Yuki no Kuni

Yuki no Kuni, The Country of Snow

It had been said that the only warmth to be found in the Country of Snow is that within the hearts of the people. Forests of Evergreens are sickly and weak; they offer little protection from the driving snow and howling wind. Although Shinobi are known to come from this land, well versed i the arts of Hyouton, it is a weak country when compared to the Five Great Shinobi Nations, and perhaps it is only Tsuchi no Kuni's benevolent foreign policy that has kept it safe from country invasion all this time.

In the world today, the Country of Snow is somewhat of a black void. Information rarely makes its way beyond the mountain range that separates Tsuchi and its estranged neighbor. It is seen as a war country, filled with unsavory illegals and criminals hiding from the reach of the law.

Politics

In terms of government, Yuki no Kuni is still living a few hundred years in the past, with an autocratic leader reigning supreme. It could be said that this is due to immense isolation from the more liberal ideas of the outside world. The people here have carried out a long history of loyalty and obedience toward their king.

More recently, however, great turmoil has taken over within the country. When the NCIA finally fell, it left a puppet ruler missing his strings. Greedy, paranoid, and reckless, Emperor Yamaguchi Matsuda's foolish domestic policy and war efforts have left the country devastated and teetering on the brink of collapse. As a known sympathizer to displaced NCIA loyalists, Yamaguchi has built an Empire hated by most other countries, still wounded form their ordeal under the occupation.

Despite the fact that it does have a hidden village and a strong shinobi core, Yuki no Kuni had never been known to ever have a Hyoukage. Instead, military commanders reporting directly to the King sit at the helm of the armed forces.

For better or worse, all aspects of Yuki no Kuni have historically fallen under the hand of the Emperor, though many have chosen appropriate advisers to deal with such things as Diplomacy, Domestic Policies, Resource Management and the Judicial system. These advisers, though, have seen no use in Emperor Yamaguchi's reign.

Economy

Despite its climate and weakness in the shinobi sector, the Snow Country was one an important exporter of fish, animal hides, diamonds and heavy-duty ninja gear. This constant flow of exports allowed the country to import rice to feed its people but, in recent times, the entire country has taken a nose dive, with Yuki's GDP bringing up the absolute rear in terms of the world's wealth. Strict laws, deteriorating trade relations and embargos, coupled with the Emperor's reluctance to provide funding for his industries have left the economy of the Snow Country in tatters.