The Shogunate Era

The current period of history, beginning 250 years ago when General Takeshi Minamoto unified the warring provinces under a single military government, with the Emperor serving as a spiritual figurehead.

Major Developments

The Unification Campaign

A twelve-year military campaign that saw Minamoto's forces gradually subdue rival clans through both conquest and strategic marriages.

The Code of Five Virtues

The legal and moral framework established by the first Shogun, emphasizing loyalty, honor, duty, courage, and sincerity as the foundations of society.

The Foreign Contact Decree

Initially, the Shogunate banned all contact with outside civilizations beyond the Five Islands. This policy was gradually relaxed over generations, now allowing restricted trade through designated port cities.

Current Situation

The seventh Shogun, Lady Himiko Minamoto, rules from the capital city of Kyotetsu. Her reign has seen increased tension between traditionalists who wish to maintain isolation and progressives who seek greater exchange with foreign lands.

Political power is balanced between:

• The Shogunate (military leadership)
• The Imperial Court (spiritual authority)
• The Merchant Council (economic influence)
• The Shrine Maidens (divine intermediaries)

This delicate balance has maintained peace for generations, but rumors of kami growing restless suggest the potential for another period of upheaval.