Zipangu

Zipangu, also known as the Kingdom of Fire and Kingdom of the Sun, is a region in the Monster Girl Encyclopedia world with a distinctly Japanese flavour ^[1]. Described as an "extremely small island country" ^[2] far away in the east of the world, Zipangu is home to many comparatively peaceful monster girls who coexist with humans in mixed settlements. While aggressive factions still exist, both on the human and monster sides, the region in general is a lot less rape-frenzied than the Order's continent.

Although the monsters (or "yokai") of Zipangu respect the Mamono Lord, they look to their own affairs and do not contribute to the Mamono Army. Nevertheless, the passive effects of having many monsters in one place for prolonged periods of time means that parts of the region constitute a bright green mamono realm ^[3].

Overview[edit]

The humans of Zipangu do not worship the Chief God, instead mostly believing "that the divine is present in all things". There are even instances where some mamono are worshiped as gods, by both human and mamono worshippers. The Ryu and Inari are common targets for such faiths.

Even on occasions where a human man is pursued by a mamono that's seeking a husband, most of these instances turn out to be much less violent. In fact, many such attacks end with the mamono becoming a devoted wife to the man. However, despite a majority of mamono in the Zipangu region being much more gentle than their counterparts in the rest of the world, there are still a few (especially the Ushi-Oni) that are known to violently assault men in pursuit of intercourse.

The Zipangu region is home to many monsters who make their lairs in mountainous regions. Those traveling over high peaks should be on the lookout for oni caves and tengu eyries. Shinobi villages deep within the mountainous areas of the Zipangu region are the places where mercenary ninja kunoichi monster girls live and train; once a kunoichi finds a man that strikes her fancy, she will bring him back with her ^[4]. To eschew the mountains and stay at home isn't much more of a guarantee of safety, however; Jorou-Gumo and kejourou geishas provocatively solicit human streets, and even inside the home, your lantern or umbrella might suddenly sprout tits and attack you.

Some regions in Zipangu do resist coexistence with monsters, hosting monster-slayers such as the Amanomiya clan. This gave rise to the only named character from Zipangu in the Monster Girl Encyclopedia: Amanomiya Koyoi.

Book Information[edit]

Refer to: MGE-1; Zipangu, MGE-2; The Ethereal Land of Zipangu, and Early settings info; Zipangu Region

Zipangu Region; Early settings info[edit]

It exists within the human realm. It is a land with an extremely different, peculiar culture. It's a place almost exactly like the ancient Japan of our world. Humans with peculiar dress and culture live there. The monsters that live there also have peculiar appearances, and dispositions. Unlike the west, from time immemorial, humans and monsters have nestled closely together. It is a land where humans and monsters have made a compromise to live together. Monsters such as “Kappa” ect. are mostly treated as neighbors by people. In general, monsters are seldom regarded as evil. Also, it is said that there exist some extremely powerful monsters who are even revered as gods. In this way, a peculiar faith that is different from “the order” has taken root. As previously mentioned, many of the targets of worship are also monsters. Also, on the other hand, monsters also devote themselves to humans. There are many races that have progressed to being loved, and the monsters are not part of the “Mamono Lord's army.” They've built up their own forces. Also, in Zipangu, monsters are called “yokai.”

Zipangu, MGE-1[edit]

In the east of this world, there is an island country that possesses a culture which greatly differs from that of other regions. This country, and all of the small islands in the vicinity are referred to as the Zipangu region in our language. In the language of Zipangu, it is called “Kingdom of the Sun,” “Kingdom of Fire,” etc. What little information we have comes from the monsters that came from Zipangu, but this time let's spend just a few pages explaining about this mysterious country, its monsters and people, and the greatly differing relationship between them.

