Kassen

Overview

Kassen is a popular sport developed alongside the establishment of Hanasaka City to provide human-centric, physical entertainment in a society managed by advanced technology. While the sport is themed after the historical warfare associated with Hanasaka Castle, it is designed as a modern competition with strict safety rules and primarily uses English terminology. Official matches are held at the Hanasaka Arena, a stadium characterized by its white granite structure and movable petal-shaped walls.

The sport is played by Fighters, who are citizens aged 20 or older. These athletes belong to one of the four official Kassen clubs—”Garnet East”, “Topaz South”, “Sapphire West”, or “Emerald North”—each based in a different administrative district of the city. Furthermore, there are 16 recognized Alliance clubs located outside Hanasaka that follow the official regulations and maintain cooperative relationships with the city’s clubs.

The entire Kassen community, which includes the clubs, fighters, businesses involved in the manufacturing and related services of Equipment used by the Fighters (such as “workshops”), and fans, is symbolically led by the Unifier. The Unifier serves as an icon of integration and a representative of the city’s philosophy.

Management and operations are overseen by the Castle Office (formally the Hanasaka Castle Development Association), which is responsible for the castle’s restoration and match organization. A vital department within this office is the Equipment Inspection Section (EIS). The EIS ensures the integrity and safety of the sport by strictly inspecting all Equipment—a collective term for the fighters’ “Weapons” (such as spears and swords) and “Outfits” (protective armor)—to prevent unauthorized modifications and ensure they meet official specifications.

All rules relating to the Kassen are detailed by the “Kassen Regulations” established by the Castle Office.

Overview of Kassen Games

Kassen is a major sport in Hanasaka City, held twice a year as Season Games in Spring (starting mid-April) and Autumn (starting mid-October). These matches take place at the Hanasaka Arena, located east of the Hanasaka Castle Outer Moat. Around the time of these season games, Inter-Alliance Games (also known as the “Alliance Tour”) are held at various castle locations outside the city, where Hanasaka clubs dispatch their Fighters to compete alongside Alliance clubs.

1. Competition Format (Until Spring 9 E.E.)

Until the Spring Games of 9 E.E., the tournament progressed as follows:

• Opening Ceremony: The Opening Ceremony is held on the field of the Hanasaka Arena on the day of the first match of the Season Games, prior to the start of the match. All Fighters from the four city clubs (totaling over 200 individuals) are required to assemble on the field to participate. During the ceremony, the Unifier formally presides over the event, having issued the official orders for the clubs to assemble, and declares the start of the Season Games.

• Match Rounds: The four city clubs (Garnet East, Topaz South, Sapphire West, and Emerald North) competed in two round-robin stages: the first round and the second round.

• Deciding the Champion: After both rounds, a final game was held between the winner of the first round and the winner of the second round to determine the champion. However, if the same team won both rounds, they were crowned champion without a final match.

• Closing Ceremony and Championship Award: The Closing Ceremony is held on the day of the final match of the Season Games, immediately after the match concludes. The Unifier participates in the ceremony to present the championship pennant to the winning club and declares the conclusion of the Season Games. While the team champion is honored at this time, the conferral of the “Apex Fighter” title takes place separately, typically two days after the Season Games have ended, following a detailed performance analysis by the evaluation system.

2. Major Changes from Autumn 9 E.E.

From the Autumn Games of 9 E.E., the competition was significantly transformed into a struggle for the “Defense Areas” of Hanasaka Castle.

• Claiming Territory: Instead of just winning a trophy, clubs now competed to obtain rights to guard specific sections of the castle. For each win, a club claimed one of the 12 Defense Areas, starting from the Outer Moat bridges and moving inward to the Outer Defense Zone.

• Champion Determination: The reset between rounds was abolished. The champion was now decided by the total cumulative number of wins across both the first and second rounds.

• The Reward: The champion club earned the prestigious honor of guarding the Main Keep Area, formally appointed by the Unifier.

• Grand Prix: A new outdoor match against robots was introduced to take place in the Outer Defense Zone to determine the Apex Fighter, though its implementation was affected by external threats during the 9 E.E. season.

Progression of a Kassen Match

A single Kassen match consists of 51 Fighters per team competing through a series of segments that alternate between team-wide battles and matches between selected representatives.

1. Match Structure

The match is divided into two halves, with segments progressing in the following order:

• First-half: Team Match 1 (T1) → Representative Match 1 (R1) → Team Match 2 (T2)

• Half-time (15-minute intermission)

• Second-half: Team Match 3 (T3) → Representative Match 2 (R2) → Team Match 4 (T4)

2. Segment Overview

3. Team Matches (TM)

1) How to Score Points
2) Tactics of a Team Match

A Team Match is not a simple race to push the Block; it is a tactical battle of attrition. All 51 Fighters on each team use their Weapons (spears, swords, daggers, or arrows) to target the opponent’s Outfits, specifically the Torso and Arm-guards.

3) Consequences of Taking or Knocking Down the Flag

In a Kassen match, the team Flag is a critical strategic target. The rules regarding the consequences of a Flag being compromised were significantly updated between the Spring and Autumn Games of 9 E.E.

