The Prefecture of Hatsume is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Governor Shiori Sakurai with an even hand, and renowned for its compulsory military service and zero percent divorce rate. The hard-working, devout population of 3.279 billion Hatsumeans have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The relatively small government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Defense, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Mei. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 9.1%.

The strong Hatsumean economy, worth 211 trillion yen a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Basket Weaving, Door-to-door Insurance Sales, and Retail. Average income is 64,436 yen, with the richest citizens earning 6.8 times as much as the poorest.

The institution of marriage is held sacred and strictly enforced, gossip magazines have been replaced by mask catalogs, small children are learning a lot of new words from a teacher with Tourette Syndrome, and farting etiquette is taught in schools. Crime, especially youth-related, is well under control. Hatsume's national animal is the owl, which can occasionally be seen dodging aircraft in the nation's cities, and its national religion is Shintō.

Hatsume is ranked 54,095^th in the world and 64^th in Japan for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 51.48 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.