Youkai people

The youkai people (妖怪人) are an ethnic group native to Kozan. Originating in Western Kozan just east of Japan, they are often referred to as youkai-borns. The majority of youkai-borns live in Kozan and Japan and mostly follow the Shinto religion, although some of them are of Buddhist faith.

Origin
The term "youkai" first appeared in Japanese mythology as well as evil spirits in general. Because of the thousands of stories regarding magical beings, the different types of youkai-borns could comprise a myriad of ethnic groups.

History
It is unknown when the first youkai-borns first settled in Kozan. After the establishment of the Federal Kingdom of Eastern Kozan, many youkai-borns who lived there migrated to Western Kozan where they became future citizens of the Democratic Kingdom of Western Kozan. Many of the youkai-borns that lived there aligned themselves with the Socialist Party of Kozan, one of the two contemporary political parties in Kozan.

Human-youkai conflict
Due to the concept of shrine maidens in general having to dispel youkai in order to protect a sacred place such as a shrine, this often brings up the humanoid-youkai conflict that has existed for centuries. Like with most countries, the act of killing youkai-borns was considered outlawed under general murder laws.

During the Edo period in Kozan when it was divided into Eastern and Western Kozan, youkai-borns in Eastern Kozan faced frequent persecution and discrimination. This was outlawed after the Meiji Restoration and the Kozanese Reunification under the Humanoid-Youkai Peace Treaty, which ensured peaceful relationships between the two ethnic groups. Despite this, persecution remains an issue in the present day, with Frederic Sam Fawkes initiating a genocidal run against all youkai-borns in Kozan.

Languages
Like most Japanese, the Japanese language has been a primary first language for youkai-borns within Kozan, whether they are born in Western Kozan or not.

Religion
Buddhism has been a primary religion for youkai-borns, though a very small number follow Shinto.

Notable youkai-borns

 * Hanayo Katsuragi, former Crimsonite and co-founder of SPASDOT
 * Kagami Ochiai, singer-songwriter
 * Shigeru Ochiai, politician and former Prime Minister of Kozan (1970 - 1978)
 * Yumi Ochiai
 * Asuka Oguchi, former First Lady of Kozan (1970 - 1978)
 * Maika Ohtake, former maiko-in-training
 * Kisumi Torisawa, journalist