4. Representative Matches (RM)

1) R1 (Shoot-off)
2) R2 (Singles Match)
3) Winning Representative Matches

The rewards for winning a Representative Match (RM) were updated to maintain match momentum:

5. How to Win

Points are cumulative across all segments. The team with the highest total score at the conclusion of Team Match 4 (T4) is declared the winner of the match.

Hanasaka Arena

Kassen matches in Hanasaka City will be held at the Hanasaka Arena, owned by the Castle Office.

Overview of Hanasaka Arena

Exterior Appearance: The Hanasaka Arena is a magnificent stadium constructed with white granite. Its exterior is characterized by four massive, outward-bulging structures known as “Petals”. These Petals are movable; they can shift horizontally to follow the sun and provide shade, or extend upward to meet at the center, forming a dome to protect the field from rain. A thin film of water constantly flows over the Petals, making them sparkle in the sunlight and glow with various colors at night.

Internal Layout and the Field: The center of the arena features a field covered in artificial turf. Within this field is the “battle area,” a rectangular space measuring 105 meters by 55 meters where the Fighters engage in Kassen matches.

Spectator Seating and Capacity: The arena has a capacity for approximately 5,000 spectators. The seating stands are situated on the East, South, and North sides of the field.

The Unique West Side Design: The West side (also referred to as the “near-side”) is intentionally left open without spectator stands. This design allows viewers in the East stands to see the Hanasaka Castle Keep and its stone walls as a dramatic backdrop to the matches, which is a major attraction of the venue.

Operational Facilities on the West Side: The West side ground and basement levels house the essential operational areas:

Field and Battle Area

Overview of the Kassen Battle Area

The battle area is a rectangular space located at the center of the Hanasaka Arena’s artificial turf field.

• Dimensions and Orientation: The area measures 105 meters in length and 55 meters in width. Its long sides, known as side-lines, are drawn along the north-south direction. The short edges are called end-lines.

• Field Divisions:

• Lines and Circles:

• Key Placements:

• The Middle-Area: This refers to the band-like region that runs along the middle-line when viewed from the perspective of a team standing with their back to their own Flag.

• Illustration:

Field

Fighters

Definition

Players belonging to Kassen Club who participate in Kassen matches. To ensure the sport is not an exclusively male-dominated environment, Kassen regulations mandate that teams maintain a nearly equal balance of male and female players based on physical characteristics,. This diversity allows Fighters of all genders to excel through cooperation and skill, making the Kassen community a diverse and inclusive group.

Eligibility and Citizenship

To be hired as a Kassen Fighter, an individual must be a citizenship holder of Hanasaka City and be at least 20 years of age. While the sport is inspired by historical battles, the recruitment process is open to any citizen meeting these criteria, ensuring that no specific ethnic or national origin provides a competitive advantage.

Apex Fighter

The Apex Fighter is the most prestigious title awarded to an individual in the world of Kassen, recognizing the strongest and most exceptional player in the community. Key details about the title include:

Battle friends

In the world of Kassen, the term “battle friends” refers to a deep bond of friendship and mutual respect between Fighters belonging to different clubs. This relationship is relatively rare, as it typically develops only after the individuals have faced each other in numerous intense battles.

Fighters taking part in matches

In Kassen matches, each team is composed of a total of 51 Fighters who compete on the field.

According to the official regulations, the 50 Fighters (excluding the Captain) who participate in the match must maintain an equal ratio of men and women. This balance is strictly determined based on physical characteristics, such as skeletal structure and muscle mass, to ensure competitive fairness in this physically demanding sport.

Their organization and roles are defined by both their rank and the primary weapons they use.

Classification by Roles and Positions:

Every team features a hierarchy of 15 “Ranked Fighters” who provide leadership on the field,:

Classification by Weapons

While all Fighters carry a sword and dagger, they are primarily categorized by their specialty:

Mech-horse Eligibility

A team is limited to using a maximum of 11 mech-horses simultaneously. Only the following individuals are eligible to ride them:

Evolution of Squad Organization and Strategy

The methodology for deploying squads shifted significantly between the Spring and Autumn Games of 9 E.E. due to rule changes,.

• Spring 9 E.E. and Earlier (Traditional Layout): Teams typically organized into three squads of 16 Fighters (excluding the Captain and Vice-Captains). These squads were positioned in the left, center, and right areas of the field relative to their Flag. Each squad was multi-functional, containing a mix of Spear and Bow Fighters who performed all tasks (pushing blocks, defending, and attacking) within their assigned zone.

• Autumn 9 E.E. Onward (Specialized Layout): Rule changes—specifically the introduction of the Flag Triggered Advance (FTA)—incentivized teams to consolidate Bow Fighters into offensive units. Teams shifted toward functional specialization, dividing into four distinct squad types:

 - BPS (Block Pusher Squad): Units deployed on the near-side and far-side specifically to focus on the physical task of pushing the Blocks toward the scoring lines.

