Higashika
Republic of Higashika 東區나民國 | |
|---|---|
 Map of the islands of Higashika | |
| Capital and | Onmi City |
| Official languages | Higashikan |
| Demonym(s) | Higashikan |
| Government | Unitary presidential republic |
| Cho Yudong | |
| Ken Opgim | |
• National Cabinet President | Name Nameson |
| Legislature | National Cabinet |
| Establishment | |
• Conquest by the Ryukyu Kingdom | 1429 |
• Japanese conquest | 1879 |
• American occupation | 1945–1953 |
• Independence | 25 December 1953 |
| Area | |
• | 1,240.28 km2 (478.87 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2025 estimate | 3,982,000 |
• Density | 3,211/km2 (8,316.5/sq mi) |
| Currency | Ryukyuan Yen (RK¥, 円) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 |
Higashika (Higashikan: 東區 Dongkeo or 東區國 Dongkeo-fak, see § Etymology), officially the Republic of Higashika (東區나民國 Dongkeo na Mingfak) is a country in East Asia. It is an island country situated in the Ryukyu Islands, between Lhangru and Okinawa. With 3.9 million residents in a 1,240-square-kilometre (480 sq mi) territory, Higashika is the seventh-most densely populated region in the world.
Etymology
History
Early history
Sanzan period
Ryukyu Kingdom
Empire of Japan
American occupation
Independence & Kanwi era
Cold War
Modern day
Geography
Higashika is located on the Higashikan Islands, which are limestone islands of coralline origin and have a total area of approximately 1,240.28 square kilometers. The highest elevation is Mt. Yuwangtaki (湯灣岳) with a height of 694 meters, located in the Yogaem district of Setuchi City.
Climate
The climate is a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September. The area is subject to frequent typhoons.
Environment
Architecture
Government and politics
Government
The government of Higashika is a unitary presidential republic. The executive branch of the government is held by the president (攝政 shipshi), who is directly elected by the people. The president then appoints their vice president (副攝政 peukshipshi) and cabinet of ministers (官司 gwonseu). The legislative branch of the government is the National Cabinet (國王府 Fak-Wangpu), which is indirectly elected by the people.
Administrative divisions
Higashika is divided into 5 island provinces (島나地州 dáo na daidu): Onmi Island, Dangnushima Island, Dhemeng Island, Hige Island and Aeron Island. Each city is then subdivided into cities (城 deng) and towns (邑 ip). Within cities and towns are districts (區 keo), which are for the most part coterminous with urban areas (城裡 dengrí). For electoral purposes, each district is subdivided into a number of constituencies (選區 swónkeo)
Economy
Infrastructure
Transport
Utilities
Demographics
Culture
Arts
Popular culture
Language
Higashikan is the official language of the country, spoken by the vast majority of people. It is a Sinitic language, sharing a common ancestor with modern varieties of Chinese in Old Chinese. English and varieties of Chinese, primarily Mandarin, are also spoken by a significant portion of the population, as they are taught in schools from a young age.
Religion
Religion in Higashika is characterized by a multi-faith diversity of beliefs and practices. Most Higashikans practice Chinese folk religion or Buddhism, mostly of the Chinese variety. Most followers of Buddhism also practice Shintoism, particularly Ryukyu Shintoism, characterized by ancestor worship. Other religions were brought to Higashika through trade with the west, chief among those is Christianity, which was brought by Dutch and Portuguese missionaries. There is a more or less equal number of Protestants (primarily Calvinist) and Catholic followers. Finally, there has been in the modern era a growing number of people who now identify as non-religious, though most still maintain Chinese folk practices to some degree.
Sports
Traditionally, sports in Higashika were much the same as in mainland Japan, with the most popular being sumo and archery. During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, these truly established themselves as a popular way to spend time. However, after the Meiji Restoration, many Western sports would be introduced into Japanese (and by extension Higashikan) culture, primarily track and field events, baseball, association football and rugby union. Baseball especially greatly rose in popularity under American occupation after World War II. Following China’s rise to global superpower, some sports gained in popularity in the 2000s such as badminton, table tennis, fencing and chess. Being an island nation, Higashika is surrounded by water and many Higashikans therefore enjoy water sports, such as swimming, surf, kayaking and rowing. Lastly, there has been a growing Esports scene in Higashika since the beginning of the 2020s, which has largely been attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.