Zipangu, Kingdom of the Sun[edit]

Compared to the continent where we live, the nation of Zipangu is an extremely small island country. Over there, they wear different kind of clothes than what we wear. It's a flowing clothing called “kimono,” and surprisingly they don't even wear underwear underneath it. They just wrap the cloth well. The swordsmen of Zipangu don't use heavy, thick swords designed for cutting down opponents with brute force like we do. Instead, they fight with a special kind of thin, but extremely sharp sword known as “katana.” It's not just the way the people dress that's different. Their culinary culture and way of life is also entirely different. What is especially surprising is the fact that the people of Zipangu have no faith in the Chief God. They believe that the divine is present in all things, and sometimes even monsters are worshiped as gods. These people are not brought up with the teachings of the Order from early childhood and instilled with an animosity towards monsters. Rather, since ancient times in Zipangu, humans and monsters have continued to live side by side as neighbors.

The Beautiful Yokai[edit]

In Zipangu, there live many monsters that have evolved in peculiar ways found only in Zipangu. In Zipangu, monsters are called “yokai.” Since they possess vast power, there are those that are feared as monsters, and those who are worshiped as gods. Additionally, monsters live together with people in human settlements as though it were a natural thing. Like all monsters, the monsters of Zipangu also only take on the forms of beautiful, lascivious women who lead men astray and arouse their desire. In this way, they copulate with human men and obtain essence to sate their hunger. After insemination, they give birth to children that are exclusively female monsters. But perhaps since they've continued to live as neighbors of humans since ancient times, not all of them attack and rape men. There are many races who have evolved to befriend humans, and get human men to like them.

Also, even though they're monsters and related to the mamono lord, they're not attached to the mamono lord's army. In Zipangu, the mightiest of monsters form their own particular forces. Although they don't serve the mamono lord directly, it is thanks to the mamono lord that they've been changed into their present forms, enabling them to live even more closely with humans. Since the monsters of Zipangu are extremely happy about this, none of them have bad opinions of the mamono lord.

A Utopia where humans and monsters intermix[edit]

If an enemy were to appear in Zipangu, the people and monsters would band together and cooperate as inhabitants of Zipangu in opposition to the foreign enemy. In the past, one of the kingdoms of our continent launched an invasion in an attempt to conquer Zipangu. At the time, people and monsters formed a united front in order to repel the invasion, and they could often be seen fighting side by side in the units of Zipangu's military. Furthermore, the power of the monster warrior women known as “kunoichi” who are bound to the human state of Zipangu was instrumental in bringing about the end of the war. Using the advanced stealth skills they pride themselves on, they were able to sneak into the enemy commander's bedroom and employ the sex skills they train habitually. The enemy commander and all high ranking officers were made into prisoners of the monsters' bodies. Because of that, the war was brought to an end, and that country which was an anti-monster state has become a monster friendly state, and is now building a friendly relationship with Zipangu. In this way, Zipangu is one of the ideal nations created from the intermingling of humans and monsters where they walk together. Monsters can often be seen approaching humans in the same way, even on our continent, but in Zipangu humans can be seen approaching monsters.

The Ethereal Land of Zipangu, MGE-2[edit]

Sail east from the domain under the sway of the Order of the Chief God and one will reach Zipangu, an island nation with a unique culture. In the previous volume of this encyclopedia I provided a simple introduction, but the author has since gained a deeper understanding, thanks to an opportunity to visit this mysterious country and observe its ethereal harmony in person. Thus, we now have the chance to return to the subject.

Zipangu, Land of Sun[edit]

In contrast to the continent on which we live, Zipangu is a miniscule island realm composed of one large island girded by several smaller islands. In the language of Zipangu, it is sometimes reffered to as the "land of the sun" or "the land of fire". Zipangu's architecture is utterly different from that observed under the eye of the Order and is most attractive for its tasteful tranquility. The people wear loose and relaxed traditional garments called kimono; the monsters there tend to wear clothes that are similarly looser and more modest than those found in other regions. However, they make up for this seducing men with their sensual manner and nonchalant self-exposure.

Almost all of Zipangu's limited land area is covered by forests and mountains, with many of the latter capped by volcanic craters or snowy blankets. These hot and cold peaks often occur on adjacent mountains or even the same mountain. Zipangu's climate is generally mild, with many regions exhibiting considerable variation from season to season. Within a single region, different monsters become active each season, allowing one to observe different races year round. Most of the forests and mountains are monster territory, untouched by humans hands, yet the monsters have built rest stops and lodges along roads in these places in order to encourage men to tarry. There are also a number of hot springs, naturally occurring due to the volcanic activity. The monsters have developed many of these sites into major tourism spots and pleasure quarters to attract more men.

