Lordship of Sakura

The Lordship of Sakura, also known as Sakura Province, was the most populous province of the Second Empire of Plagatèa, and is furthest North-west of the provinces, with a border to the province of Aljazair and within Plagatéa to the provinces of Seivija and Sakurai Tempo. It encompassed the lands of the Sakuran people, in their language known as Sakurakitochi, or lands of the Sakura tree. It was ruled by the Lady Shogun, Aisuru Numachi of Sakura, part of the royal ruling House Numachi, the largest noble family in Plagos. Its capital was the largest city in Plagos, Kitaichi.

About
It was notable for its South-east Asian style of architecture, with towering castles, beautiful walled gardens, wide estates and small but pretty houses. It spans through a diverse range of biomes, ranging from towering cliffs and mountains to plains, swamp and desert. The Sakuran people are known for their peaceful and relaxed attitudes to life, finding beauty in peace and tranquillity. They dislike conflict in all its forms, though especially wars, and maintain that diplomacy is the proper and just way to solve external issues. As a consequence of this, senior Sakurans in government have historically been the diplomatic representatives of the various incarnations of Plagatèa, and Sakura itself does not maintain a standing military, instead making sure that all are equipped for battle in case of the last resort of fighting.

History
The Province of Sakura as it was known when it was established, was under the rule of Lord Tsuki Hoshasei. As the states of Plagos united under Nova Plagatéan Federation, the lands previously under the control of the Shigetada Shogunate were organized into the Province of Sakura, on Keiseihi 1 Sanchōki, 1 SKE. The then city of Ieon was established as the capital of the new nation, with the settlements and lands of the towns of Sakura, Yamagake and Linwan being put under the rule of the province. Not long later though, Lord Tsuki would die in an encounter with Entropy Worshippers in Southern Plagos. At his death bed, he named his foster daughter, Aisuru Naho (later Aisuru Numachi) as the new Lord of the province, before shortly passing away.

On the 3rd of October, as a culmination over rising tensions with the extremely unpopular central government ruled by Tagavor Leon Olsen-Tanaka and Tagavor Revo, with the province’s growing nationalism and solely Sakuran identity. Sakura revolted alongside Seivija and Veldion and supported Princess Futo Naho’s claim to the throne, in what became known as the Plagatèan Provincial Revolt.

As the Second Empire of Plagatèa collapsed, the province was effectively dissolved into District Kanzan under Simulami. As no ranks were recognised by Simulami and most had to start from the ground up within Simulami again as part of the integration treaties, the government of Sakura ceased to exist. It is now part of the renamed Goshuma District in Simulami, which encompasses the 3 core provinces of Plagatèa, Sakura, Seivija and Sakurai Tempo, except Linwan, which declared allegiance to the newly independent Kingdom of Veldion, and thus exists as an enclave of the Kingdom.

The Sakuran Calendar - 'Sakurakitochi Hananotochi'
During the Sakuran Cultural Revolution (Kinbenohi 7 Sanchōki, SKE 73 to Saigokarahi 4 Kaitōki, SKE 81), the previously informal calendar used by the people of the lands after their discovery of the sacred blossom tree Attakhaihen Sakuraki was formalised into the Sakuran Calendar. It was formalised by a team lead by then Mujanaibu-Sakuratochi Shujin (Minister for Sakuran Internal Affairs) Alexander S. Numachi, then a young politician in his mother Lady Aisuru Numachi's government.

It is unique in that it revolves around the lifecycle of the sacred Attakhaihen Sakuraki tree that is worshipped within Sakura. The denomination for the year date is SKE, which is an abbreviation from Sakuran, Sakuraki Kiomitsuke Etanochi, which translates roughly as "years after finding the holy tree". The accurate calendar was backdated by Alexander Numachi to begin on the first day of the first month of the first year, the day Sakura province was founded, Keiseihi 1 Sanchōki, 1 SKE, the formation of Sakura province.

There are 60 Chijihuha or seconds in a Ninuha or minute, 72 Ninuha in a Dainuha or hour, and 20 Dainuha in a Hihuha or day. This means that there is the same amount of time in a day as a conventional Rathnir day, it is just counted differently. Kihuha or months vary in length, with 40 day, 25 day and 20 day months making up a 150 day year, and simultaneously represent consistent seasons, as the Attakhaihen Sakuraki always blossoms at the same time on every day of each year. Each month has a name with a meaning, for example the first month of the year is known as Sanchōki - ōki is month in Sakuran, and Sanchōno translates roughly as mountain peak, as this month is always bitterly cold.

Do Not Awaken the Sakuran by Alexander S. Numachi
After the Coup of Asarakaen, Alexander S. Numachi wrote a poem widely-circulated in Sakura about the peaceful nature of Sakurans, but underlining their investment in their lands and fierce commitment to their own freedom and way of life, that they would defend to the hilt if necessary. The poem mentions why it would be a foolish move to awaken the Sakuran man from his peaceful ‘sleep’ and take them for granted because of what might happen afterwards. This was part of a growing Sakuran identity that grew in strength after the abdication of their Queen from the Asarakaeni throne, contributing toward a movement for greater Sakuran independence that sought for Sakura to be free from being ruled by a central government elsewhere, free to decide its own way and be free from the corrupted politicking and constant efforts for Plagosi unification. Veldion was held as a beacon of hope in this regard, with their vassal status instead of Lordship-hood with the Second Plagatèan Empire after the signing of the Treaty of Polskrige and subsequent joining of the Confederation of Plagos.



Do not awaken the Sakuran,

Who lies beneath the tree,

With the cherry blossom round him,

A peaceful sight to see.

His hands are swept with blisters,

And his back is tired from strain,

But if you dare awake him,

You’ll not see light again.

Your surroundings are his life’s work,

The houses that make homes,

On foundations his ancestors made,

Built on their very bones.

Do not awaken the Sakuran,

Who lies beneath the tree,

For water looks quite placid,

When you haven’t seen the sea.

The lakes are always peaceful,

And the mountain views endure,

But peace is not a definite,

When their lives are not ensured.

That which you stand on is his land,

And he desires you leave,

Best not to shake awake this one,

Unless you wish to grieve.

Do not awaken the Sakuran,

Who lies beneath the tree,

Only a foolish man awakes him,

One you shouldn’t want to be.

Ode to Shigetada by Aisuru Numachi


Shigetada; Lords of the mountain

Jito; the desert dwellers

Tsuyoi; of the forgotten island

Numachi; where the last now dwell

In Sakura where the petals fly. This short ode, written by Aisuru Numachi shortly before the Provincial Revolt, summarises the history of the clans in the land of Sakura. There is some guilt and sadness within it, as it remarked upon her and the Numachi’s place as the last of the clans.

House Numachi
House Numachi is the largest and most influential noble family in Plagos, with the head of the family ruling the province as Lord. The head of the family is currently Lady Shogun Aisuru Numachi of Sakura, and her husband Lieutenant Daimyo Techno Numachi. Their children hold various positions in government throughout the continent, though primarily concentrated in Sakura and the Plagatéan national government. During their time as the royal ruling family in the Realm of Asarakaen, the family was known by the more traditional royal titles of Queen, King, Prince and Princess.

With Lady Aisuru and Lord Techno's son Alexander S. Numachi, known in Sakura as Numachi Saiyo, ascending to the throne and being crowned Tagavor, House Numachi once again became the royal house in Plagatèa.