Gaijin Nations
The newer gaijin from across the seas appear to come from two different nations:Thrane and Merenae. Their interactions with Rokugan are accomplished by means of massive organizations that combine trade with diplomacy: the Thrane Rokugan Company and the Merenaen Trading Consortium, respectively.
Imperial Law and the Gaijin
- Only allowed to enter the country and conduct trade at licensed enclaves.
- Strict limits on total population.
- Not allowed to own land.
- All gaijin enclaves are technically Imperial property “gifted” to the gaijin.
- They may only operate businesses legally within the enclaves. That's not to say that there aren't the occasional cases of utilizing a Rokugani as a front.
- Significant travel restrictions.
- At any point gaijin may be required to produce their papers.
- Gaijin living within the empire need to update their residency permit annually.
Major Gaijin Locations
Licensed Ports
Kameyama Jima
The primary and overall largest licensed port. Located in the lands of the Tortoise Clan, it handles goods going to trade hubs in the north of Rokugan such as Otosan Uchi, Toshi no Omoidaso and The City of the Rich Frog. The Merenaen Trading Consortium is based here.
Jukami Mura
The major southern port. It sees significant trade with Ryoko Owari, Clear Water Village, and Mura Sabishii Toshi. Located in the Crane Clan's territory. Home to the head offices of the Thrane Rokugan Company, who control the vast majority of the gaijin trade in the city.
Diplomatic Missions
Ryoko Owari
There are delegations from both the Thrane Rokugan Company and Merenaen Trading Consortium allowed in Ryoko Owari where they each have a compound in the Merchant Quarter, Ranmachi and the MTC Compound, respectively. Most of the gaijin shipping that comes into the city is initially off-loaded in Jukami Mura and "officially" transferred to Rokugani intermediaries before being moved along the River of Gold.
Otosan Uchi
A compound, gaijinya, exists in Otosan Uchi for diplomatic purposes. It is not an embassy, as such, but more of a designated place for them to be contained when the Emperor summons them to the capital.
How the Great Clans View the Gaijin
Scorpion
The gaijin offer a significant business opportunity. Generally fairly friendly and willing to work with them. They have opened an enclave within Ryoko Owari.
Lion
Vehemently opposed hard-line conservatives. As is common in the Lion clan, the Matsu are the most outspoken in their condemnation of both the gaijin and those who would permit them to engage with the empire in any fashion.
Crane
With their control of much of Rokugan's coast, they're in an excellent position to take advantage of the trade opportunities that they present. Generally within the more liberal faction, although the way they refer to them is clearly patronizing and as inferiors.
Dragon
The Dragon are as inscrutable as ever.
Phoenix
The loudest voices among the Phoenix decry the gaijin. The claim is that they have no place within the Celestial Order and are a spiritually corruptive force that will bring ruin to all.
More moderate elements see them as a tremendous source of knowledge. Likewise questioning how anything can be outside of the Celestial Order and instead claiming that our knowledge of it is imperfect. If the gaijin exist, surely the Fortunes have created them and given them some purpose.
Unicorn
They’re eager to show that gaijin influence isn’t inherently bad and expand on the advantages that their existing contact allows them. At the same time they're quick to point out the differences between the previous gaijin that they have engaged with before and these new foreigners. The Thrane and Merenaens are from across the sea and have a vastly more dissimilar culture than the Ivory Kingdoms, Senpet, and Burning Sands that share the continent with Rokugan.
Crab
Unenthusiastic, but generally disinterested unless it affects the Kaiu Wall.