Indeed, the whole country is currently unable to sustain its numbers without the importation of food. Long ago, this was not the case but the wealth acquired by the mines allowed for the rapid growth of the capital and outlying villages to the point where the production of foodstuffs in the mountainous region of the Mitsumine was not enough to feed all the mouths there. 

Now, a small rundown of the major planned players in the whole country. At the moment, they don't have family names attached to them, so to make it easy to remember them by, I'll just use their animal emblems. If someone has good names for them, I'll consider using those. 

Tiger Clan: The oldest of the Mitsumine's enemies, a clan whose lands lie to the East and South East of the Mitsumine territory. A warlike people whose biggest asset are its own population. Having no particularly favorable natural assets, the rulers of the Tiger clan obtained significance by the fierceness of their warriors which allowed them to expand their territory. Furthermore, the rulers of these lands demand a lot of their people, giving rise to a very hard working and perfectionist population, even by the land's standards. The Tiger clan invests heavily in intellectual avenues that can be put into good use, having some of the best engineers and scholars of the whole land. The Tiger people are a prideful sort, with heavy suspicion and sometimes contempt of those not their own, with very heavy expectations put into them but who nevertheless take good care of their own. Besides their conflict with the Mitsumine, they also target heavily the Boar clan and crave to subjugate the territory of the Turtle Clan to finally have access to a coast of their own. 

The Boar Clan: The Boar Clan are the Mitsumine's other neighbors, lying to the South West of their territory. They maintain in recent history a good relationship with the Mitsumine as they stand against the common enemy which is the fierceness and warlike manner of the Tiger. Historically, a clan that has faced much hardship due to the ambition of their neighbors, indeed, the Mitsumine themselves in their most expansionist of periods have launched raids against the Boar clan. The clan has numerous forests and is one of the biggest exporters of lumber in the realm, however, they are unable to maintain a strong standing force due to their lack of wealth and arable land. In history, three times have they been forced off their capital city, only for them to retreat to the forest... lie in wait and then fiercely take back their territory when the defenses of their aggressors lie low. Despite their terrible military record and inability to raise armies, it is said that they do possess some of the fiercest warriors of the land in the upper echelons of their noble houses and some speak of a secret keep hidden in their forests from which they always strike back to their aggressors. 

The Horse Clan: The Clan with the most territory in the country, the ones who feed the whole island. Shrewd businessmen and administrators, the Horse are friends to all Clans and trade with everyone. They have possession of the best wide fields of the whole nation and for it provide with food to all who are willing to buy it. At least, militarily, they stay out of all conflicts, preach for peace to all and trade to both sides. However, they do fight... but with their coin. And in this, they do have one major rival which are the mercantile, fishing and trade giant which are the Dragon Clan. Despite their huge territory inland, the Dragon have quite dexterously prevented them from claiming much lands on the coast, only having access to about two ports. Another point of interest about the Horse clan is the animals which make their emblem... having the best steeds of the whole land. Buying a pureblood from them is a great mark of status for anyone in the nation and while they preach peace, they maintain a fearsome cavalry to maintain the peace and borders of their vast empire. 

The Dragon Clan: Based mostly on the Southern Coast of the city, as well as having control of many islands... one of which their Capital lies, the Dragon are the other mayor trade lords of the land. With wide access to the seas and the best navy, they do trade all along the island, provide transportation in the ships which regularly circle the nation and maintain trade with foreign powers. The Dragon clan pride themselves in them and their ships being the very first line of defense of their nation against what may come from the outside. 

The Turtle Clan: Coming soon.

The Kirin Emperor: Coming soon.

The Phoenix Clan: Coming soon. 

The Bear Clan: Coming soon.

Additionally, I must inform that tonight I will be making my choice of which heir we'll go going with and with some luck the OC shall be going live tonight or tomorrow.