Kitami
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| Motto: 少年よ、大志を抱け | |||||
| Anthem: 君が代 | |||||
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| Capital | Sapporo | ||||
| Largest city | Sapporo | ||||
| Official language(s) | Kitami, Japanese, English | ||||
| Government President
Prime Minister | Federal Republic Harumi Tikashi Tottori Sapai | ||||
| Independence - Independence from Japan | October 19th, 1946 | ||||
| Area • Total • Water (%) | 83,453.57 km² (71st) 8.2% | ||||
| Population • June 2007 est. • census • Density | 18,150,080 (55th) 349/km² (25th) | ||||
| GDP (PPP) • Total • Per capita | 2007 estimate $780 Billion (17th) $31,902 (20th) | ||||
| HDI (2003|2007) | 0.911 29th – Density | ||||
| Currency | Unio/New Yen (Û/NY)
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| Time zone • Summer (DST) | JST (UTC+9) -1 (UTC{{{utc_offset_DST}}}) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .kit | ||||
| Calling code | +85
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Contents |
Introduction
Kitami, officially called the Federal Republic of Kitami and often referred to as Hokkaido by many Japanese, is a Federal Republic in East Asia occupying the island of Hokkaido surrounded by the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. It is a neighbor to China to the east, along with Russia to the Northeast, and Japan to the south. It is known as "the Land of the Morning Sun" by most natives. The capital of Kitami, Sapporo lies in the central-west sector of the island. It is a major financial and cultural hub in Asia and the twentieth largest metropolitan city in the world. Kitami comprises over 759 islands making it an archipelago. The largest islands are Hokkaido and Suchiziki, together accounting for 89% of Kitami's land area. Most of the islands are mountainous, many are volcanic; for example, Kitami’s highest peak, Mount Asashidake, is a volcano. Kitami has the world's fifty fifth largest population, with about 18 million people.
Archaeological research indicates that people were living on the islands of Hokkaido and the rest of Kitami as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Kitami begins with brief appearances in Chinese/Korean history texts from the first century A.D. Influence from the outside world followed by long periods of isolation has characterized Kitami's history. Since adopting its constitution in 1947, Kitami has maintained a free Federal Republic for about sixty years.
Kitami is a major economic power and one of the wealthiest countries in Asia. It is a developed country with a high standard of living, having a billion dollar economy that is the sixth in Asia and 17th largest in the world. Kitami is one of the world's top ten exporters and is a highly industrialized country that is classified as a High-income economy by the World Bank and an Advanced economy by the IMF and CIA. Kitami has a very high-tech and modern infrastructure, and is a world leader in technologically advanced goods such as electronics, automobiles, ships, machinery, petrochemicals and robotics, headed by large private sector companies. It has the world's second highest scientific literacy and fifth highest mathematical literacy. Kitami is rapidly becoming a multicultural society and its mainstream culture has recently become highly popular in Asia and beyond in a phenomenon known as the Hokkaido Wave.
History
Archeologists theorize that Hokkaidō was settled by Ainu, Gilyak, and Oroke 20000 years ago. The Nihon Shoki is often said to be the first mention of Hokkaidō in recorded history. According to the text, Abe no Hirafu led a large navy and army to northern areas from 658 to 660 and came into contact with the Mishihase and Emishi. One of the places Hirafu went to was called Watarishima (渡島), which is often believed to be present-day Hokkaidō. However, many theories exist in relation to the details of this event, including the location of Watarishima and the common belief that the Emishi in Watarishima were the ancestors of the present-day Ainu people.
During the Nara and Heian periods, people in Hokkaidō conducted trade with Dewa Province, an outpost of the Japanese central government. From the medieval ages, the people in Hokkaidō began to be called Ezo. Around the same time Hokkaidō came to be called Ezochi (蝦夷地) or Ezogashima. The Ezo mainly relied upon hunting and fishing and obtained rice and iron through trade with the Japanese.
During the Muromachi period, the Japanese created a settlement at the south of the Oshima peninsula. As more people moved to the settlement to avoid battles, disputes arose between the Japanese and the Ainu. The disputes eventually developed into a rebellion. Takeda Nobuhiro killed the Ainu leader, Koshamain, and defeated the rebellion. Nobuhiro's descendants became the rulers of the Matsumae-han, which ruled the south of Ezochi until the end of the Edo period.
Matsumae-han's economy relied upon trade with the Ainu. The Matsumae family was granted exclusive trading rights with the Ainu in the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods. During the Meiji Restoration, the Tokugawa Shogunate realized there was a need to prepare northern defenses against possible Russian invasion and took over most control of Ezochi. The Shogunate made the Ainu burden slightly easier, but did not change the overall form of rule.
