The Republic of Zendo 96 is a small, genial nation, remarkable for its stringent health and safety legislation. The devout population of 29 million Zendo 96ians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Environment. The average income tax rate is 25.9%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but inefficient Zendo 96ian economy, worth 1.18 trillion zens a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Basket Weaving, Book Publishing, and Door-to-door Insurance Sales. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 40,803 zens, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.2 times as much as the poorest.

A law degree is required before telling people not to drink and drive, an extra hand on the leg will give a horse-and-a-half of lead in a hundred jiffies on seven furlongs, college students make ends meet by selling their kidneys, and lobotomies haven't been the same after the practice was severed. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zendo 96's national animal is the zen, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities.

Zendo 96 is ranked 59,678^th in the world and 17^th in Yamagata for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 3,546.69 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.