Foreigners ("Gaijin") and the Empire

[Vutall]

To most Rokugani, there is the Empire--and then there is the rest of the world, which is considered a largely inconsequential place, home to those who are not part of the Celestial Order. A sour view of gaijin, or foreigners, was hardened in the early fifth century, at the Battles of White Stag and Raging Seas. Spurned by the Empire, a gaijin fleet attacked Otosan Uchi, severely damaging the city and causing the death of the Emperor. Since then, Rokugani relations with foreign groups have been strained at best, and hostile at worst. An official Imperial decree has forbidden gaijin from entering the Empire, though the amount this decree is enforced varies wildly depending on where one is in Rokugan

[Vutall]

Gaijin in Rokugan
Since the Battle of White Stag, Imperial decree has forbidden all direct contact with foreigners. However, as with many other aspects of Rokugan, what is official is not always the reality. The Tortoise Clan has maintained covert trade and contact with the gaijin throughout the centuries since then, and they are not alone in this. The Mantis, Phoenix, and Unicorn also have covert links with outsiders

There are many reasons for these clans to maintain this trade despite the laws against it, but the most basic and obvious one is wealth. Rich samurai and merchants pay exorbitantly for unique and exotic curiosities from foreign lands. It is not actually illegal to own such items, although it can be considered scandalous, depending on what they are

For an actual gaijin to enter Rokugan is quite unusual but not altogether impossible. Indeed, if one reads between the lines of the Tortoise Clan’s history and founding, it is evident that most of the original “Tortoise samurai” were gaijin stranded in the Empire after their fleet was driven away. On rare occasions since then, gaijin have visited the Empire covertly (with or without the cooperation of the Tortoise). In exceptionally few instances, some have even lived there permanently