Hokkaidō was known as Ezochi until the Meiji Restoration. Shortly after the Boshin War in 1868, a group of Tokugawa loyalists led by Enomoto Takeaki proclaimed the island's independence as the Republic of Ezo, but the rebellion was crushed in May 1869. Ezochi was subsequently put under control of Hakodate-fu (箱館府, Hakodate Prefectural Government). When establishing the Development Commission (開拓使), the Meiji Government changed the name of Ezochi to Hokkaidō (北海道).
The primary purpose of the development commission was to secure Hokkaidō before the Russians extended their control of the Far East beyond Vladivostok. Kuroda Kiyotaka was put in charge of the venture. His first step was to journey to the United States and recruit Horace Capron, President Grant's Commissioner of Agriculture. From 1871 to 1873 Capron bent his efforts to expounding Western agriculture and mining with mixed results. Capron, frustrated with obstacles to his efforts returned home in 1875. In 1876 William S. Clark arrived to found an agricultural college in Sapporo. Although he only remained a year, Clark left lasting impression on Hokkaidō, inspiring the Japanese with his teachings on agriculture as well as Christianity His parting words, "Boys, be ambitious!" can be found on public buildings in Hokkaidō to this day. Whatever the impact these Americans had, the population of Hokkaidō boomed from 58,000 to 240,000 during that decade. Statue of William S. Clark, with the inscription "Boys, Be Ambitious" (Sapporo)
In 1882, the Development Commission was abolished, and Hokkaidō was separated into three prefectures, Hakodate (函館県), Sapporo (札幌県), and Nemuro (根室県). In 1886, the three prefectures were abolished, and Hokkaidō was put under the Hokkaidō Agency (北海道庁). Hokkaidō became equal with other prefectures in 1947, when the revised Local Autonomy Law became effective. After the arrival of William Clark in the late 1800s the people of Hokkaido became much more attracted to American way of life and connected themselves with America. It was the only place in Japan at the time in which English was a common dialect spoken. During World War II the people of Hokkaido recognized Japan's ambitious spirit in becoming the most powerful nation on earth and seeing the atrocities it committed against the US, the people of Hokkaido requested assistance from the US to liberate them from Japan. the US cooperated and strategically set up a offensive military base in Hokkaido. On October 19th 1946, Hokkaido declared Independence from Japan and named itself the Federal Republic of Kitami. After minor skirmishes between the parent country and the newly formed nation of Kitami, Japan finally recognized Kitami in good spirit in 1951.
Recently Kitami has been involved with inter-Asian relations. Kitami, to the United State's dismay is one of the largest supporters of the Korean Unification Movement. Kitami has also expressed interest in better Taiwan-China relations. Kitami has also been a leader in the APEC group and a leader in the East Asian Summit.
Government
Kitami, a Federal Republic, is divided into two branches; executive and legislative. The legislative branch is a bicameral parliament with elected representatives. On one side the number representatives that can be elected from each prefecture depend on population. The other side of the parliament, representatives are also elected, but with a limit of one per prefecture. The power of the Executive Branch mainly rests on the President and the Prime Minister. Other power is vested in the Vice President and their advisers.
Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch as previously mentioned is divided into a Bicameral Parliament. The Kujikata is the word for the first side of the Parliament. This side has approximately 82 representatives from 14 Prefectures. Number of representatives are based on the populations of the Prefecture. Prefecture's Representatives are listed as follows:
- Sapporo: 15
- Kushiro:10
- Kamakiwa: 9
- Oshima:9
- Iburi: 6
- Tokachi: 6
- Abashiri: 5
- Nemuro: 4
- Soya: 4
- Shiribeshi: 4
- Rumoi: 3
- Hidaka: 3
- Sorachi: 2
- Hiyama: 2
After elected Representatives then move on to live in the Capital and serve in the Kujikata till their 3 year term is over. They will legislate not only for the benefit of their local prefecture but for National and Internationals laws. These representatives have the power to question, impeach, and legislate on any person, action, and or event that the Executive Branch committed and or anything that they are doing that is deemed unconstitutional. The Legislative Branch also serves as the Primary Court for the Nation and will hear Court Cases only involving National origin, although it is able to try international subjects located on foreign grounds.
