The Republic of Zendo 98 is a tiny, safe nation, notable for its irreverence towards religion, enforced nudity, and suspicion of poets. The quiet, industrious population of 14 million Zendo 98ians 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 Administration, Law & Order, and Environment. The average income tax rate is 26.6%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Zendo 98ian economy, worth 563 billion zens a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Cheese Exports, Trout Farming, and Beef-Based Agriculture. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 40,222 zens, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

Kindergartners' favourite dance move is the stop-drop-and-roll, bureaucrats close new businesses for not complying with the Penguin Packaging Index, the election for Leader's office's janitor is heating up, and park rangers perform full-body searches on suspected fungus smugglers. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zendo 98's national animal is the zen, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Zendo 98 is ranked 88,298^th in the world and 4^th in Yamagata for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 1,094.72 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.