The Yamani Islands (pronounced yah-MAH-nee Islands) is an archipelago that is located 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, but only to defend themselves, 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 a Glaive in Common (the language Tortall uses), 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 kimono. The Yamani are also known to wear their hair in topknots.