Yuhimachi and began to spread all around the islands. These people became known as the Orichoro.

The Orichoro developed a culture and history of their own, similar to Japan. Around the year 456, there were 3 main societies on the island: the Yamajunin (mountain dwellers), the Moribito (forest people) and Firosha (field workers). Beginning in the year 566, Ichirou Akiyama, the current Emperor of Yakashima united the three societies into an alliance known as the Toritiekei, or the Triple Alliance. This created political stability and ended many of the ways occurring among the societies.

In 501 AD, Yakashima entered the Yutabito Period, which marked prosperous living among all the three, now united socieites. Ichirou Akiyama died that same year and passed the throne to his son Daichi. At this time the population of Yuhimachi swelled to 30 thousand. Other cities such as Sentomachi, Mokuzudo and Ungamizu grew to over 15 thousand people. Countless other villages also popped up. This period, which lasted until the 13th century, saw the Yakashima people much better then any other ancient societies. No other civilization even knew of its existence.