The river sings softly (ON HOLD)

Notes on culture, currency, exetra

Kawa Tokai: geography and sociology

The world that Lian and Ping inhabit is a fusion of different East Asian countries (China, Japan, Korea etc) set in the distant future. Their city, Kawa Tokai (which hopefully translates as River City in Japanese, correct me if I'm wrong) is a sort of futuristic  SE Asian Venice. The city is built around a river, and instead of roads it has hundreds of canals.

As a genral rule, the further upriver you live, the richer you are. So the slums are in the river's delta, and the government palace is well upstream. Also, the poorer people tend to live on the riverbanks, so the most important buildings are inland.

The Itten: curency

The curency of Kawa Tokai is not manual. It is known as itten (which should translate as point) One itten is equivelent to a pound. For smaller change, the puchi (hopefully means small) is used. One puchi is equivelent to 5 pence, so 20 puchi makes an itten.

As every person in Kawa Tokai is implanted with a chip at birth (more on this in the Tech section), transfers are made electronicly. Using a variety of gadgets and programs, itten and puchi are transfered from one account to another.

Trading is also used in the poorer areas of Kawa Tokai, but not in the rich parts.

Technology

Levi-tech

THe levi-technology in Kawa Tokai uses magnetic levitation (though in some places roters similar to helicopter blades are used). This works by repeling a magnet on the vehicle's surface off a form of metal, or in the case of the new levi-tech, the earth's magnetic field. The water in the canals contains high levels of iron due to pollution, so this is used as a platform.

levitech comes in many forms. Transport, robots, objects..... all can use the levi-tech. By now, it's relitivly cheap to get, so even the Delta residents can afford, or at least get their hands on, it.

Robots

Robots are old news in Kawa Tokai. AI was invented decades ago, but true AI is expencive and somtime illegal.  Mostly robots are measured on a Sentience Index. 1 is almost comletely robotic, while 100 is true Artificial Intelligence. Most labour bots score from 1 to 50, while bots used in public or private service are usually somewhere between 50 and 100.

Almost all robots make use of levi-tech to get around.

E-screens

This is the basic tech of Kawa Tokai, and all citizens will have it by their 10th birthday. This technology basically takes the form of a chip implanted in the brain. Said chip can access all the brain's sence centres, and even download memories. It can be used for everything; as a screen to veiw movies and other media (either as a sort of mental screen or a full sencory experiance), to access the internet, play games, social-network, take pictures...... Also, it can be used for more sinister purposes, like keeping track of someone. This is technically illegal, but that doesn't stop some people.

 Culture

Food

THe cuisine in Kawa Tokai is a fusion of Japanese, Chinese, Veitnamese and other SE Asian countries.

Dress

As a general rule, trouser suits are used for everyday were, while Chinese clothes are formal wear for children (this is purely because they are simpler to wear) and Japanese clothes are formal wear for everyone over 18.

Honorifics

THese are used at the end of names to indicate respect or affection. Some of these are actual Japanese honourifics, and some are my own invention:

Sama: Someone very important or famous

Sensei: someone you have respect for, someone older or better than you

Saba: someone lower or less important than you, can indicate condesension or comtempt (very insulting to call someone who is technically a sama or sensei this)

Chan: affection, friendship, love (informal)

Note: Sensei-chan is an affectionate term for a parent or older sibling, and saba-chan is an affectionate term for a younger brother or sister.