The Republic of Zendo 97 is a small, genial nation, renowned for its smutty television, enforced nudity, and suspicion of poets. The compassionate population of 26 million Zendo 97ians 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 Administration. The average income tax rate is 33.2%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Zendo 97ian economy, worth 1.20 trillion zens a year, is led by the Cheese Exports industry, with major contributions from Uranium Mining, Automobile Manufacturing, and Woodchip Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 46,215 zens, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

Drill sergeants yell in the ears of bespectacled nerds in cybermilitary "reboot camps", scavengers with burlap sacks and shovels skulk around graveyards, immersive video game experiences are interrupted by incessant disclaimer pop-ups, and goldfish bowls are three metres in diameter. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zendo 97's national animal is the zen, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Zendo 97 is ranked 227,259^th in the world and 49^th in Yamagata for Highest Disposable Incomes, with 30,871.94 Standard Monetary Units.