Executive Bracnh
The Executive Branch is the most prominent and active in the Kitami Federal System. Presidents are ellected every 3 years along with Prime Ministers. Presidents can also be elected only 3 times, unlike Prime Ministers where they can be elected an unlimited number of times. Prime Ministers have to be a Native Kitamian and are minimally 30 years of age. Vice Presidents have the same guidelines as Presidents and serve the same term as Presidents. The Presidents have the power to formulate a Advisory Council much like the Cabinet in the US. The Advisory Council as 6 sectors/people who advise the President and Prime Minister in certain matters:
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of Finance
- Secretary of Security and Defense
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of Health and Education
- Current President: Harumi Takishi (Term Ends: 2009)
- Vice President: Elaine Chao (Term Ends: 2009)
- Prime Minister: Tottori Saipai Term Ends: March, 2009)
Foreign Relations
Kitami maintains close economic and military relations with the United States and Japan. Kitami has been a member of the United Nations since 1966 and has been recently interested in serving in the Security Council. Kitami recently has actively participates in international affairs and enhances diplomatic ties with its important partners around the world. Due to Kitami's old foreign policy of isolationism many have detracted from the nation in terms of foreign relations. Since 2000 Kitami has opened its doors to many opportunities in hopes of establishing better connections with the world.
Kitami is also in a few territorial disputes with a few nations:
- With Russia over the South Kuril Islands
- With Japan over Abakushiri Islands
- With China over the Hayima Rocks
Kitami also faces an ongoing dispute with North Korea over its abduction of Japanese citizens and its nuclear weapons and missile program. As a result of the Kuril Islands dispute, Kitami is technically still at war with Russia although the nations are quite friendly.
Geography
Kitami is a country of over 350 islands extending along the Pacific coast of Asia. The main island Hokkaido is where most of the population resides. Hokkaido and Japan together make the Japanese Archipelago.
About 65% of the country is forested, mountainous, and unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or residential use. This is because of the generally steep elevations, climate and risk of landslides caused by earthquakes, soft ground and heavy rain. This has resulted in an extremely high population density in the habitable zones that are mainly located in coastal areas.
Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, at the juncture of three tectonic plates, gives Kitami frequent low-intensity tremors and occasional volcanic activity. Destructive earthquakes, often resulting in tsunamis, occur several times each century. The most recent major quakes are the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake and the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Hot springs are numerous and have been developed as resorts along with the ski resorts
Climate
Hokkaidō is known for its cooler summers and icy winters. Most of the island falls in the humid continental climate zone (humid continental) in some inland lowlands, (hemiboreal) in most other areas). The average August temperature ranges from 17 °C to 22 °C (63 °F to 72 °F), while the average January temperature ranges from −12 °C to −4 °C (10 °F to 25 °F) depending on elevation and latitude. The island tends to see isolated snowstorms that develop long-lasting snowbanks, in contrast to the constant flurries seen in the Hokuriku region.
Unlike the other major islands of Japan, Hokkaidō is normally not affected by the June-July rainy season and the relative lack of humidity and typically warm, rather than hot, summer weather makes its climate an attraction for tourists from other parts of Japan.
In winter, the generally high quality of powder snow and numerous mountains in Hokkaidō make it one of Japan's most popular regions for snow sports. The snowfall usually commences in earnest in November and ski resorts (such as those at Niseko, Furano and Rusutsu) usually operate between December and April. Hokkaidō celebrates its winter weather at the Sapporo Snow Festival.
During the winter, passage through the Sea of Okhotsk is often complicated by large ice floes broken loose from the Kamchatka Peninsula. Combined with high winds that occur during winter, this brings air travel and maritime activity almost to a halt on the northern coast of Hokkaidō.
Environment
Kitami's environmental history and current policies reflect a tenuous balance between economic development and environmental protection. In the rapid economic growth after World War II, environmental policies were downplayed by the government and industrial corporations. As an inevitable consequence, some crucial environmental pollution occurred in the 60s and 70s. In the rising concern over the problem, the government introduced many environmental protection laws in 1968 and established the Ministry of the Environment in 1985. The Oil crisis in 1973 also encouraged the efficient use of energy due to Kitami's lack of natural resources. Current priority environmental issues include urban air pollution, waste management, clean water, nature conservation, climate change, chemical management and international co-operation for environmental conservation.
Today Kitami is a big supporter of the hybrid car revolution as two of its largest automobile companies, Nissan and Suzuki are producing their own brands of hybrid vehicles.
Kitami also takes issues surrounding climate change and global warming seriously. As a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, and a attendee of the 1997 conference which created it, Kitami is under treaty obligations to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and to take other steps related to curbing climate change. Kitami is preparing to force industry to make big cuts in greenhouse gases, taking the lead in a country struggling to meet its Kyoto Protocol obligations.
Kitami is ranked 48th best in the world in the Environmental Sustainability Index.
Society
Culture
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