Yamatai

Yamatai, officially the Empire of Yamatai (Yamataian: 山都 Yamatai; formally 山都帝国 Yamatai Teikoku), also known as Yamato, is an island nation off the west coast of Escar, at the north-eastern border of the Varunan Ocean. Yamatai is bordered by the Varunan Ocean to the west, the Sea of Yashima to the south-east, the Hokkai Sea to the north-east and the Tartaric Ocean to the north. Yamatai shares maritime borders with Chisei and Chanha to the east, Shojin to the south-east, and Yeongseon in the south. Located in the Yashiman archipelago, Yamatai occupies the majority of the region's island groups, including the Naichi archipelago and the Hinoan archipelago. The six largest islands are Akitsukuni, Hōshima, Hinomoto, Harukuni, Ōshima and Hasukuni.

Yamatai is one of the most densely populated and urbanised countries in the world, with a population of around 107 million living on narrow coastal plains. 35 million people live in the Greater Niihama Area, the most populous metropolitan area in the world. A largely homogeneous society, make up 95% of Yamatai's population. The capital of Yamatai is Heian, other major cities include Niihama, Yamato, and Okayama.

Yamatai has been inhabited as early as the Upper Paleolithic period through waves of migrations northwards from Yeongseon and westwards from mainland Escar. The first mentions of Yamatai appear in Hinoan records from around 300 BCE, with early Yamatai coalescing in the 2nd century BCE under the Kingdom of Miyako. The Kingdom of Miyako disintegrated into three competing states from the 4th to 7th centuries CE during the Sankoku Period, before once again being unified under the Empire of Yamatai in 670. From this point, Yamataian history is characterised by a strong centrally-governed absolute monarchy overseeing a network of vassal feudal domains, as well as the emergence of a unique culture influenced by neighbouring civilisations. Competition with nearby Hinomoto and Shirakawa on the mainland developed over the centuries, and by the 17th century, the Hinoan Sakuma Dynasty had achieved dominion over Yamatai. Under Hinoan rule, Yamatai carried out several wars with the mainland and participated in the early age of exploration and colonialism.

Dissatisfaction with Hinoan rule led to the Yamataian Civil War in the 1710s and the foundation of the Second Empire of Yamatai, a period of egalitarian meritocratic government, before a xenophobic panic led to the Sakura Revolution and the start of the period of military-rule in the mid 1800s. During this period, Yamatai modernised rapidly and came into conflict with many of its neighbours and eventually attained a position of supremacy in the region, absorbing the Hinoan Shogunate and ultimately fighting the First and Second Escar-Varunan Wars with Chisei. After losing the Second Escar-Varunan War, Yamatai entered a period of decline, losing all of its colonial possessions and facing governmental instability. In 1957, the last military dictator Okabe Nariakira dissolved the military dictatorship and introduced modern parliamentary democracy to Yamatai. Taking an active stance in the Escaric Divide, Yamatai became a staunch supporter of anti-communism as it rebuilt its economy. In 1974, Hinomoto was returned to Yamatai as a Special Autonomous Region after 30 years of Chiseian occupation. The devastating 1997 Hasukuni earthquake caused over 12,000 deaths in Yamatai. Yamatai later participated in the 2010 Masukan War. It has since been taking an active part in global economic and military affairs, and is considered a global power.

Yamatai is a   with an elected legislature known as the Teikoku Gikai. It is considered a great power and is a member of numerous international organisations, including the Ordic League, the Heian Cooperation Organisation, and the Wanshu Development Summit. The country maintains a modern military with the world's fourth-largest military budget, used in the modern context for self-defence and peacekeeping. The country benefits from a highly skilled workforce and is among the most highly educated countries in the world, with the world's second-highest life expectancy, though it is also experiencing a decline in population. Culturally, Yamatai is renowned for its art, cuisine, music, popular culture, including its prominent film and animation industries.

Etymology
The word Yamatai is an archaic reading of the word 山都, Yamato, which translates directly to "mountain capital". The origin of the name can be found in the location of the original capital for the Empire of Yamatai, located at the foot of Tenzan Mountain. As the evolved, shifts in phonology occurred throughout the medieval period, resulting in the word Yamatai becoming differentiated from the more general term Yamato. The word Yamato is also used to refer to the. In 1853, as part of Kayakoist revisionism, the Yamataian military government declared that the word Yamato in the context of the Yamataian people would use the characters 大和, meaning "great harmony".

Due to the shared etymology, the city Yamato uses the same koji characters as Yamatai.

History
Main article: History of Yamatai, History of Yashima

Prehistory and ancient period
Yamatai was first settled by modern humans around 30,000 BCE. This paleolithic culture was eventually overtaken by the Mesolithic Eastern Washu culture in Hinomoto around 12,500 BCE, which later spread to Akitsukuni as the Washu culture. Around the same period, the Sanae culture also emerged in southern Yamatai. Both the Washu and the Sanae were semi-sedentary hunter-gatherers with rudimentary agriculture and pit dwellings. Around 1,000 BCE, at the start of the Hakurei-Kirisame period, the Hakurei people arrived in southern Yamatai via the Eso islands from modern Chanha, bringing wet-rice farming, new styles of pottery, and metallurgy. At the same time, the Kirisame culture also spread to Hinomoto and eventually Akitsukuni from the mainland, bringing metallurgy, silk production, and horse riding to Hinomoto and Yamatai.

Complex civilisations formed in Yamatai by the 6th century BCE, with the oldest being the Asahina Kingdom in Hinomoto, which was founded in 560 BCE according to the Chanhan Book of Chaoxian. The Chanhan Book of Xue includes the first record of Naichi Yamatai, stating that there were 100 kingdoms in the Naichi archipelago. In the 2nd century CE, the Later Hakurei Migrations occurred as Yashiman people moved to the mainland due to a period of intense volcanic activity and warfare, settling in modern Chisei.

In the middle of the 3rd century CE, the Miyako Kingdom began to expand from their initial territory in present-day Kinai Province. Using both warfare and diplomacy, Miyako successfully formed the first unified Yamataian state in around 350. At its height, the Miyako Kingdom encompassed much of eastern Yamatai and had its capital in present-day Miyako City. The state was led by the semi-mythical priestess-monarch Himiko, who is also a major figure in Michi and is claimed to be the ancestor of the modern Yamataian monarchy through an unbroken matrilineal lineage. Miyako controlled its territory through the Gozoku clans (豪族), who swore fealty to Himiko in exchange for rewards and roles in government. Miyako interacted with Hinomoto and the major mainland states, sending emissaries to Chanha on at least three occasions. The animistic religious practices of Miyako eventually evolved into Michi.

In 482, Himiko died, which modern scholars believe was due to the final Himiko not having a suitable heir. This caused the outbreak of the lengthy Kōjutsu War (甲戌) in 484 between various Gozoku clans that vied for succession or independence, marking the end of the Miyako Kingdom and the fracturing of the Miyako domain into various warring states. Continuing for almost a century, the warring states eventually coalesced into seven major states each led by an Ariake (有名) by 547, marking the start of the Yamataian classical era with the Seven States Period.

Classical and medieval periods
Siddhism was first introduced to the Kingdom of Hinomoto from Chanha in the late 6th century, eventually spreading to the Naichi archipelago by 652, when the Ariake of Kuramoto State issued an order to build the first Siddhist temple at Kōya. Siddhism faced a divided reception among the Yamataian states, with some supporting the religion and others resisting it strongly. Native religious leaders also began taking steps to organise their faith to resist Siddhism, laying the foundations for organised Michi. The disagreements over Siddhism eventually led to the outbreak of the partly religiously-motivated Shinyu War in 710, which caused caused the anti-Siddhist Munemoto State to conquer all of its rival states on Harukuni and Hoshima, beginning the Three States Period.

During the Three States Period, the relative stability allowed the growth of Yamataian culture, such as the emergence of Yamataian literature and the beginning of work on the Sashizuki, the central religious text of Michi. The foundation of the Kamamori Shrine by the Munemoto government in 785, which sought to organise and standardise Michi practices, caused a turning point for the native Yamataian religion. In 799, the Munemoto government promulgated the Akagi Reforms, introducing a Chanhan-style government and building a national taxation system, though they remained militantly opposed to Siddhism. Simultaneously, Siddhist-friendly Kuramoto and Miyazaki States experienced an expansion of Siddhist-inspired artwork and architecture, also adopting Chanhan-style governments and sending envoys to Hinomoto and the mainland to learn about writing, politics, and art.

In 855, Empress Himiko was abruptly coronated in the Munemoto State, taking over the country. Believed to be the reincarnation of the ancient demigoddess Himiko, Himiko led the Munemoto State to reunify Yamatai in the Kigai War (859-865). Himiko proclaimed the formation of the Empire of Yamatai at Sanjo-Kyo (山城京) (modern Yamato City) near Mount Tenzan on 7 May 865, a date celebrated as National Unification Day in Yamatai today. After unification, major governmental reforms were carried out in the form of the Kashiwagi Reforms in 869, which expanded the taxation system and redistributed all land in Yamatai in order to increase centralisation and the power of the new Imperial Court. In 875, the Kashiwagi Code was promulgated, widely considered to be the first constitution of Yamatai. The provinces were also officially demarcated and mapped in 898.

Yamatai soon expanded into Oshima, when Takanashi no Katsuhiko was dispatched by the Empress to subjugate the Kejin tribes in the 935 Northern Expedition, completely unifying the Naichi archipelago under Yamatai in 946. During this period, Chanhan influence in Yamatai decreased due to the Munemoto clan's hold over the government, allowing native arts and culture to flourish. In addition to new architectural styles, the native Yamataian Hyōkana syllabary was developed in the 10th century, enabling native Yamataian literature to grow. Famous works from this period include  (10th or 11th century), the Gensokyo Chronicles (973-1095), and the Tale of Shimada (985).

Munemoto dominance over the government began to wane in the 12th century, allowing the ban on Siddhism to be lifted. In 1110, the Siddhist priest Fudō (不動) founded Kishinist Siddhism at the Ijō Temple. Alongside the growth of Siddhism was the centralisation of Michi, with the Kamamorist administration encompassing all major Michi shrines by the early 13th century. In the 13th century, overpopulation began to cause land shortages in eastern Yamatai, resulting in peasant rebellions that were put down by the Imperial Army. Disputes began between the government and the landed elite in Oshima, where land was abundant, who refused to give up their lands to alleviate conditions elsewhere in the country.

Mount Tenzan erupted in 1290 in one of the most powerful eruptions in recorded history, heard as far away as coastal Chanha and Saramosir. The eruption caused a brief period of climate change over Western Escar, resulting in the destruction of Sanjo-Kyo and forcing the government to reestablish itself in Yuki in the north. The climate shift caused by the eruption resulted in major famines across Yamatai for consecutive years, killing as much as 20% of the population. Oshima, which was not as badly affected by the climate shift, quickly became the primary source of food for the entire Empire. The local leadership of Oshima attempted to leverage this in order to attain concessions from the government, eventually attempting to secede in the 1327 Mizuho War, which ended when the Imperial Army under Tsugunaga Atsumochi attacked Oshima and subjugated the rebel provinces by 1330.

Early Modern Period
The Yamataian central government's authority began to decline in 1356, when Empress Fusome moved the capital to Miyako on Akitsukuni. In 1410, the government's slow and inadequate response to the Black Sash Rebellion led to local governors and clan leaders beginning to raise private armies, which was overlooked by the Imperial Court. In 1433, Empress Yoteyo moved the capital to Yamato, rebuilt on the site of the former Sanjo-Kyo. Yamatai invaded Hinomoto in 1452, a lengthy campaign led by the Imperial Army and supported by many clans' private forces that ended in a failure. This disgrace led to many of the clans blaming the Imperial Army for the loss, seeking compensation for their losses in the war, and ultimately receiving the right to raise private armies from the central government.

By 1500, clan holdings had become largely stabilised on provincial lines, and the Imperial Army declined alongside the central government. In 1501, Shugo (守護) Akamatsu Tomomochi attempted to establish a Taikunate government separate from the Imperial Court, triggering the First Yamataian Civil War. Initially a confrontation between pro-Akamatsu and pro-Imperial Government factions, the war eventually became a battle for supremacy among the Yamataian clans. In 1524, Shugo Morikawa Fusakata swore allegiance to the Hinoan Taikun Nakanoin no Teruhiko, who then invaded Yamatai and secured the allegiance of several other Yamataian clans. The war finally ended in 1530, when the final Yamataian clans surrendered and agreed to pay tribute to the Hinoan Taikun, who became the de facto ruler of Yamatai.

During this period of Hinoan rule, the Taikun ruled from Mikawa on Hinomoto and received tribute and loyalty from the Yamataian clans, though the Yamataian clans still paid minimal taxes and officially swore their national loyalty to the Imperial Court in Yamato. Yamataian explorers during this period joined the unfolding Age of Exploration, travelling as far as Valeya and Amphia and establishing trade with the Nanyo region. Hinomoto invaded Chisei in 1571, with many Yamataian clans also involved in the invasion, which eventually failed with a full withdrawal from the mainland in 1591. The conflict with the mainland continued in the 17th century, when Shirakawa invaded Hinomoto in 1611, capturing the island by 1614 and forcing the Taikun and many Hinoan daimyo to retreat to Yamatai, where they re-established the Taikunate at modern-day Satsuma City.

Though they no longer held properties and had lost much of their material wealth, the Hinoan  retained their elite statuses and closeness to the Taikun. This bred discontent amongst the Yamataian shugo, many of whom had lost troops and clan members and had also incurred major expenses in the Taikun's campaigns. In 1676, Taikun Nakanoin no Nobuhiko II carried out a costly invasion of Hinomoto, retaking the island from the Chiseians by 1678. Many of the major Hinoan clans refused to return to Hinomoto, preferring to maintain their nobility without having to maintain land holdings, and various minor clans took control the territories instead.