A highly distinctive aspect of the culture of Zipangu is its religion. The Order has not reached the island nation; instead, the people worship a multitude of deities, believing gods exist in everything. Sometimes monsters are even worshipped as gods-and not only monsters that humans conspicuously benefit from, such as inari. Sometimes, even wild and violent monsters such as ushi-oni are worshipped, in the hope that they will spare humans their wrath.

The Harmony of Humans and Yokai[edit]

The people of Zipangu call their monsters "yokai". Many races that live there have undergone and independent evolution and cannot be seen anywhere else. They can be extraordinarily powerful, feared as "kaibutsu" (abominations) or worshipped as "kami" (gods). On the other hand, monsters are integrated into human communities and live among them as if it were natural, serving husbands as good wives. The monsters are not affiliated with the Mamono Lord's Army; instead, various factions have been formed by powerful local monsters. It is also not uncommon for monsters to serve a human lord. Men who have lain with yokai and become incubi are sometimes called "yojin" (spectral men), men who have become companions of monstrous objects of worship "hitogami"(human gods). However, in Zipangu it is most common to treat such men simply as humans, just like anyone else.

This accord between humans and monsters goes back before the new Mamono Lord converted monsters into their present forms. In the former Mamono Lord's time, monsters were motivated by an appetite to devour and an urge to slaughter. Few understood human words- and most of those who could were unable to respond. Those capable of conversation usually used this ability to deceive humans and lead them to destruction. In old Zipangu, too, monsters were fundamentally abominations that devoured humans. Strangely, however, many could both understand and speak human language. Thus, monsters were able to escape the cycle of devouring humans and being slain by them through discussion, by which avenue the humans agreed to worship monsters as gods and offer them human sacrifices. This mollified the monsters' rage and successfully realized a respectful distance that was stable, though not as close as that found today.

Considering legends of monsters living with humans, marrying them, and producing children with them during this period, such a history may have contributed to the evolution of the unique monsters that can be found in Zipangu today. perhaps the gods recorded in the ancient tales of Zipangu, discrete from the Chief God, also had a hand in the divergence of the island nation's monsters. Definite conclusions cannot yet be drawn, however.

All that said, there are still some factions and regions among humans that see monsters as foes. For example, the "taimashi" (exorcists) make their living vanquishing monsters. These groups are not as powerful as the Order, but there is a possibility that, in time, they may join hands with it.

Zipangu, a Land of Seduction[edit]

Ask about the monsters of Zipangu, and you are likely to hear of ladies who are greatly devoted to humans. This does not seem to inhibit their ability to acquire men, though; their sensual charms are such that men lay hands on them of their own will. Nowhere is their monstrous talent more evident than in their widespread pleasure dens, known as "yukaku" in the tongue of Zipangu. Yukaku are districts where monsters display their devotion not just as fine partners, but as ladies of the night who delight their clientele. The close relationship between humans and monsters allows such establishments to be operated openly on a large scale - to the extent that there exist whole towns that are yukaku.

However, monsters do not work as harlots for money or for sustenance, but purely to obtain a man. When they find one they like, they cease to accept any other customers and, in the blink of an eye, marry him and leave the yukaku - or recede behind the scenes. This often occurs with the very first customer. However, because the yukaku offers many opportunities for monsters to meet- and moreover - be actively approached by men, the influx of new recruits feeds the rapid turnover quite well.

Some yukaku become dark mamono realms. The sakura, a unique flower of Zipangu usually said to bloom only in spring, blooms all year round in these realms so that the hazy light of mana seeping from each of the yukaku's chambers illuminates a flurry of fluttering petals, thus producing a mystic atmosphere that brings out the monsters' bewitchment. Men seduced by their charms receive a night-or even a lifetime- that is just as fantastic. Large yukaku and cities often have facilities such a hot spring resorts where both unmarried men and married couples happily throng.