Q & A

I think I read somewhere that Belarus can see
ghosts? Do you know if this is true.

I don’t have a direct English translation to link you to, but it is
revealed that she can see ghosts in “Desktop Buddies” [x].

This is
the anon from earlier asking about your askbox status. I’ll send the ask now
then. So I was wondering if the canon human names that Himaruya’s picked out
for the countries have any historic relation, significance, or connotation to
be kept in mind? I believe that Hima in the past has explained some of his
reasoning to an extent, but a lot of it I think he’s left up for debate so I
was wondering if you could provide a list of plausible reasoning for their
canon names. Thanks!

The human names were deleted, so some people don’t take them as canon. Many speculate that this was because the names and surnames were not well-researched on Himaruya’s part (which is true).

Hetarchive has an entire page dedicated to extracting the possible historical references and/or significance from each of the names [x].

Although the nyos were later given names, they’re not official or canon. Himaruya stated that fans could name them however they please [x].

I love your post on
micronations and states. I’m hoping hima will put Mexico and Texas in there. I
know mexico was mentioned once. I just am hoping Texas will be
official-official since Texas used to be a country and hima saying nations
continue living if the become territory’s.

Thank you!

The strip where Mexico was mentioned is from Comic Diary 2. America speaks of the Alamo grudge [x].

As for statetalia? While state personifications exist for other nations, they don’t [officially] for America.

On the other hand, Himaruya does create a dialogue and panel in which the American states hypothetically existed [x].

I think I saw somewhere that Prussia asked
Italy on a date once- is that true?

Yup! It’s from Prussia’s Drama CD, titled “The CD of the Awesome Me,” [x].

Hi Ella! Can nations teleport? (France
disappeared after talking to Joan so I was wondering) Or maybe he just ran away…

Hello! They can transport; however, distance and the ability to travel on foot conventionally seems to be a major factor (e.g., Finland can’t transport to Seychelles and vice-versa during the 2010 Christmas Event).

*After talking to Lisa, Jeanne’s presumable reincarnate*

It’s not confirmed, but that could be the reason why France disappeared so quickly. Either that, or he was just being dramatic for flare.

Do you know some moments that Italy may looks naive, but he knows more
then he looks?

Italy’s not canonically naïve.
Yes, I’m aware that the comic gag is that he’s a “Hetare” but even in the
original webcomic, he’s not clueless at all. In fact, he constantly worries
about how he’s perceived by his allies in terms of his worth and ability to
contribute to the alliance [x].

Overall, he’s incredibly
intelligent and perceptive. He puts on a front of cheerfulness but is keenly
aware of what’s going on around him. Most of the time he brushes it off and
chooses not to focus on it.

You see this more when he refers to corruption in his nation’s
politics [x].

MORE WHOLESOME AMERICA PLEASE

Your wish is my command [x].

Why are Austria and Switzerland suddenly so
distant from each other? Okay their relationship was cut because of their boss,
but after that, why are they like cold towards each other like ex lovers or
something?

As far as I’m concerned, it’s
literally just that reason. There isn’t much of a romantic overtone (they were kids). It was more like a very tight partnership or camaraderie. I say this because Switzerland has flashbacks of the times he spent with Austria when he experiences similar moments of fondness with Lichtenstein.

He’s still bitter over the loss, having been discarded and mistreated by someone he trusted. Please remember that nations follow their bosses orders, so it’s not like Austria had any malicious intent [x].

Okay, just a quick question. Do you remember
that strip where Romano wanted his room of hopes and dreams cleaned? There was
a roman emperor looking statue on the front. Maybe he wanted to rule the empire
once? I’m feeling curious y’know.

That’s an interesting thought. My personal take on it is that it represents Romano’s failed hopes to live up to his grandfather’s legacy and inheritance [x].

You see this complex with him when he’s younger too [x].

Veneziano isn’t exclusive to failing up to this legacy either. Germany actually overestimates him when they first encounter each other in WW1 (Volume 1, Prologue).

Which character do you think is least accurate
to the country they are based upon?

Poland 100%

Misconception: He’s a rude ‘hedgehog-type’ character.

Reality: He’s a hedgehog-type with a soft underbelly.

Following this hedgehog metaphor, while Switzerland can be abrasive
and rub others the wrong way, he still has a notable soft, compassionate, and
sentimental side. In some cases, his tone may be aggressive, but it’s the
intention of what he’s doing that truly matters.

What Switzerland is most known for is his ruthlessness.

Ex: He’s indifferent toward how money is obtained and will
protect the bank accounts of cronies and criminals [x].

Ex: He’s easily irritated by other nations [x].

Ex: He supplies weapons to Germany during WW2.

He can also be quite grumpy.

On the other hand, it’s important to understand this from
the perspective that Switzerland’s a survivor. He didn’t have the privilege of
having fertile land and turned to banking as a way to sustain himself and later, Liechtenstein.

His sweet side is something that is often neglected.

Ex: He’s described to be rather affectionate toward
Liechtenstein.

Ex: He wears the frilly pajamas that Liechtenstein made for
him.

Misconception: He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

Reality: He puts up a guarded front, having been used and
betrayed in the past. He very much cares about others but will, of course, put his and Liechtenstein’s best-interest first.

Ex: He took Liechtenstein in and gave her food, despite running out of it himself.

Ex: Switzerland teaches Liechtenstein self-defence, but later
succumbs to her request to make more cute drawings.

Ex: In the present, he advises Liechtenstein to boost her
tourism. Liechtenstein soon realizes that Switzerland is projecting his past
onto her. He wants to protect her with a back-up plan; that way, she won’t be
treated as disposedly as he had once been [x].

“I don’t want you to go through the same mud and misery that
I did and be used as a shield by other people.”

Ex: Switzerland also projects himself onto Japan. He
reprimands Japan for not stating his opinions. In other words, he wants Japan
to stick up for himself.

Ex: He helps France after he’s defeated by Spain in war.

Ex: Back when their countries were united, Switzerland saved
Austria fifty-two times. While he’s still grumpy and complains a lot, that doesn’t
stop Switzerland from exercising his loyalty [x].

This brings me to my next point.

Misconception: Switzerland hates Austria.

Reality: Switzerland has mixed feelings toward Austria
resulting from their past partnership. While he claims to be independent and indifferent
[economically and politically], Switzerland is far from neutral when it comes
to his emotions.

Ex: Switzerland is revealed to still harbor complicated
emotions about his past with Austria. He experiences flashbacks when he
replicates fond moments with Liechtenstein (i.e., holding hands, exercising
table manners) [x].

Ex: The resentment over betrayal is seen in how Switzerland
constructs Austria as a shady figure during one of his lessons with
Liechtenstein.

Misconception: Switzerland and Liechtenstein are biologically
related.

Reality: Switzerland and Liechtenstein are not biologically
related, but Switzerland did adopt her into his household. They’re adoptive
siblings. Liechtenstein originally represented Austrian nobles [x].

Ex: Switzerland adopted Liechtenstein following WW1.

Bonus Facts:

Switzerland is described as thin with muscles [x].

In the “Can’t Escape from Italy” strip, it’s revealed that
the Italy brothers hired Switzerland to get England out of the ditch they entrapped him in [x].

Evidence that Switzerland isn’t selfish?

Of course. Switzerland acts rough and claims to put himself first, but he’s actually a very generous and considerate person.

Tumblr’s ask box isn’t working, so I can’t re-ask myself the asks you guys sent in. I’ve also gotten notifications for asks that haven’t shown up

😩

@staff this is a big problem across users, so please look into it.

Anyways, I’ve already done Prussia, so characterization post on Switzerland coming up tonight!

Aside from Prussia, are there any other nations that gained new titles and territory?

Well, all nations have
at some point, even if it isn’t mentioned in the manga.

Some more explicit examples
would be…

Lichtenstein–

used to
represent Austrian nobles. [x]

Austria– began as a margraviate [x]

Hungary– formerly an equestrian tribe. [x]

Coming out of an exam like…

Ironically (or perhaps purposefully knowing Hima), in the strip
“It’s a Treasure Box of Countries,” we get a treasure box of information
regarding the rules of nationhood.

We learn two things that happen to a nation when their
country’s culture or personality dies/ disappears. The personality is to be
understood in terms of a group of people uniting with each other under a common
identity.

The two rules go as followed:

1) “Usually, when the culture of the country’s
personality dies/ disappears, the country would gradually disappear or entrust
him/herself to the country that takes over him/her.

2) Or, “There are also cases that him/her is not a
country but continues to live leisurely as a state representative.”

Okay, simple enough. Either they fade over a long period of
time, or they become active in politics. However, there’s another rule I want
to go over that explicitly confirms that the nations are able to become human.

That requires going into the details of the Republic of Niko
Niko’s existence.

Basically, Niko Niko was a middle school student who
obtained micro-nation status. He represented a section of a city in the
Fukushima prefecture.

It’s also important to note that Niko Niko is declared by
Japan to be a rare, anomalistic case. Regardless, we still learn a lot from
him.

For one thing, after obtaining micronation status, Niko Niko
stopped aging and his health became dependent on how his economy was doing, similar
to what the full-blown nations experience.

We also know that Niko Niko eventually relinquishes his
status as a micronation and reverted back to a normal human again.

For example: He resumes aging and is able to have a son.

Tying this back to the rules of nationhood, we finally learn
that Niko Niko’s ability to shift from human to micronation to human again
wouldn’t be as easy for the other nations to undergo.

How I interpret this is that because Niko Niko personified
such a small area, his country’s personality and sense of identity isn’t nearly
as strong as that of a much larger nation. In other words, it would be harder
for the other nations to become human because their people’s sense of national identity
and cultural heritage isn’t something that can just disappear all of a sudden.

But, what about full-blown nations? Are there any hints of
them becoming human?

There sure seems to be.

During the Great Depression, a sickly Lichtenstein wishes
that she could have remained as a country for just a little while longer. Given
that her population is so small, it wouldn’t take as long for her country’s
personality to fade.

Now, for the more obvious and well-known example: Prussia.

I’ve speculated before that Prussia has fulfilled option 2
of the rules listed above. That is, we know for a fact that he attends world
meetings, and since it’s still unconfirmed whether he represents East Germany
(it’s painfully obvious, I know), it’s very well possible that he’s become a
state representative.

There’s also the fact that it’s been proven that he doesn’t
heal from his injuries quite as fast as the other nations do.

He also openly lies about this to Germany.

In sum…

– Niko Niko’s rise to nationhood is a rare case,
but his transformation still provides us with useful information on how it
would be difficult for a normal nation to become human.

– There have been hints here and there of the
normal nations losing their status as personifications and becoming human.

Another mean nations anon! Who’s Janis Ian?

Mean Nations:

Switzerland as Janis Ian:

“The money you make during
revolts is great, but money can be taken from you. What can’t be taken from you
is the safety and protection your neutrality gives you.”

“Gott! I am so sorry, Austria. Really, I don’t know why you got kicked out of the Holy Roman Empire. I guess it’s probably because I have a raging homosexual crush on you and wanted us to unite again! Psych! Suck on that! Yodelayheehooooo!”

Jumps off mountain range