By this point, discontent among the Yamataian clans had heightened considerably, and in 1705 shugo Minagawa Kanemoto and several other major clan leaders issued the Thirty Demands to Taikun Nakanoin no Tamehiko. Minagawa was later killed in a large duel with Hinoan daimyo, galvanising support for a rebellion against the Taikun. In 1711, the Second Yamataian Civil War (also known as the Kichū War) broke out, initially with an anti-Hinoan agenda. In 1714, the Kawahireya Conference resulted in the rebel clans agreeing to restore the Imperial Court and centralised government with the Empress as an absolute leader. Scholar Morishita Miyuki convinced Empress Kanoko to return to her governing role, uniting the rebel forces that eventually defeated those loyal to the Taikunate in 1717.

Empress Kanoko declared the formation of the Second Empire of Yamatai on 25 May 1717, re-establishing a centralised national government with herself as a central political ruler, with the shugo that had joined the war on her side given major roles in government while most of the other clans were disarmed by the banning of private armies and personal weaponry. Simultaneously, Hinomoto was soon engulfed in the Hinoan Civil War (1719-1722) when the Fukumura Clan rose up against the Nakanoin Takunate, eventually taking over leadership of the Taikunate.

Modern Period

 * Morishita Reforms. Chiseian Model of Government; introduction of some form of democracy. Egalitarianism. Five clans at the Conference became Regent Houses of Yamatai. Women can enter government.


 * 1726: Yamatai got a second trading post at Hung Yen, signed Treaty of Hung Yen guaranteeing trade and extraterritorial rights for Yamataians in the Song Empire
 * 1728: Yamatai sent Mogami Hirakore to begin formal relations the Ratana court.
 * 1730: The Matsubara Doctrines were introduced, reforming the Imperial Army entirely to move towards centralisations. Though officers still remained entirely noble, they now accept volunteer soldiers, created NCO ranks for non-nobles, standardised weapons and tactics across the Army, and most importantly, established the Yamatai Imperial Navy.
 * 1738: Haimon War between Chisei and Yamatai (like almost entirely in Dai Hoa). It showed the strength of the Matsubara Doctrines.
 * 1744: Hinomoto took over Dep Dao.
 * 1772, the Song Emperor Hồ Đăng Dung attempted to expel the Yamataians from the Song Empire and close its borders to foreigners. When the Yamataians ignored this, the Song Imperial Army was sent to attack the Yamataian trading port at Hai Fuong in 1773, beginning the Nhâm Thìn War.
 * 1775 Yam wins Nham Thin War. Song Empire signs Unequal Treaties of Hung Yen, Song Emperor becomes a vassal of Empress Kanoko. Yamataian Ekuni.
 * Nanbunka and the Siddhist Moral Panic.
 * 1804: Yellow Palace Incident: some Army officers couped the Song Emperor and placed Kaoruko as Empress of Song without government direction. officially annexed the Song Empire on the 17 October 1804, administering the region as Yamataian Ekuni
 * 1820-25: Chisei has their revolution
 * 1825+: Due to the fear of Siddhism being tied to republicanism after the revolution in Chisei, the Yamataian elites begin having concerns about the religion, which has a massive working-class following. After Siddhist rebels allegedly burnt down a bunch of Michi Shrines, Empress __ starts cracking down on Siddhism under the influence of the Kamamori Shrine, establishing the Niwashi Corps as a religious police loyal to the Kannushi Conclave. This is also the point where Kamamoriism splits between Orthodox and Reform factions. The Siddhists start to radicalise due to these measures. Formation of the Kusakari Unit (草刈師団), which was a secret police loyal only to the Empress.
 * 1826: A big fire burns down Niihama.
 * 1838: The biggest Siddhist rebellion of all time occurs (Yamataian Western Rebellion), and the government is supposedly too slow to react. However this is actually due to deadlocking by certain nobles who are doing this on purpose, so that...
 * 13 April 1839 Sakamura Masamitsu is appointed Imperial Grand Marshal of an 'emergency military government' by the Empress to deal with the crisis. It played right into the nobles' hands, they were increasingly concerned about the meritocratic examination system stolen from Chisei enabling working-class people to climb the ranks now that people were getting more and more educated and how this affected the democratic system by letting a bunch of dirty commoners vote in shit in the Gikai. The bunch of rebellions let them put in the military government where there is no more democracy and they strongly control the officer corps already, and commoners are more likely to die as infantrymen than somehow climb

The Imperial Court and Teikoku Gikai should remain a vestigial thing but powerless, until they were dissolved during the 2EVW.


 * November 1839: Yamatai-Ratana War after 3 traders were killed in Yamethin. Ends on 2 August 1840,
 * However, the last Ratana Emperor Tharrawaddy Min adopted a policy of passive resistance against the Yamataians, and also often encouraged his people to follow him in non-cooperation. By 1845, the Yamataian colonial government deposed the emperor, sent him into exile, and began directly ruling the country by force, also defeating and annexing the allied Lam and Tsang Kongsis in the region between 1848 and 1853.
 * 1850: Annexed Hinomoto in the Treaty of Fujishima.
 * 1855: establishment of Yamataian Nanyokuni.




 * Following the Sakura Revolution in Yamatai, Empress Kayako demanded that Singhala and its vassals submit to Yamataian and become a military governorship. Although this ultimatum was met with fierce popular resistance and even military buildup, a show of arms involving cannonfire directed at the royal palace in Kalijo led King Pakujaya XIII Ismail to finally submit to foreign rule. While all of the northern vassals obeyed the ultimatum

Grand Chairman of the State Council is the executive leader of the Empire.

Geography
Main article: Geography of Yamatai Yamatai is located on the eastern edge of the Varunan Ocean, off the western coast of Escar. Comprising of 7,207 islands, Yamatai is made up of four distinct island groups, the Hinoan archipelago west of the Escaric coast, the Naichi archipelago to the west of the Hinoan islands, the Nantō islands to the south of the Naichi archipelago, and the Yamataian northern islands to the north of the Naichi archipelago. The largest islands in Yamatai are Akitsukuni, Hōshima, Harukuni, Ōshima, and Hasukuni in the Naichi archipelago, and Hinomoto. As of 2019, Yamatai has a total land area of 283,667.52 km². Due to its many far-flung outlying islands, Yamatai has the eighth largest in the world.

66% of Yamataian land is forested or mountainous and unsuitable for agricultural, industrial or residential use. The habitable areas, mostly located in coastal areas and coastal floodplains, have extremely high population densities. Yamatai is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Approximately 0.7% of Yamatai's total area is reclaimed land, including artificial islands such as Sentosa in Niihama Bay, Genbu City in Shinagawa, and Azumino International Airport in Shinano.

Located close to the subduction zone of the continental Western Escaric plate beneath the Varunan Ocean plate and the Yeongseonin plate in the south, Yamatai is highly volcanic and is very prone to volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. Yamatai was originally attached to the Escaric continent via land bridges; the subducting plates opened the Sea of Yashima around 15 million years ago. Yamatai has 108 active volcanoes, some of which are underwater. During the 20th century, several new volcanoes emerged. Destructive earthquakes, often resulting in, occur several times each century. The 1932 Iwaki Earthquake killed over 140,000 people. More recent earthquakes include the 1997 Hasukuni earthquake, which also triggered a large tsunami.

Climate
Main article: Climate of Yamatai

Yamatai has a predominantly temperate climate, but the climate of Yamatai varies greatly throughout the country. Yamatai's geographical features divide it into six main climatic zones; Northern Ōshima, the Central Region (comprising southern Ōshima and western Harukuni), the Haru Inland Sea, the Southern Naichi (comprising Hōshima and Hasukuni), Hinomoto, and the Nantō islands. The northernmost zone, Northern Ōshima, has a humid continental climate with long, cold winters and very warm to cool summers. Precipitation is heavy in the summer and the the islands usually develop deep snowbanks in the winter. On the western coast of Ōshima, facing the Hokkai Sea, northwest winter winds bring heavy snowfall. In the summer, the region is cooler than the Central Region, though it sometimes expreiences extremely hot temperatures because of the. The Central Region has the a typical inland humid continental climate, with large temperature differences between summer and winter, as well as heavy precipitation along the coasts. The mountains of Harukuni shelter the Haru Inland Sea from seasonal winds, bringing mild weather year-round. The Southern Naichi features a humid subtropical climate that experiences milder winters with occasional snowfall and hot, humid summers because of the southwest seasonal wind. Hinomoto features a humid continental climate, usually experiencing light precipitation but heavy snowfall in the winter due to diurnal variation. The Nantō islands experience a subtropical climate, with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very heavy, especially during the rainy season.

The average winter temperature in Yamatai is 5.1°C and the average summer temperature is 25.2°C. The highest temperature ever measured in Yamatai, 41.1°C, was recorded on July 23, 2018. The main rainy season begins in early May in the Nantō islands, and the rain front gradually moves north until reaching northern Ōshima in late July. In late summer and early autumn, typhoons often bring heavy rain.

Biodiversity
Main article: Wildlife of Yamatai

Yamatai has ten forest ecoregions which reflect the climate and geography of the islands. These range from subtropical, moist broadleaf forests in the Nantō islands, to temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in the mild climate regions of the main islands, to temperate coniferous forests in the cold, winter portions of northern Ōshima and the northern islands. Yamatai has over 90,000 species of wildlife, including the, the , the , the , and the.

Environment
Main article: Environmental issues in Yamatai

During the industrial revolution in the 19th century and during the wartime years of the early 20th century, environmental policies were downplayed by the military government in favour of rapid industrialisation and production, resulting in widespread and devastating environmental pollution until the post-war era. Responding to rising public concern in the post-war years, Okudera Gunzo, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Yamatai, made environmental sustainability a priority for the Yamataian government, prompting a large campaign that among other things promoted the culture of sorting waste and collecting recyclables. Several environmental protection laws were introduced in 1970. The aftermath of the revolution in Sahil also encouraged the efficient use of energy due to Yamatai's lack of natural resources and reliance on potentially hostile foreign oil sources.

Yamatai's emissions have been on a decline since the 1970s, largely due to heavy nuclear power plant usage as well as increasing exploration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Current environmental issues include urban air pollution (NOx, suspended particulate matter, and toxics), waste management, water eutrophication, nature conservation, climate change, chemical management and international co-operation for conservation.

Politics
Main article: Politics of Yamatai

Government
Main article: Government of Yamatai Yamatai is a with a  government. It is a de facto where the Empress of Yamatai is largely limited to a ceremonial role. The Constitution of Yamatai establishes the political system of Yamatai as a representative democracy, and executive power rests with the Prime Minister of Yamatai, who heads the cabinet.

The legislative body is the Teikoku Gikai, a parliament with 722 seats, seated in Heian. Members of the Gikai serve four year terms and are popularly elected. There is universal suffrage for adults over 21 years of age, with a secret ballot for all elected offices. The Gikai is dominated by the conservative, nationalist Yamatai Restoration Party (YRP), followed by the progressive, socially liberal Social Democratic Party of Yamatai (SDP) and the conservative Yamatai Progress Party (YPP). With the exception of a period between 1997 to 2003, the YRP has enjoyed near-continuous electoral success since 1962. Although the elections are believed to be clean, there is no independent electoral authority and the government has strong influence on the media. Yamatai has been ranked as a "flawed democracy" and "partly free" by international watchdogs.

The Prime Minister of Yamatai is the and is appointed by the Empress after being designated by the Gikai from among its members. The Prime Minister is the head of the Cabinet, and he appoints and dismisses the. Although the Prime Minister is formally appointed by the Empress, the Constitution of Yamatai explicitly requires the Empress to appoint whoever is designated by the Gikai. Yamamoto Hanako is the current Prime Minister of Yamatai, having been the Prime Minister since 2015 after defeating Ishihara Junichiro in the 2015 election for presidency of the YRP.

Monarchy
Main article: Empress of Yamatai

The Empress of Yamatai acts as the, and de facto holds a primarily ceremonial role. Constitutionally, the Empress is defined as "the highest representative of the nation of Yamatai". She holds almost no political power and plays a small role in government, though one of her roles is to ensure that the government acts in a manner ensuring the best interests of the Yamataian nation are fulfilled. To this end, the Empress has the ability to issue a statement that must be read out to the assembled Gikai. The Empress is also one of the three people needed to approve the use of Yamatai's nuclear arsenal. Besides these abilities, the Empress holds no political agency.

Prior to the governmental reforms made by Okabe Nariakira to democratise Yamatai, Yamatai was a military dictatorship under an, with the Empress holding absolute power over the military government. In order to appease traditionalists and hardliners, the already-drastic constitutional reforms made during Okabe's regime could not remove the Empress's absolute powers, as such, according to the Constitution of Yamatai, the Empress de jure still holds absolute power over a body known as the Yamataian Imperial High Council, though has no power over the present civilian government. Following the 1991 Heian Incident, where military officers conspired to reform the Imperial High Council in order to take over the government, it was made illegal under Yamataian law to recreate the Imperial High Council, further relegating the Empress's absolute powers to technicality.

Empress Kazuko is the current Empress of Yamatai, having succeeded her mother Keiko upon her accession to the Imperial Throne on May 1, 2010. Since 1925, the main residence and seat of the Empress has been the Heian Imperial Palace. The Tsurusu Imperial Palace, built on the slopes of Tenzan Mountain, was used since the 13th century and is sometimes utilised by the Imperial family during the autumn and winter months. The Empress is protected by the Imperial Royal Guards

Judiciary and law enforcement
Main article: Judicial system of Yamatai, Law enforcement in Yamatai

Historically influenced by Hua and Hinoan law, the Yamataian legal system developed independently during the medieval period, culminating in the concept of Absolute Justice (絶対正義). Yamataian law since the 12th century has been based on the Yamataian Imperial Codes, which have since evolved in the modern day into the Six Codes. Amphian influence during the Second Empire of Yamatai heavily affected the development of Yamataian laws, including the development of a civil code, which became the sixth of the Six Codes. Statutory law originates in Yamatai's legislature and has the rubber stamp of the Empress. Yamatai's court system is divided into four basic tiers; the Supreme Court and three levels of lower courts.

Domestic law enforcement in Yamatai is mainly the provincial police departments, under the oversight of the National Police Agency. As the central coordinating body for the provincial police departments, the National Police Agency is itself overseen by the Ministry of Public Safety. Local provincial police departments typically have their own anti-firearms, anti-riot, and counter-NBC squads, or cooperate with neighbouring provinces to share such resources. The TokuSa of the Yamataian Imperial Security Agency, under the Ministry of National Security, are used as counter-terrorism tactical units that cooperate with the local units during terrorist incidents.

Additionally, the Maritime Safety Agency is the of Yamatai and guards Yamataian territorial waters. The MSA patrols the sea surrounding Yamatai and uses surveillance and control countermeasures against smuggling, marine environmental crime, poaching, piracy, spy ships, unauthorized foreign fishing vessels, and illegal immigration.

Though guns and swords are legal to own in Yamatai, with strict licences and regulations under the Firearm and Sword Control Law, the incidences of violent crime in Yamatai remain low.

Administrative divisions
Main article: Provinces of Yamatai, Regions of Hinomoto, Local administrative units in Yamatai

Yamatai is divided into 32 provinces, 2 metropolises, and 1 Special Administrative Region. Each province is overseen by an elected governor, legislature, and administrative bureaucracy. Each province is further divided into cities, towns and villages.

The Hinomoto Special Administrative Region, which is self-governing, is divided into 7 regions, which answer to Mikawa instead of directly to Heian. Beyond this, the basic structure of the regional governments on Hinomoto are essentially the same as that of Yamatai.

Foreign relations
Main articles: Foreign relations of Yamatai

Yamataian foreign affairs are overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Yamatai has been a member state of the Ordic League since 1956, and is also a member of regional organisations such as the Heian Cooperation Organisation and the Wanshu Development Summit. Yamatai is an active participant in the ongoing Escaric Divide, and has poor relations with Arshavat and Liang, particularly under the current Yamamoto administration.

Yamatai has had a close economic and military relationship with Chisei and Yeongseon since the 1960s. The 1985 Treaty of Mutual Defensive Cooperation between Yamatai and Chisei, and later Chanha, allow for mutual defensive cooperation, particularly against Arshavati and Liang military actions.

Cross-Varunan relations with the Valeyan states are cordial and close at best. Yamatai enjoys a strong economic relationship with Gyunghwa, which is its biggest export market in Valeya. Yamatai also has close historical relations with Achtotlan, with historical ties stretching back to the mid-1800s, culminating in the Achtotlan-Yamatai Concordat during the Endwar. Beyond economic cooperation, the two nations also have strong cultural and tourism ties, and carry out some military officer exchange programs. Yamatai also has close relations with Achkland, a former colony on Valeya.

Military
Main article: Yamataian Armed Forces

The Yamataian Armed Forces is the military of Yamatai, and is governed by the Ministry of Defence. The Yamataian Armed Forces consist of the Yamatai Imperial Army, Yamatai Imperial Navy, the Yamatai Air Defence Force, and the Yamatai Strategic Missile Force. Yamatai has the second-largest military force in Western Escar with 318,757 active troops and 101,900 reserve personnel. The Yamataian military has been involved in numerous global peacekeeping exercises and exchanges, and Yamataian troops are actively deployed in Chisei and Chanha under the Yamatai Mainland Defence Force in order to assist in detering communist invasions of both countries.

Military service is voluntary, though the Yamataian constitution provides for conscription in wartime. Yamatai had the fourth-largest military budget in the world in 2018, and consistently spends heavily on the defence industry. Defence spending plays a major role in science and technology investment, with roughly one third of national research and development in 2015 funded by the Defence Ministry's Defence Technologies Development & Logistics Agency. Yamatai has a large and fully indigenous arms industry, and is an arms exporting state. The Yamatai Imperial Navy is the largest in the region in terms of tonnage.

Yamatai is also a nuclear weapons state, and possesses roughly 260 nuclear warheads.

Economy
Main article: Economy of Yamatai

Yamatai is a highly developed economy, and is the second-largest economy in Escar in terms of, behind Chisei. Yamatai's is one of the largest in the world due to heavy investment on the developing world and lending to allies in recent years. The country also has one of the smallest tax revenues of the developed world. The service sector accounts for two thirds of the gross domestic product. While the Naichi archipelago has few natural resources, Yamatai has a large industrial capacity. Yamatai also has well developed agriculture and fisheries industries, accounting for nearly 15% of the global fish catch.

Yamatai's labour force consists of around 56.3 million workers, with a low unemployment rate of around 5%. However, about 17% of the population was below the global poverty line in 2007. Housing in Yamatai is characterised by limited land supply in urban areas, resulting in small homes and extremely high land prices. As of 2016, there have been signs that Yamatai is entering a property speculation bubble.

Yamatai's exports amounted to 449,922 En per capital in 2005. As of 2019, Yamatai's main export markets were Gyunghwa, Chanha, Chisei, Yeongseon, Achtotlan, and Dai Hoa. Its main exports are motor vehicles, transportation equipment, iron and steel products, semiconductors, auto parts, foodstuffs and refined petrochemicals. Yamatai's main imports are machinery and equipment, fossil fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles and raw materials for its industries. By market share measures, Yamatai's domestic markets are some of the least open in the region. Reforms during the Watanabe Tadao administration in the early 2000s began some pro-competition reforms, and foreign investment has slowly increased since then.

Yamataian companies are known for unique management methods such as the Keizoku Kaizen (継続改善) ideology, and shareholder and union activism is rare. Lifetime employment and seniority-based career advancement are relatively common in the Yamataian work environment. Corporate inefficiency, stagnation, and a lack of innovation are also observed in some Yamataian corporations. Yamatai ranks highly for competitiveness and economic freedom, though is considered a very difficult market for foreign corporations to enter due to these reasons.

A distinct feature of the Yamataian economy is the dominance of financial conglomerates that are highly influential and hold highly competitive oligopolies over many markets. There are two main types of conglomerates in Yamatai, the zaibatsu, which are family-owned and generally vertically-integrated, and the keiretsu, which are not family-owned and may be horizontally-integrated or vertically-integrated. Observers often informally group the Yamataian conglomerates into three "tiers". The "Tier One" conglomerates of Mitsuhishi, Shinomiya, Akasaka, and Sukimoto are the largest and oldest corporations in Yamatai and are considered key players that can steer the national economy, with the official status of Nationally Important Financial Entity granted by the Yamataian government. "Tier Two" conglomerates include those which also hold a major role in the Yamataian economy, though are not recognised by the Yamataian government as Nationally Important Financial Entities. "Tier Three" conglomerates are generally those that focus on a single industry or were founded in the last 50 years.

Industry
Yamatai has a large industrial capacity, having been one of the leaders of the industrial revolution in Escar, and is home to some of the largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemical substances, textiles, and processed foods. Yamatai's industrial sector makes up about 27.5% of its GDP. Some major Yamataian industrial companies include Kawazaki, Mitsuhishi Electric, and Onda.

Yamatai is the fourth largest automobile producer in the world, and is home to Kuroda, the world's second-largest automobile company. Despite facing intense competition from Chisei and Yeongseon, the Yamataian shipbuilding industry is expected to remain strong due to an increased focus on specialized, high-tech designs.

Services and tourism
The service sector accounts for two-thirds of Yamatai's total economic output. Banking, insurance, real estate, retailing, transportation, and telecommunications are all major industries. Some of the largest service companies in the world are Yamataian, such as Mikogi Bank, Shinomiya-Sukimoto Bank, Central Heian Banking Corporation, Tachibana Real Estate, KazokuTen, Yamatai Aozora Airlines, Ukiyo-Kan Global Holdings, and Yamatai National Railways. Four of the most circulated newspapers in the world are Yamataian newspapers, including Akagi Shinbun and Rengo Shinbun.

Yamatai has a large tourism industry, having attracted 19.73 million international tourists in 2014, and 24.03 million tourists in 2016. In 2003, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism established the Yamatai Tourism Agency and set a goal to increase foreign visitors to 20 million in 2020. In 2016, having met the 20 million target, the government revised its target to 40 million by 2020 and to 60 million by 2030. However, statistics show that a large percentage of international tourists are Chiseian tourists visiting Hinomoto, largely for gambling tourism, and that international tourists visiting the Naichi archipelago is much lower.

Agriculture and fishery
The Yamataian agricultural sector accounts for about 2.7% of the country's total GDP. Only about 22% of Yamatai is suitable for cultivation. Due to this lack of arable land, terrace farming is often used to farm in small areas, resulting in one of the world's highest levels of crop yields per unit area, with an overall agricultural self-sufficiency rate of about 50% on fewer than 56,000 square kilometres cultivated. Yamatai's small agricultural sector is also high subsidised and protected. There has also been a growing concern about the future of Yamataian farming as the current farmers are ageing with few successors.

In 2016, Yamatai ranked fourth in the world in tonnage of fish caught, with over 4 million metric tonnes of fish caught. In 2003, total aquaculture was predicted at 1,301,437 tonnes, and in 2010 Yamatai's total fisheries production was around 4.8 million fish. Yamatai maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch, exporting some of this fish to mainland Chisei. There are claims that Yamatai has contributed heavily to overfishing, and there has also been controversy over commercial whaling in Yamatai.

Science and technology
Main article: Science and technology in Yamatai

Yamatai is a world leader in scientific research, particularly in the natural sciences and engineering. Nearly 700,000 researchers share a 13.9 trillion En research and development budget, which is the third highest science budget in the world. Yamataian scientists and engineers have contributed to the advancement of agricultural sciences, electronics, industrial robotics, optics, chemicals, semiconductors, life sciences, and various fields of engineering. Yamatai leads the world in robotics production and use, possessing more than 20% of the world's industrial robots as of 2013. Yamatai boasts the third highest number of scientists, technicians, and engineers per capita in the world, with 83 per 1,000 employees.

The Yamataian National Space Development Agency (UKAJI) is Yamatai's national space agency, conducting space, planetary, and aviation research, and leads development of rockets and satellites. Yamatai is a major participant in space exploration and development, and the first Yamataian satellite, Yūjō, was launched in 1968, making Yamatai the fifth nation to independently place a satellite in orbit. Yamatai is one of the founding participants of the Heiwa large-scale space station project with Chisei, which has been in orbit since 1992. Between 2007 and 2012, UKAJI began the Kaguya Program, a large-scale unmanned lunar mission to gather data on the moon's origin and evolution. One of UKAJI's aims is to establish a manned lunar base by 2030. In 2010, the probe was the first to return samples of an asteroid to Ordis. Yamatai also launched and maintains the SETSUKO Satellite System, one of the foremost orbital global positioning system constellations used around the world.

Though once considered a world leader in the consumer electronics market in the 1980s, the Yamataian electronics industry is on a decline in the face of overseas innovation and competition from mainland Escaric nations and Gyunghwa. Though Yamatai is an importer of high-tech electronics and boasts a robust IT industry, technology innovation in the realm of consumer electronics is believed to have stagnated in Yamatai. Cultural and societal factors play an important role in this technological stagnation, and many Yamataian corporations still use older technologies such as fax and even electronic typewriters. Yamatai is now the world's second-largest market for, after Chisei, and in 2019 the Yamataian mobile game market grossed over 619.8 trillion En.

Transportation
''Main article: Transport in Yamatai Yamatai's main means of transportation are over 1.5 million kilometres of paved road in a comprehensive road system. A single network of high-speed, divided, limited-access toll roads connects major cities on Ōshima, Harukuni, Hōshima, Hasukuni and Akitsukuni, while Hinomoto has a separate highway network. The toll-collecting on these roads are operated by government-owned enterprises. New and used cars are inexpensive, with the government using car ownership fees and fuel levies to promote energy efficiency. However, personal car usage in Yamatai is the lowest in Escar, at just 50 percent of all distance travelled. Road spending in Yamatai has been extensive, and engineering feats have been carried out to connect major cities in Yamatai. These include the various long-span bridges and undersea tunnels that connect the islands of Yamatai.

Railways are a major part of the Yamataian transport network, especially for mass and high-speed transport between major cities and for commuter transport within metropolitan areas. Over 27,400 km of railways, of which 16,222 km are electrified, have been constructed throughout Yamatai. The rail system is partially privatised, with numerous private companies competing in regional and local passenger transportation markets. The major intercity and high-speed Shinkyuko passenger train lines are operated by four partially-privatised companies under the state-owned Yamatai National Railway Group. There also are some railway services operated by provincial governments. Yamataian trains are well known for their safety and punctuality. Numerous undersea rail tunnels have also been built in Yamatai to connect its main islands, such as the Nagato-Izumi Tunnel, connecting Nagato Province on Harukuni with Izumi Province on Akitsukuni, and the Southern Haru Tunnel, connecting Musashi Province on Harukuni with the Kinai Province on Akitsukuni.

There are 185 airports in Yamatai. The largest domestic airport, Yanagawa Airport in the Greater Niihama Area, is Escar's second-busiest airport. The largest international gateways are Edajima International Airport, Shinagawa-Heian International Airport, Miyazaki International Airport, Azumino International Airport (Shinano) and Yuzu International Airport. The of Yamatai is Yamatai Aozora Airlines.

Shipping accounts for a large segment of the national transportation system, with 994 ports in Yamatai as of April 2014. The Port of Niihama is the country's largest and busiest port, accounting for 10 percent of Yamatai's trade value, followed closely by Ise Bay International Port in Shinagawa, part of the Kinai Metropolitan Area, with 8% of Yamatai's trade.

Energy
''Main article: Energy in Yamatai 25.4% of energy of energy in Yamatai is produced from nuclear power, 24.7% petroleum, 21.3% from coal, 21.4% from natural gas and 3.3% from hydropower. Yamatai operates 50 nuclear reactors, including the world's largest single nuclear power station, located in Nīnuma, Niigata Province. Yamatai has historically and continues to have a heavy dependence on imported energy. Yamatai has therefore aimed to diversify its sources, maintain high levels of energy efficiency, and develop new, self-sufficient energy sources.

Communications
''Main article: Communications in Yamatai

Yamatai possesses one of the most advanced communications networks in the world. In 2008, the Ministry of Culture and Communications stated that about 75 million people used cellphones to access the internet, said total accounting for about 82% of individual internet users in Yamatai. A comprehensive network of modern technology, including fibre-optic cables and communications satellites, serves the national communications grid, maintained by a multitude of privatised corporations. Social media is widely used in Yamatai, with the most popular services being Amiwa, Kimimono, Ito, and Futaba.

