The Sylvan Kingdom of Willow Gate is a massive, genial nation, ruled by Benevolent Mistress with an even hand, and renowned for its national health service, hatred of cheese, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate population of 1.702 billion Gateholders are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 92.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The thriving Willow Gatean economy, worth 133 trillion florins a year, is driven almost entirely by government activity. The industrial sector, which is extremely specialized, is mostly made up of the Beef-Based Agriculture industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology. Average income is 78,482 florins, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Returning tourists and businessmen are detained without trial if they belong to the "wrong" religion, the general public only knows their favorite politician's first name, search and rescue forces now accept cheques and all major credit cards, and the best way to be heard in politics is to speak softly and carry a big comedy prop. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Willow Gate's national animal is the wolf, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Willow Gate is ranked 161,672^nd in the world and 3,864^th in the West Pacific for Highest Drug Use, scoring 46.4 on the Pineapple Fondness Rating.