If you go to Gensokyo, namely the interpretation of Gensokyo in the Drillimation Danmaku Universe known as the Federal Kingdom of Gensokyo, things will certainly feel like you’re in Sweden or its capital city of Stockholm, but no.
When Swedish pilgrims began colonizing Gensokyo and the subsequent establishment of the Federal Kingdom of Gensokyo, the Swedish government ended up growing Kozankyo into a modern Western-style city in an Eastern setting. They were a colony of and backed by the Kingdom of Sweden until 1809. Because of this, the Swedish culture is so visible, and continued to develop even after the Federal Kingdom of Gensokyo declared independence.
Gensokyo ended up inheriting many of Sweden’s cultural norms, such as its transportation methods and way of driving on the right. Many of the names are Sweden-inspired too. You can only find a lot of this in Kozankyo, Gensokyo’s capital. They brought good administration and a gracious way of living after the Gensokyo Socialite Order was defeated in 1716.
During the late 17th century, Swedish pilgrims began coming to Gensokyo for its resources they could bring to their home country and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, there was one snag for the Swedish government and its locals. The Gensokyo Socialite Order was still running rampant. Youkai-borns were being slaughtered, and both needed to crack down on the Order, and Swedish soldiers started showing up at the Order’s doorstep and started a war on them.
After Vladrouge Scarlet was defeated, Sweden began negotiating a series of peace deals. One of them was the new Federal Kingdom of Gensokyo would have backing from Sweden and would protect them in the event the Gensokyo Socialite Order resurfaced again (which eventually happened in 1710, starting the Scarlet Devil War). As part of a treaty in 1709, Sweden would back them for a period of 100 years. Gensokyo’s population mainly consisted of immigrants from Japan and Sweden, and many of Kozankyo’s roads were junctions that divided the Swedish from the local Japanese. Both cultures took place in different areas and they still shape how people live. Over time, those two cultures’ boundaries started to dissolve and blend together, with both the Japanese and Swedish coming to a deeper understanding of each other.
On May 17, 1809, the Federal Kingdom of Gensokyo formally declared independence from the Kingdom of Sweden. This independence was the beginning of a new chapter for the Federal Kingdom of Gensokyo. It has remained independent ever since.
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Dear Drillimation
Your article touched my heart & senses.
I am particularly obliged to you for liking Jilebi in which I described my childhood memories from my grandparents home (around 1972) because neither my family, my children even remember them, my father or I dare say, even me.
In such saddening & lonely situation, lovely affection of intimate friends like you, fellow writers, readers, spread all over India & abroad heighten my spirits & passion for living.
Thank you very much. 🙏🌺
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A great history
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This reminds me much of the history of South Africa, and how the nation came to be. Both Gensokyo and South Africa were first civilized by a European power, and had many settlers come in during the 17th century from their respective nations. (The Netherlands for South Africa, Sweden for Gensokyo) Both were sparsely populated before colonization, and were settled much by neighboring groups, (The Bantu for South Africa, the Japanese for Gensokyo) Both were taken over by radicals who detested the native population, (The National Party for South Africa, the Gensokyo Socialite Order for Gensokyo) and both eventually found compromises between each of the various groups living within.
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