There are eight nationwide television networks, with two run by the national public service broadcaster, YaHoKyo, and the others run by competing privately-owned networks. The tallest broadcasting tower is the Niihama Takebashira in Niihama, which is also the tallest tower in the world.

The national post system is managed by the nationalised Yamatai Imperial Post corporation.

Demographics
Main article: Demographics in Yamatai

As of 2019, Yamatai has a population of 107.9 million, of which 106.4 million are Yamataian nationals. The majority of the total Yamataian population lives in cities, and in 2010, 90.7% of the population lived in an urban area. The largest city Niihama has a population of 6.89 million, and is part of the Greater Niihama Area, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the region with 21.2 million people.

Yamataian society is linguistically, ethnically and culturally homogenous, composed of 93.6% ethnic. make up the second-largest ethnic group at 4.5% of the population, mostly concentrated on Daifujima, with small populations of foreign workers making up the rest of the population.

Yamatai has the second-longest overall life expectancy at birth in the world. Yamatai is also experiencing an ageing population as a result of the post-Endwar baby boom followed by a decrease in birth rates. In 2012, about 20.2% of the population was over 65, and the proportion is projected to rise to almost 40% by 2050. The changes in demographic structure have created some social issues, particularly a potential decline in workforce population and an increase in the cost of social security benefits. A growing number of younger Yamataians are not marrying or remain childless, and Yamatai's population is expected to drop to 95 million by 2050.

Immigration and birth incentive policies are being pursued by the government as a solution to provide younger workers to support the ageing population. Yamatai accepts an average of 9,500 naturalised citizens per year. Revised immigration laws were enacted in 2016 to attract foreign workers and reduce labour shortages in certain sectors, such as construction.

Language
Main articles: Languages in Yamatai, 

More than 99 percent of the population speaks as their first language. Yashiman is an agglutinative language distinguished by a system of honorifics reflecting the hierarchical nature of Yamataian society, with verb forms and particular vocabulary indicating the relative status of speaker and listener. Yashiman writing uses (Hua characters) and two sets of, Hyōkana and Nishikana, which are syllabaries based on cursive script and radical of koji. The Anglian alphabet and Antaric numerals are also used. Various Yashiman dialects exist throughout the various geographical regions of Yamatai, such as, the , the , the , and others.

Besides Yashiman, is also spoken on Daifujima, which has a large Yeongseonin population. Public and private schools generally require students to take Yashiman language classes as well as optional foreign language courses; only 16% of Yamataians aged 20-45 consider themselves fluent in a second language.

Religion
Main articles: Religion in Yamatai, Michi

Michi is the national religion of Yamatai, though since 1957 the Constitution of Yamatai ensures full religious freedom for all Yamataian citizens. Roughly 82% of the population subscribes to Michi, with roughly two-thirds of these subscribing to the Kiyoshi Path, with the next-largest denomination being Reform Kamamori.

A polytheistic, organised faith, many of Michi's traditions, festivals, and practices have become important parts of Yamataian culture and tradition. As such, some schools of Michi do not consider the faith a type of religion, and some Yamataian people identify as non-religious or spiritual despite participating in religious ceremonies as a cultural tradition. The level of participation in religion is high, especially during festivals and occasions such as the Lunar New Year.

Behind Michi, the next largest faith in Yamatai is Akiist Siddhism, followed by Jindo, which was introduced to Yamatai by Chiseian immigrants during the Yamataian occupation of Chisei.

Education
Main article: Education in Yamatai

Yamatai was one of the first nations in Escar to introduce universal education as part of the industrial revolution in the early 19th century. The Basic Education Law passed in 1872 made Basic Education compulsory for all Yamataian citizens, partially to aid indoctrination by the military regime. Following education reform in the post-war era, since 1953 compulsory education in Yamatai comprises basic school and secondary school, which together last for ten years (from age 6 to age 16). Almost all children continue on to tertiary education, at two-year Junior Colleges or three-year vocational training schools. The top-ranking universities in Yamatai are the National University of Yamatai, the Imperial University of Heian and the Niihama Technological University.

The overall knowledge and skills of Yamataian 16-year-olds are ranked as the third best in the world by Ordic League analysts. Yamatai is one of the top-performing countries in reading literacy, mathematics and sciences. In 2015, Yamatai's public spending on education amounted to just 4.1 percent of its GDP. The country's large pool of highly educated and skilled individuals is largely responsible for bringing about Yamatai's post-war economic growth. 60.4 percent of Yamataians aged 25 to 34 have some form of tertiary education qualification, and bachelor's degrees are held by 30.4 percent of Yamataians aged 25 to 64.

Health
Main article: Healthcare in Yamatai

Healthcare in Yamatai is provided by the national government, as well as local governments. Payment for personal medical services is offered through a universal health insurance system that provides relative equality of access, with fees set by a government committee. People without insurance through employers can participate in a national health insurance program administered by local governments. Since 1978, all elderly persons above the age of 65 have been covered by government-sponsored insurance.

Yamatai has a high suicide rate, and suicide is the leading cause of death for people under 30. Another significant public health issue is smoking. Yamatai has the lowest rate of heart disease in Escar, and one of the lowest levels of dementia in the developed world.

Culture
Main article: Yamataian culture

Modern Yamataian culture is a product of centuries of cyclical periods of acceptance of influence from abroad, followed by periods of cultural reformation aimed at purging these foreign influences. Contemporary Yamataian culture ultimately combines influences from mainland Escar and cultures as far as Amphia. Traditional Yamataian arts include crafts such as, , , , and ; performance arts of , , , , and ; and other practices, such as the , , , , , , and. Yamatai has a developed system for the protection and promotion of both tangible and intangible cultural properties and national treasures, administered by the Ministry of Culture and Communications.

Art and architecture
Yamataian sculpture, largely of wood, and Yamataian painting are among the oldest of the Yamataian arts, with early figurative paintings dating to at least 300 BCE. Yamataian painting styles have their roots on Hinomoto, which historically has both influenced Yamataian and mainland Shirakawan culture, and been in turn influenced by the mainland. The history of Yamataian painting exhibits synthesis and competition between native Yamataian aesthetics and imported ideas. The importation of Ordan art during the Second Empire of Yamatai during the movement known as Nanbunka (南文化) had a significant impact on the development of Yamataian art. Yamataian developed in the 20th century with Chiseian influence and have become popular worldwide.

Yamataian architecture is a combination of local and other influences. It has traditionally been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. The Shrines of Ise have been celebrated as the prototype of Yamataian architecture. Constructed largely of wood, traditional housing and many temple buildings see the use of mats and  sliding screens. Since the Nanbunka of the Second Empire era, however, Yamatai has incorporated much of Ordan, modern, and post-modern architecture into construction and design.

Etiquette
Historically heavily influenced by Hinoan feudal culture and Hua societal structuring, Yamatai is regarded by sociologists as a high-context culture, with a focus on in-groups rather than individuals. People are more observant of hierarchical differences and communicate less explicitly and verbosely. "Face-saving" to avoid being humiliated is generally considered as a very important in Yamatai's high-context culture.