Umpires

In Kassen, human umpires do not exist because the people of Hanasaka believe humans are incapable of making perfectly accurate judgments. Instead, the matches are officiated by specialized robots:

• Mech-giraffes: Four of these robots are positioned outside the side-lines, each overseeing one of the field’s four quadrants. Standing approximately 3 meters tall, they monitor for fouls and communicate with Fighters using speech functions.

• Mech-dragonflies: Sixteen small flying robots hover about 5 meters above the battle area, monitoring the Fighters’ actions from an aerial perspective to provide complete coverage.

How they officiating: When a foul is detected or an injury occurs, the umpire emits a whistle sound and wirelessly sends a signal that deactivates all Equipment on the field, bringing the match to an immediate halt. The umpire then identifies the offender, who must leave the battle area and return to their end-line to have 5 HP deducted by an EIS inspector.

Prohibited Actions (Fouls):

Fighters must adhere to strict rules of conduct. The following behaviors are considered fouls:

• Physical Strikes: Kicking or ramming an opponent (or their mech-horse), punching with fists, and striking with the head or elbows.

• Grappling: Strangling, bear-hugging, or using techniques from martial arts like Judo or Wrestling.

• Illegal Attacks: Intentionally attacking the neck, head, or groin area with weapons.

• Dismounting Violations: Forcing someone off their mech-horse (though a rider may use their horse’s controls to shake off an opponent who has jumped onto it).

• Boundary Violations: Advancing while outside the side-lines or attacking from outside the battle area.

• Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Deliberately passive play or stalling for time.

Equipment

Definition:

The collective term for the gear used by Kassen Fighters during games to attack opponents or protect themselves, encompassing both non-lethal Weapons, which are handheld offensive tools, and Outfits, which are worn on the body for protection.

1. Weapons

All Kassen weapons are designed to be non-lethal, using materials such as special rubber instead of metal. Every Fighter is required to carry a Sword and a Dagger at their waist as standard gear.

2. Outfits

The protective gear consists of seven main parts, primarily made of reinforced plastic to ensure safety and functionality.

Workshops

In the world of Kassen, Equipment workshops (often simply referred to as “workshops”) are specialized businesses that manufacture, decorate, and repair the equipment used by Fighters.

Core Functions and Roles

• Customization: While basic Kassen equipment is mass-produced by certified manufacturers according to strict standards, Fighters are allowed a degree of freedom regarding surface decorations. Workshops customize these items to help Fighters appeal to fans or improve usability.

• Maintenance and Repair: Workshops handle the repair of damaged gear. For example, Workshop Nemophila repaired Keiko Sacra’s “Four Star Spear” after it was damaged in a match.

• Safety Compliance: All Kassen weapons (spears, swords, daggers, bows, and arrows) must be non-lethal, utilizing materials like special rubber for blades. Workshops must ensure all customizations adhere to the official standards set by the Castle Office.

Regulation and Oversight

The Equipment Inspection Section (EIS) of the Castle Office regularly monitors these workshops through “Regular Diagnosis” and “On-site Inspections”. This oversight ensures that workshops do not perform illegal modifications or create lethal versions of Kassen weapons that could jeopardize the sport’s safety.

Key Example: Workshop Nemophila

A prominent example in the sources is Workshop Nemophila, located in the Pegasus district and managed by Kagero Sacra. It is famous for creating the “Four Star Spear,” which features four illuminated imitation sapphires. Notably, with special permission from the Police Department, some workshops are also capable of manufacturing real, lethal swords for ceremonial or high-security purposes.

Kassen Club(s)

Definition:

Fighters who compete in Kassen matches belong to one of the four Kassen clubs in Hanasaka City: Garnet East, Topaz South, Sapphire West, and Emerald North. Additionally, there are 16 Alliance clubs located in the neighboring country of “Moto”. These clubs maintain agreements with the Hanasaka teams, facilitating fighter dispatches and matches held outside the city.

Kassen Clubs in Hanasaka City:

1. Garnet East

2. Topaz South

3. Sapphire West

4. Emerald North

Alliance Clubs (Outside Hanasaka)

1. Himeji Egrets

2. Hikone Cats

3. Maruoka Lilies

4. Odawara Triangles

5. Aizu Red-cattle

6. Wakayama Oceans

7. Matsumoto Alliance Club (Name Unknown)

8. Marugame Alliance Club (Name Unknown)

**The Honored Eight:

On November 9th, 9 E.E. during the anticipated raid by the “Hanasaka Citizens’ Liberation Front,” eight select Fighters were appointed as 1st-class security guards under the Castle Guardians Association. Known as “The Honored Eight,” they were tasked with defending the Rose Gate and providing the primary rescue force for Kasga in the event of an emergency.

The members from each club are as follows:

Code of Conduct

The Kassen community maintains strict codes of conduct to ensure the fairness, safety, and integrity of the sport.

1. Restrictions on EIS Personnel and Fighters

2. Reporting of Expensive Gifts

Unifier

Definition:

Formally known as the “Unifier of the Kassen Community,” this figure stands transcendentally above the Castle Office and all Kassen clubs both within and outside the city, serving as a “symbol of unity” within the Kassen community. Entrusted by the Castle Office, she does not possess any strong authority but rather serves as a figurehead to brightly promote and enliven Kassen.

Tenure: