The Yamani Empire consists of a group of islands to the northwest of Tortall and west of Scanra in the Emerald Ocean. They are ruled by an Emperor and have very strict ettiquette, particularly regarding the showing of emotions. Their palace women were taught to fight, as Keladry of Mindelan learned when she lived there for 6 years of her childhood. The women of the Islands use the naginata, which is described by Kel to be similar to a Glaive, which it is usually called in the books, and have fans (shukusen) that look harmless but are really deathly as the fans are made of steel. It is also a game in which girls would toss the fan and catch it by its handle. The ladies also wear kimonos. The Yamanis are also known to wear their hair in topknots[1].
The land of the island is mountainous, which makes it particularly vulnerable to bandits. They are also often attacked by sea from Scanra and Jindazhen.[2]
Known Yamanis include Princess Shinkokami, Lady Haname and Lady Yukimi.
Trivia
Tamora Pierce based the Yamani culture on the culture of ancient Japan. So far Tamora Pierce has no plans to write a story set in the Yamani Islands themselves, but she also said that this might still change[3].