The code of etiquette in Yamatai governs the expectations of social behaviour, typically referred to as the Yamato-damashii (大和魂), which describes the indigenous Yamataian "spirit" or cultural values as opposed to foreign cultural values. Honne and tatemae (本音と建前) contrasts a person's true feelings and the behaviour one displays in public. Wa (和) is a Yamataian cultural concept that implies a peaceful unity and conformity within a social group, in which members prefer the continuation of a harmonious community over their personal interests. Ishin-denshin (以心伝心) is a Yamataian idiom which denotes a form of interpersonal communication through unspoken mutual understanding. Hansei (反省) is a central idea in Yamataian culture, meaning to acknowledge one's own mistake and to pledge improvement.

Literature and philosophy
The Hinoan Records of State, written in the Haku Domain in 143 BCE, constitutes the earliest known work of Yashiman literature. Influenced by Hinomoto, early Yamataian works of literature would only emerge in the 8th century, and include the Sashizuki holy text and the Kojiki chronicles. In the early medieval period, the system of phonograms known as kana (Hyōkana and Nishikana) was developed, leading to the rapid development of Yamataian literature. The is considered the oldest Yamataian narrative. Subsequently, the Gensōkyō Chronicles is often regarded as the world's first novel series.

During the theocratic era, the chōnin, the urban middle class, took over the aristocracy as the main producers and consumers of literature. The eventual invention of by the ruling Kamamori Shrine, initially meant for the distribution of the Kojiki, led to the development of mass-produced novellas and newspapers for the masses, who were increasingly literate. The Second Empire era saw a decline of traditional literary forms as Yamataian literature integrated Ordan influences, though the traditionalist policies of the subsequent military regime in the 19th century led to an enforced revival of traditional literary forms. Famous Yamataian authors include Masuda Ryu, Akiyama Yoko, and Otomo Naoki.

Yamataian philosophy has historically been a fusion of both foreign, particularly Hua and Hinoan, and uniquely Yamataian elements. In its literary forms, Yamataian philosophy began about fourteen centuries ago. Early Hua and Hinoan influences are still evident today in the Yamataian concepts of society and the self, and in the organisation of authority and the structure of society.

Performing arts
Yamataian music is eclectic and diverse. Many instruments, such as the, were introduced in the 9th and 10th centuries. Popular folk music, with the guitar-like, dates from the 16th century. Influence from Amphia during the period of Nanbunka led to some influence from western-style classical instruments. Popular music in post-war Yamatai has been heavily influenced by overseas trends, which has led to the evolution of Ya-pop. Modern Yamataian music is diverse and ranges from rap to electronic music to idol music. , developed in the late 1960s in Yamatai, is highly popular and widely practised.

The four traditional theatres from Yamatai are ', ', ', and '. Nō and kyōgen theatre traditions are among the oldest continuous theatre traditions in the world.

Cuisine
Yamataian cuisine is well known for its emphasis on the quality of ingredients and presentation, as well as the seasonality of food. There exists a large array of regional specialities that use traditional recipes and local ingredients throughout Yamatai.

Seafood and Yashiman rice or noodles are traditional staples of Yamataian cuisine, typically seasoned with a combination of dashi, soy sauce, mirin, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Raw seafood is often consumed in Yamatai as sashimi and as part of sushi dishes. Traditional Yamataian sweets are known as wagashi, and typically use ingredients such as red bean paste and mochi. Many dishes inspired by foreign food, such as ramen and gyōza, are popular in Yamatai, as well as foods from further abroad, such as hamburgers and curries, developed over time for Yamataian tastes and ingredients.

Popular Yamataian beverages include sake, which is a brewed rice beverage that typically contains 14-17% alcohol, and is made by multiple fermentation of rice. Green tea is produced in Yamatai and prepared in various forms such as maccha, used in the Yamataian tea ceremony. Beer has also been brewed in Yamatai since its introduction through trade with Amphia in the late 18th century.

Media
Television, the internet, and newspapers make up the largest share of the Yamataian mass media, with radio and magazine also taking part. Over the early 2000s, television surpassed newspapers as Yamatai's main information and entertainment medium, followed by the internet in the late 2010s.

There are six national television networks: YaHoKyo (public broadcasting except in Hinomoto), Hinomoto Broadcasting Network (public broadcasting in Hinomoto), Niihama Television, Niihama Broadcasting Network, Heian Network System, TV Akagi, and Okayama Broadcasting Network. In addition, TereHino broadcasts only in Hinomoto. Television networks were mostly established based on capital investments by existing radio networks. Variety shows, serial dramas, and news constitute a large percentage of Yamataian television shows. According to a 2015 survey by the Ministry of Culture, 79% of Yamataians watch television daily.

Yamataian readers have a choice of approximately 120 daily newspapers, with an average subscription rate of 1.13 newspapers per household. The main newspapers are Akagi Shinbun, Ketsugō Shinbun (結合), Mainichi Shinbun, and Rengo Shinbun. In 1999, 85.4 per cent of men and 75 per cent of women read a newspaper every day. Since the mid 2000s, many Yamataian newspapers have taken steps to digitise their content, and news websites remain some of the most used websites in Yamatai to this day.

Yamatai has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world; movies have been produced in Yamatai since 1897. Notable films from Yamatai include the lengthy Ikari (怒り) period drama series, the highly influential Torashi giant monster series, and famous comedy films such as Oratachi Niihama sa Iguda. Animation in Yamatai, largely influenced by manga and mainland developments, are part of the distinctly Yashiman style and genre known as Douga, which include world-renowned franchises such as Galactic Battleship Oyashima, Kido Shatai and After Impact. A major entertainment company in Yamatai is Momoiro Corporation.

There is also a strong video game industry in Yamatai. Some major Yamataian video game franchises include Yokai Kinchaku and Red Tide.

Sports and games
The national sport of Yamatai is. Various martial arts, such as native Yamataian and, as well as Hinoan  and Shojinese , are also widely practised and enjoyed by spectators in the country. Other popular sports in Yamatai include horse-racing and. The most popular spectator sport in Yamatai is, known as Nan-Kemari in Yashiman, which was introduced to Yamatai in the 1890s. The sport became highly popular as the government promoted the football as a team-building exercise in mandatory school curriculums. The national football league is the All-Yamatai Football National League, of which there are four divisions. Yamatai has participated in and has won the OOF World Cup three times, in 1974, 1990, and 2002, and is one of the most successful football teams in Escar, winning the Escaric Cup five times. Golf has also become popular in Yamatai.

Yamatai has a significant involvement in motorsports, which are unofficially considered the second national sport of Yamatai. Numerous automotive manufacturers that have been successful in multiple different categories worldwide, and Yamatai regularly hosts circuit racing, motorcycle racing, rallies, racing, and more. Bicycle races and marathons have also been gaining increasing media coverage in recent years, with the All-Yamatai Bicycle Tournament, an arduous multi-week team-based race across the entirety of the Naichi archipelago, being held every five years since 1980.

Traditional Yamataian board games like and  are widely popular in Yamatai, with various regional and national-level championships existing. is also popular in Yamatai, and national and international championships are regularly held. In recent years, tabletop wargaming and roleplaying games have also become popular amongst the Yamataian youth. Besides this, Yamatai has a strong video game industry as well, with franchises such as Shattered Tomorrow and Stahl Meka originating from Yamatai.